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Startupfest 2026
Calendar
Shaded days are travel days. Startupfest runs July 8–10, 2026 at the Grand Quay. Weather shown is an early estimate. Recheck closer to departure.
Departing · Tue Jul 7 📅
WestJet · confirmation code LFYCXI · economy · all times local. You're travelling carry-on only, though your WestJet RBC World Elite Mastercard covers one free checked bag on every leg if you ever want it.
Drive to Nanaimo (YCD)
- Qualicum Beach → Nanaimo Airport: about a 1-hour drive south to Cassidy. Carry-on only means no bag-drop line, but leave padding for traffic — aim to be at YCD ~75 minutes before the 12:50pm flight (by ~11:30am), leaving Qualicum Beach around 10:00am. Directions ↗
Parking at Nanaimo (YCD)
Pay by plate — no ticket to hold onto, just remember or photograph your plate. The rate is $12/day for the first 7 days ($8/day after that). Your stay (Jul 7 to just past midnight Jul 12) is about $60 for 5 days, or up to ~$72 if the after-midnight return is billed as a sixth day.
- Pay by app: the Honk mobile app, zone 367 — pay and extend from your phone (it caps at 17 days, plenty here).
- Pay by kiosk: credit or cash at the Pay by Plate machines in the Departures doorway and the main, south, and north lots. ATM and change machines are inside the terminal.
Which lot
- Main Lot: right in front of the terminal, so the most convenient — and the first to fill up.
- South Lot: a 1-minute walk, with the most spaces (543) — your best bet if the Main Lot is full.
- North Lot: a 5–7 minute walk, and the one with EV charging stations.
Rates confirmed at ycd.ca/parking in July 2026; check for changes before you go.
Fly YCD → YYC → YUL
| Flight | Route | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| WS 552 | Nanaimo (YCD) → Calgary (YYC) | 12:50pm | 3:20pm |
| WS 566 | Calgary (YYC) → Montreal (YUL) | 5:30pm | 11:45pm |
- Seats not assigned yet: the ticket shows "check-in required." Check in online at the 24-hour mark before each flight to pick seats and avoid a middle.
Calgary layover · 3:20–5:30pm
A comfortable 2h 10m between flights, domestic-to-domestic, so no security to re-clear and time to eat properly. WestJet domestic gates sit in Concourses A, B and C, with a central Mezzanine food court between them — the safe bet wherever your gate lands.
- Mezzanine food court (central): Edo Japan, Mucho Burrito, Chachi's Sandwich Bar, Subway, Tim Hortons.
- Sit-down: Flames Grill and Chili's in Concourse A; LB Taphouse and Vino Volo (wine bar) in Concourse C; The Burger Federation in Concourse B.
- Lighter / quick: La Prep (sandwiches & salads) and Jugo Juice in Concourse A; Jugo Juice also in Concourse C.
Gates and hours are set close to the date; confirm on the WestJet app.
Arrive Montreal · 11:45pm
You land at Montreal–Trudeau close to midnight. Get to the Griffintown hotel and settle in so the morning of July 8 is just a walk to the venue, not a scramble.
- Rideshare/taxi: Uber operates in Montreal; Téo Taxi, Quebec's largest taxi dispatcher, books licensed cars by app or phone (514-836-0000) and makes a good backup if surge pricing hits during festival hours. From YUL, taxis run a fixed flat rate (~$48 CAD) to Griffintown; budget ~25 minutes by car. Directions ↗
- Bus: The 747 Express Bus runs 24/7 between YUL and downtown for a flat $11 CAD (cash or card on board), and the same fare covers onward STM metro/bus transfers. Budget ~45–60 minutes depending on traffic. Directions ↗
Late-night food on arrival
You reach the hotel around 12:30–1am on a Tuesday, when most of Griffintown's kitchens are already closed. Two reliable ways to eat:
- Deliver to the room: your suite has a full kitchen, and Uber Eats runs a late-night category past midnight in Montreal. The easy option so you can eat and get to sleep before pitch day.
- McDonald's, 215 Rue Peel: open 24 hours, the one genuine round-the-clock spot in Griffintown, a 10-minute-ish walk north toward Peel Basin. 514-877-5172 to confirm. Directions ↗
- Dépanneur: corner stores around Peel and Notre-Dame stay open late for snacks, drinks, and breakfast to stock the kitchen.
Weeknight hours shift, so the 24h McDonald's and delivery are the safe bets. Sit-down spots (Le Richmond and the Notre-Dame Ouest restaurants) close their kitchens by around 11pm on a Tuesday.
Montreal (Jul 7–11) 📅
Your base for four nights: the Griffintown Hotel, a flat 25-minute walk from the Grand Quay. Three full event days, July 8–10. Getting in from the airport is covered under Departing.
Where you'll stay
Griffintown Hotel Map ↗
1222 Rue des Bassins, in Griffintown: a nice 20-minute walk for gathering your thoughts and taking in the city before and after the venue. Rooms have full kitchens, in-suite laundry, and balconies, plus a fitness center, garden terrace, and bar. Rated 8.6/10 on Booking.com (365 reviews), with guests singling out the spotless rooms and the terrace/bar as a nice spot to unwind after a long day at the venue.
