Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending The Humans Behind the Next Waveâa collaboration between AAGEF Ontario, La French Tech Toronto, and CDL Paris. It brought together an international crowd of founders, early-stage investors, and ecosystem builders focused on scaling innovation across borders.
It was one of those rare evenings where the energy in the room matches the quality of the ideas. No fluff. No pitching. Just real talk about what it takes to build something enduringâfrom lab to market, and from idea to impact.
Key Takeaways from the Panel: What It Really Takes to Build Deep Tech
The conversation, expertly moderated by Sam Mugel (CTO at Multiverse Computing), was a masterclass in reality-checks for anyone working in or investing in AI and deep tech.
đš Startups are pain. Period.
Especially in deep tech, where cycles are long, uncertainty is high, and the science isnât optional. Founders need stamina, not just vision. Itâs a 10+ year journey, and even if the company doesnât make it, the founder comes out better, sharper, and more valuable. Thatâs not failureâitâs education.
đš AI is not one thing.
We lump AI companies together, but thatâs intellectually lazy. Infrastructure plays vs. productized models vs. vertical-specific solutionsâtheyâre worlds apart. Founders (and investors) need to ask: Whatâs our actual moat when the core tech is increasingly commoditized? If your value prop is "we use AI," you're already behind.
đš Differentiation lives at the intersection.
Some of the most exciting innovations are happening where conceptual capabilities (like generative AI) meet the material world (like neural interfaces, biotech, and manufacturing). Thatâs where breakthroughs compoundâwhen hardware, software, and science collide. If youâre not thinking systemically, youâre missing half the game.
đš Networks matterâbut choose wisely.
Yes, global growth requires global networks. But not all accelerators are created equal. Some founders burn more time pitching to mentors than to customers. Know why youâre joining a program, what you want from it, and how it aligns with your stage. Otherwise, youâre just spinning your wheels with pretty slides.
đš Your startup is global.
If youâre building deep tech, youâre already playing on the global stageâwhether you realize it or not. The question is: what dimensions are you truly competitive on? Fundraising capability? Talent magnetism? Culture of execution? Without focus, you're building a "generally good" startup. And in this market, "generally good" is a fast track to nowhere.
đš Funding â success. Especially if youâre spending it all.
We all hear about the monster rounds in Silicon Valleyâbut few talk about how expensive it is to operate there. A $10M round in Toronto or Paris can go a lot further than $25M in SF. Capital is a tool, not a trophy.
Where the Future Is Going: Tablestakes in 10 Years
If you're placing bets, here are the trends to keep your eye on:
Brain-computer interfaces and neural tech
AI integrated into physical systemsânot just apps or chatbots
Hyper-personalization across healthcare, nutrition, and wellness
Advertising embedded into every digital (and physical) experience
Weâre entering a decade where the boundaries between biology, software, and hardware will blur. Those who understand how to orchestrate across disciplinesâthose who collaborate deeply and scale wiselyâwill shape the next wave.
Final Thought: There Is No Playbook
The evening was a great reminder that cross-border innovation is messy, nonlinear, and profoundly human. We need more honest conversations about the friction, the complexity, and yes, the pain. Because thatâs where real insight lives.
Huge thanks to the organizers, panelists, and attendees who made this such a meaningful exchange. This wasnât just another tech panelâit was a strategy session for the future.
Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plansâspanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deploymentâcritical levers for competitive advantage in todayâs global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.