Finding Signal in the Noise: What Does Real Scaling Look Like in the AI era?

In the current AI landscape, separating genuine growth from vanity metrics has never been more critical. As recent headlines debate the true health signals of tech startups—including the growing tension between ARR and CARR—how can you tell which companies are actually building for the long haul? Join us for a candid, panel-style conversation designed to cut through the industry hype and get to the reality of what's happening on the ground. We are bringing together a lineup of leading Toronto founders to discuss what real, sustainable scaling looks like, exploring the hard truths behind the numbers and the operational strategies that define the true winners of this technological shift. The evening will kick off with food and cocktails in the Spellbook cafe, offering a prime opportunity to connect with fellow founders, investors, and top-tier tech talent before heading upstairs for the main event. You will hear directly from Matt Mayers (Co-Founder of Spellbook), Ahmed Shafik (Founder of Venn), and Liza Akhvledziani Carew (Co-Founder of Chexy) as they share unfiltered insights from the trenches of scaling breakout companies. Whether you are an engineer looking to build the future, a founder navigating the current market, or an investor seeking genuine signals of success, this fireside chat will provide an authentic look at the realities of winning in the AI era. About the Panelists Matt Mayers is the co-founder and COO of Spellbook, the leading AI product suite for contract workflows. Coming from an engineering and product design background, Matt was inspired to drive change in the legal industry after struggling to find accessible legal services as an entrepreneur. Spellbook is backed by leading investors such as Khosla Ventures, Inovia, RBCx, and Thomson Reuters. Liza is the co-founder and CEO of Chexy, Canada’s leading payments platform that turns routine expenses into rewarding experiences for Canadians. A former finance and strategy lead at Square, she turned a problem every bank rejected into a $2B+ payment volume business backed by Khosla Ventures. Ahmed Shafik is the Co-Founder of Venn, the all-in-one financial platform built for Canadian businesses. Having helped lead Revolut’s expansion into Canada and the US, Ahmed saw exactly what modern banking could look like and exactly how far Canada’s business banking had fallen behind. Today, Venn serves 10,000+ Canadian businesses with multi-currency accounts, corporate cards, expense management, and more. Venn has raised over $26.5M in funding from top-tier investors including Gradient Ventures, Left Lane Capital, Intact Ventures, and XYZ Venture Capital. Toronto Tech Week Toronto Tech Week is a citywide celebration of the people building what’s next. From May 26–29, 2026, founders, investors, and builders come together for hundreds of community-led events across Toronto, connecting tens of thousands of people around Canadian tech. Torontotechweek.com.