Map is stylized; markers are plotted from each location's real coordinates.
Getting Around
- STM transit: For short hops once downtown, a single STM fare is ~$3.75 CAD (tap a card or buy at a metro station); the closest metro to Griffintown is Georges-Vanier or Lionel-Groulx, both a 10–15 minute walk from the hotel.
Getting to the Grand Quay
- From the Griffintown Hotel: Head north out of the Bassins du Nouveau Havre area to Rue Notre-Dame O, then east along Notre-Dame/Rue de la Commune to the waterfront — about a 25-minute, 2 km walk. 🎲 Griffintown's murals first, with the 💧 Lachine Canal path nearby as a quieter option. Notre-Dame O turns to cobblestone through 🏙️ Old Montreal and becomes Rue de la Commune O near the water, passing ⛪ Notre-Dame Basilica and the 🕙 clock tower before opening up to 🌊 St. Lawrence views at the Grand Quay. Flat the whole way. Walking directions ↗
Where to Eat
Food is available for purchase on-site at the Grand Quay, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. See Tips below for payment and bar details.
Near the hotel (Griffintown)
- Café Viet Épicerie — 159 Rue Murray, a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Independent Vietnamese counter: 10 banh mi flavours, poke and vermicelli bowls, Vietnamese iced coffee. Quick, healthy-leaning, and not a chain. Open 11am–9pm daily. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
- Mano Figa — 990 Rue Ottawa, about a 10-minute walk. Take-out counter from the team behind Mano Cornuto next door: sandwiches on house-made focaccia, mostly counter/grab-and-go. Open 7am–6pm daily. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
- Bagels Le Trou — 1845 Rue William, about a 10-minute walk. Hand-rolled, honey-water boiled bagels and bagel sandwiches: fast, casual, independent. Open Mon–Fri 7:30am–6pm, Sat–Sun 8am–4pm. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
- Gourmet Griffintown — 1308 Rue Notre-Dame O, about a 10-minute walk. Owner-run poutine spot: classic poutine plus a few elevated versions, along with sandwiches and personal pizzas. Limited seating, built for takeout. Open Mon–Sat noon–3:30pm and 4–7pm, closed Sun. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
Near the Grand Quay / Old Port
- Olive et Gourmando — 351 Rue Saint-Paul O, a 5–10 minute walk from the venue. Independent bakery-café running 25+ years, counter service, quality sandwiches and pastries. The closest thing to a quick, healthy, non-chain lunch right by Startupfest. Expect a line at peak lunch hours. Open 9am–5pm daily. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
Hours and exact walk times can shift. Check each spot's current hours before counting on it between sessions.
Right next to the venue
- Taste of the Caribbean Festival, Jul 9–12: Runs at the Old Port, 1 Clock Tower Quay St, immediately adjacent to the Grand Quay. Includes a FIFA World Cup soccer watch party with 3-on-3 tournaments and a fan zone, noon–11pm daily. Expect crowds and tighter foot traffic right around the venue on your judging (Jul 9) and closing (Jul 10) days. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
Groceries & Essentials
- Metro Plus Notre-Dame — 1230 Rue Notre-Dame O, about a 5-minute walk. Your closest full-size supermarket: produce, meat, dairy, pantry staples, free indoor parking, open 8am–11pm daily. Best bet for the main shop. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
- Marché Adonis Griffintown — 225 Rue Peel, about a 10-minute walk. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern grocer with strong fresh produce, olives, cheeses, and a hot prepared-foods counter — good for ready-to-eat meals and cheaper fruit and veg than the chains. Open 8am–9pm daily. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
- La Maison Simons — 977 Rue Sainte-Catherine O, about a 20-minute walk. Your favourite clothing store, and the nearest stop for clothing, toiletries, and other essentials if something gets left behind. Open Mon–Fri 10am–9pm, Sat–Sun 10am–6pm. Map ↗ · Directions ↗
Hours and exact walk times can shift. Check each spot's current hours before counting on it.
Hotel-to-venue walk. Map is stylized; markers are plotted from each location's real coordinates.
Trip Map
Tap the map to enlarge.
Map is stylized; markers are plotted from each location's real coordinates. Montréal–Trudeau (YUL) is well off this map, to the southwest.
Returning · Sat Jul 11 📅
The closing ceremony wraps Friday, so Saturday, July 11 is an open day in Montreal before an 8:00pm departure. No rush until the afternoon.
Bonus time in Montreal
Hotel checkout is late morning, so with the 8:00pm flight you have a full Saturday. A day-use room is an easy way to keep a base for the afternoon — drop your bags, freshen up, and rest before the overnight trip home.
Where to stay
Day-use room — to be added
Placeholder for a daytime room booked through Dayuse.com, which rents hotel rooms by the afternoon. Handy for storing bags and freshening up between checkout and the evening flight. Options to be filled in after a search.
