51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Our initiative supported 51³Ô¹ÏÍøTalks AI: Navigating the Future Together, an engaging event at the Bronfman Building that brought leading voices in artificial intelligence to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøcommunity.

The session featured:

• Distinguished Panelists: Joelle Pineau, VP of META AI and a pioneer in machine learning research, joined other experts to discuss the latest trends shaping the AI landscape.
• Exploring Opportunities and Challenges: Panelists examined the transformative potential of AI alongside pressing questions around ethics, responsibility, and long-term societal impact.
• Networking and Engagement: The event created space for students, faculty, and professionals to connect with AI leaders and exchange perspectives on where the field is headed.

The afternoon underscored McGill’s role as a hub for critical conversations on the future of AI, its promises, complexities, and responsibilities.

Our initiative supported How MTL Does AI Right hosted by the Sincere Data Collective in partnership with the Datasphere Lab, and the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity (LCBEE). The event highlighted how Montreal organizations are advancing ethical AI and data governance that put people and the common good first.

The afternoon featured:

• Keynote on Ethical AI in Practice: Kate Arthur, EdTech founder and one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women, introduced insights from her forthcoming book A(m)I Literate? and led a discussion on embedding ethical frameworks into industry applications.
• Data Governance in Action: Cristiano Therrien presented Open North’s data governance framework, developed with Montreal in Common, and demonstrated how principles from the Montreal Digital Data Charter can be operationalized.
• Hands-On Startup Engagement: Selected participants from startups and small businesses received personalized guidance on implementing these frameworks in their organizations.
• Networking and Community Building: Students and professionals engaged with leaders from MAIEI, Comz Global, and Open North, exchanging ideas over food and refreshments.

Our initiative supported Scarlet Pitch 2024, a dynamic showcase of Montreal’s emerging startups that brought together students, entrepreneurs, and investors for an afternoon of pitches, feedback, and networking.

The event featured:

• High-Profile Investor Panel: Attendees heard directly from industry leaders, including Dragon’s Den judge Vincenzo Guzzo, Katherine Nicanorova, Marianne Dubois, and Raph Brassard, as they shared candid feedback on live startup pitches.
• Insights into Startup Evaluation: The panel illuminated what makes a winning pitch and how venture capitalists assess new ventures.
• Showcasing Innovation: Startups from across Montreal presented their ideas, inspiring over 100 attendees with groundbreaking concepts and entrepreneurial spirit.
• Community and Networking: Participants expanded their networks, connecting with investors, founders, and industry professionals while enjoying full catering throughout the event.

Scarlet Pitch continues to grow as a key platform for cultivating Montreal’s next generation of founders and innovators.

The initiative supported a successful student-led event in the Fall of 2023 with ThriveAI. Held on November 21st, this event offered a unique platform for students and professionals to dive deep into the transformative role of AI in various industries.

The event was organized by the winning team of Desautels students (Zachariya Sow, Gabriel Abbas, and Paul Prindiville-Porto). They were supported by Tasmia Abbas, Lina Amara, Eva Koall, Mennah Eldaly, and Lina Amara.

The evening featured:

• Cutting-Edge Product Demos: Montreal-based startups showcased how their products are shaping the future of healthcare, education, cleantech, and more.
• Insightful Panel Discussions: The event featured a series of panel discussions with industry leaders:
  Ysaël Desage from BrainBox AI
  Isaac Souweine from Pender Ventures
  Sam Balaz from KPMG Canada
• Networking Opportunities: Student participants engaged with experts at the forefront of AI innovation, exchanging ideas and building connections within the ecosystem.

Dare To Venture is an annual event put together by the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøEntrepreneurship Society. Dare To Venture inspires students to learn more about entrepreneurship by welcoming diverse guests – from CEOs of large enterprises to student founders – to speak to hundreds of attendees yearly.

Our initiative supported DTV 2023 held between March 31 to April 2, 2023 at Maison Alcan.

The event featured an AI entrepreneurship panel with industry leaders.

Phil Cutler, founder and CEO of PAPER (ed-tech unicorn founded by 51³Ô¹ÏÍøalum)
Félix Bélisle Dockrill, CEO and co-founder of Axya (procurement digitization and automation start-up)
Frédéric Jarjour and Eduard Anton, co-founders of LiveGuard (real-time AI media processing tool).