🇨🇦 Collision is a major tech conference that brings together the world’s leading tech companies, professionals, startups, investors, media, and influencers. The conference has been held in Toronto, Canada, since 2019.
👥 It is among the largest tech conferences globally, with over 40,000 attendees in 2023. The conference features a variety of speakers, panels, workshops, and networking events – past speakers have included Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, and Sheryl Sandberg amongst many others.
💰 According to the City of Toronto’s June 27th 2023 news release, “The 2022 Collision conference in Toronto attracted 35,000 attendees and generated $43 million in direct spending and $68 million in economic impact, including $1.7 million in municipal tax revenue, $5.7 million in provincial tax revenue and $4.3 million in federal tax revenue.”
📣 In addition to its size, scale and impact, the conference is also known for its influence. It is a major networking event for the tech industry and provides a platform for startups to showcase their products and services to potential investors and partners.
🌐 Collision primarily plays a role in shaping the global tech agenda, as it brings together leaders to discuss the latest trends and challenges in the industry. As expected, artificial intelligence was the talk of the town, as thousands of professionals discussed and educated themselves on the next great disruptive technology. World-renowned British-Canadian cognitive psychologist, computer scientist and AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton was the headliner on the topic.
🍁 This year, Blockchain North’s Founder & CEO Florent Thévenin and Director & Blockchain Lead Bobby Barone had the opportunity to attend the event as accredited media, tune into blockchain masterclasses featuring the likes of Yat Siu of Animoca Brands and Jarrod Barnes from Near Foundation, and connect with many friends, clients and partners of Blockchain North. Along with this, Blockchain North attended the ‘Alberta @ Collision Yacht Party’ – a networking event hosted on Lake Ontario organized by Goodlawyer and Alberta IoT.
Some of the distinguished blockchain speakers this year included:
- Silvina Moschini – Founder, Chairwoman and President of Unicoin
- Bryan Pellegrino – Co-Founder & CEO of LayerZero Labs
- Anthony Scaramucci – Founder of SkyBridge
- Illia Polosukhin – Co-Founder of NEAR Protocol
- Emily “pplpleaser” Yang – Co-Founder of Shibuya
- Timothy Massad – Former Chair of US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
🙌 There is plenty of talk regarding the future of the Collision Conference, as organizers are contemplating a venue change for this epic tech fest in the future. Toronto and the federal government confirmed on June 20th that they would welcome back the conference for 2024, extending its stay in Toronto.
🌎 While some say the $40+ million direct spending required to do so is a steep cost to pay, others believe any potential relocation of Collision could reshape global perceptions of Canada’s tech leadership.
🏆 In the bustling world of technology (and Blockchain in particular), Collision stands tall as a beacon of innovation and connection. With its remarkable growth and global influence, the conference has become a vibrant gathering for tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders. As the event continues to push boundaries and shape the future, it leaves an indelible mark on the tech landscape. Collision is not merely a conference; it is a catalyst for inspiration, collaboration, and limitless possibilities in the ever-evolving realm of technology.