Hotel to Montreal–Trudeau (YUL)
- Leave with padding: a flat-rate taxi or Téo Taxi runs ~$48 CAD and ~25 minutes from Griffintown to YUL; the 747 Express Bus is $11 CAD and ~45–60 minutes. Aim to be at the airport ~90 minutes before the 8:00pm flight — leave the hotel by ~6:00pm. Directions ↗
Fly YUL → YYC → YCD
| Flight | Route | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|
| WS 569 | Montreal (YUL) → Calgary (YYC) | 8:00pm | 10:45pm |
| WS 3739 | Calgary (YYC) → Nanaimo (YCD) · WestJet Encore | 11:35pm | 12:30am Sun |
- Tight Calgary connection: only 50 minutes at YYC (10:45pm → 11:35pm). Domestic-to-domestic, so no security to re-clear, but be ready to move — if WS 569 runs late, this is the connection at risk.
- Eat before you board: most YYC outlets are closing by the time you land at 10:45pm, so have dinner in Montreal or before the return flight rather than counting on the layover.
Drive home to Qualicum Beach
- Late arrival home: WS 3739 lands Nanaimo 12:30am Sunday, then it's the ~1-hour drive back to Qualicum Beach — home around 1:45am. Directions ↗
Appendix
Festival schedule, on-the-ground tips, and people to meet — reference detail beyond the day-by-day plan above.
Full Schedule📅 Add to Calendar
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, Jul 8 | ||
| 10:15–10:40am | "The Fight of Our Lives" — Harley Finkelstein (Shopify President) & Georges St-Pierre | Port Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 10:20am | DCG Fintech Grant — my pitch (10 finalists present, round runs 10:00am–2:30pm) | DCG Booth, Startupfest Village, 200 De la Commune St W Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 11:30am–12:30pm | AMA & Meet the Investors — founder-facing Q&A with VCs; catch a window between pitch-round slots | Sky Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 2:40–3:25pm | Investing at the Frontier — VC panel with Eva Lau, Haley Bryant, Christina Moro & Isaac Souweine; right after your pitch round wraps | Sky Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 6:00–10:00pm | Sweet 16 Party — best informal networking window, judges/VCs/finalists all loose here | — |
| 6:30–9:30pm | Judges' & Finalists' Dinner, hosted by DCG — confirmed attending | Dorsia, 396 R. Notre Dame O Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| Thu, Jul 9 | ||
| 10:10–10:40am | Fundraising Diagnosis with Misti Cain (Mighty Capital) — where your raise stalls, and why | Port Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 10:00am–2:00pm | DCG Fintech Grant — Top 5 shortlist presentations | DCG Booth, Startupfest Village, 200 De la Commune St W Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 11:50am–12:20pm | Preparing for the Exit from Day 1 with Catherine Ouellet-Dupuis — defensibility and value, useful if you fundraise off this | Port Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 1:35–2:05pm | "Data Rooms in 2026" with Fatima Khamitova (Vector Institute) — fundraising documentation essentials | Sky Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 5:00–7:00pm | Fintech Social, hosted by Fintech Cadence & Station Fintech (optional, free — register: luma.com/w91dci5u) | — |
| Fri, Jul 10 | ||
| 9:00am–12:00pm | CorpoFest — Québec tech productivity sessions (French only); skippable, arrive for the 4pm results | Sky Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 11:05am–3:35pm | $100K Investment Prize Finals — six back-to-back finals (Best of the Fest, Impact, Women in Tech, and more) judged live by angels and VCs; the room is dense with investors all afternoon | Port Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 4:00–6:00pm | Closing Ceremony ("And the Winners Are…") — Fintech Grant winner announced | Port Stage Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
| 6:00pm | Unofficial Closing Cocktail (optional) — the networking afterward is often as valuable as the festival itself | 200 De la Commune St W Map ↗ · Directions ↗ |
Rows in cream highlight the DCG Fintech Grant program itself; everything else is festival programming worth catching around it.
Tips
- Dress casual: the event is primarily indoors this year, but Montreal summers can still bring heat and humidity. Shorts, jeans, T-shirts, and comfortable shoes are fine.
- Layer up for evenings: the Grand Quay is outdoor and indoor space on the St. Lawrence waterfront.
- Bring a reusable water bottle: free refill stations on-site.
- Bring valid ID and a card: food and bar purchases on-site are debit/credit only, no cash accepted, and ID is required at the bar.
People to Talk To
Start at the Startupfest Village for Braindates and Match-ups, the festival's built-in ways to connect with attendees. Also look for Office Hours: 6 themed mentor offices on-site, walk up and join, no reservation needed. If you want to pitch beyond the DCG Fintech Grant, other Startupfest Investment Prizes are open to any attendee: line up at the prize space in the Village and pitch directly to the judges, 1–2 minutes, semi-private (not from stage).
Bank-affiliated VC arms — most relevant to a fintech grant finalist
Generalist / fintech-adjacent VCs
Accelerators & programs
AI / data
Media & organizer
Speaker lineup and schedule pulled from startupfest.com in June 2026 — confirm session times and stage locations against the live app closer to the date. LinkedIn profile URLs verified by name and company as of June 2026, but double-check you've got the right person before connecting.
Checklist
My pitch
Open my pitch page → · DCG Fintech Grant, 10:20am July 8.