At the BetaKit Most Ambitious Town Hall during Toronto Tech Week 2026, leading figures including Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun and Council of Canadian Innovators chair Jim Balsillie addressed the critical challenges and opportunities facing Canadian technology and sovereignty.
- Physical AI innovation led by Canadian startup Waabi
- Economic policy challenges posed by U.S. dominance
- Calls for strategic economic nationalism to boost Canadian sovereignty
What happened
BetaKit’s Most Ambitious Town Hall convened over 500 Canadian tech leaders at the TIFF Lightbox, featuring discussions on the country’s technological autonomy and economic security. Two prominent sessions stood out: Waabi CEO Raquel Urtasun delivered insights on the physical AI revolution her company is pioneering, followed by a fireside chat with University of Toronto president Melanie Woodin about the AI research infrastructure supporting this growth.
Later, Jim Balsillie, former Research in Motion co-CEO and current chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators, delivered a sobering analysis of how U.S. economic policies have disadvantaged Canadian tech companies. The event concluded with a strategic discussion on how Canada can adopt economic nationalism principles to better support its innovators and compete globally.
Why it matters
Canada’s emergence as a leader in physical AI technology positions the nation at the forefront of a transformative industry. The large-scale fundraising achieved by Waabi underscores the growing confidence in Canadian tech innovation and the importance of robust AI infrastructure backing this momentum.
At the same time, Canada faces significant economic challenges due to U.S. market dominance and policy measures that have historically limited Canadian competitiveness. Without deliberate economic strategies, Canadian tech firms risk being marginalized internationally despite their innovative potential.
What to watch next
The Canadian government and private sector will likely explore new policies aimed at economic nationalism tailored for the 21st century, focusing on equitable support for homegrown tech ventures. Monitoring developments in national AI infrastructure investments will be key to understanding Canada’s long-term positioning in global tech markets.
Additionally, how Canadian startups like Waabi leverage public and private partnerships to scale physical AI solutions will be closely watched, as their success can set the tone for broader innovation ecosystems. Stakeholders will also watch for strategic responses to American economic policies to safeguard and expand Canada’s technological sovereignty.