Canada’s largest tech festival is back in Toronto in 2022 after a pandemic-induced hiatus. Speakers from online gaming, fintech, AR/VR, and creative industries from around the world congregated at three venues along the front of Lake Ontario to network and learn more about the work of emerging tech enterprises.
The three-day-long block part was not to be missed with food trucks, live musicians, and info booths set up by aspiring new startups. I flew in on the final and most exciting day of the festival to see what’s what and who’s who of the online gaming world. I heard about the challenges the online gaming industry is facing with constantly changing community guidelines, the underrepresentation of women, and convincing brand partners that gaming is the way to go to capture Gen Z engagement.
Granted, there was a lot of marketing going on with companies offering Uber vouchers to attendees who opt to visit their offices, business cards being distributed for AR consulting services, and live product demos everywhere along one stretch of Front Street, but there was also a lot to learn. There were experts on cybersecurity, digital NFT art, and remote work culture, all fields I have never explored.
Festival, conference, networking, whatever you want to call it, where there are people, there is learning.
