the Annual STACKT^x SOCIAL CONFERENCE

The STACKT^x Social Conference is a free event inviting Canadian small business owners to an inspiring evening where you’ll connect with passionate entrepreneurs, learn from motivating keynote speakers, discover products from curated small businesses, engage in fireside chats, and enjoy music, food, and drinks—all while taking away key insights to help make your business more successful.

Join us for insights from industry leaders on how creativity, technology, and resilience shape the future of entrepreneurship. This event explores what it means to Futureproof your Business—blending inspiration, practical tools, and real Canadian stories to help you build a brand that thrives today and stays ahead of tomorrow.

Conference Overview:

Welcome to the 2025 STACKTˣ Social Conference for Small Businesses! This year, we’re diving into Futureproofing Local: Reinventing Retail in a Changing World

This is a free event inviting Canadian small business owners to an inspiring evening where you’ll connect with passionate entrepreneurs, learn from motivating keynote speakers, discover products from curated small businesses, engage in fireside chats, and enjoy music, food, and drinks—all while taking away key insights to help make your business more successful.

In today’s ever evolving world, small businesses are navigating a moment of constant change – shaped by shifting consumer behaviours, affordability pressures, climate concerns, and the rapid rise of AI. In the face of these challenges, Canadian retail entrepreneurs continue to innovate, experiment, and build resilient futures.

This year’s Social Conference explores the intersection of resilience, creativity, and technology. The program blends inspiration, practical tools, and Canadian stories to help entrepreneurs build businesses that thrive today – and prepare for what’s next.

Join us for insights, interactive experiences, and networking opportunities. Together, we will elevate the retail evolution, where exceptional tech integration drives success.

Here’s What to Expect at the Event:

• An inspiring keynote from the dynamic Natasha Walji, Managing Director – Google Customer Solutions, Google Canada
• A candid fireside chat with trailblazing small business owners
• A raw and real talk from a featured FuckUp Nights speaker
• Network with like minded entrepreneurs during the Social Session, sponsored by Google Canada
• A chance to shop local at the Small Business Mini Market powered by Interac Corp.
• Delicious food and drinks to keep you fueled
• Live DJ setting the vibe

Speaker Lineup and Agenda:

KEYNOTE

Natasha Walji

Managing Director – Google Customer Solutions, Google Canada

Natasha Walji is the Managing Director for Google Canada focused on helping SMEs grow & thrive using AI-powered solutions. Previously, she was a McKinsey consultant and software developer. Natasha has served the community for 20+ years focused on disaster relief, poverty alleviation, public health and co-founded an organization for children with disabilities. Natasha is an angel investor and Investment Committee member for Blue Ivy Ventures. She holds a BSc., Computer Science (UVic), MBA (Yale) and MSt. Sustainability Leadership (Cambridge). Natasha is recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women (WXN).

HOST

Cherry Rose Tan

Innovation & Mental Health Speaker
Entrepreneur in Residence at Schulich School of Business

Fifth-generation entrepreneur Cherry Rose Tan is the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Schulich School of Business, based in Canada’s third largest university, where she advises an ecosystem of 250 startups and 3,000 members. She leads Advisory and Fundraising services, where Schulich founders have raised $60M in four years, while teaching three MBA courses on Entrepreneurship.

FIRESIDE CHAT – MODERATOR

OLIVIA HO

Owner/CEO, The Give and Grow

Olivia Ho is an ex-health care worker turned entrepreneur amidst the pandemic. Over the last 15 years, she has used sport as a tool to help empower youth in marginalized communities, with an extensive background working in sports camps, after-school programs, and community outreach initiatives.

FIRESIDE CHAT – PANELIST

Marley Alles

Founder, rax App

Marley Alles is the founder of rax, the Airbnb of fashion and Canada’s largest shared wardrobe. It’s a peer-to-peer clothing rental app that lets users earn thousands by lending out their closets or save up to 90% borrowing. Marley’s journey began after noticing her closet had thousands of dollars worth of dresses just sitting there… a friend asked to borrow a dress and she thought how can this be done on a larger scale. She has since been recognized as a Top 30 Under 30 Sustainability Leader, won several pitch competitions securing $65k in non-dilutive funding, and built rax from idea to reality at just age 25, transforming how Canadians think about fashion.

FIRESIDE CHAT – PANELIST

Cansu Koç

Co-Founder, AtlasHaus

A first-generation immigrant and first-time founder, Cansu is redefining what art means in the modern home through her passion for storytelling, design, and connection. With experience supporting innovative start-ups across Canada, she brings creativity and empathy to everything she builds.
As co-founder of AtlasHaus, a Canadian art brand turning personal memories into museum-quality pieces, AtlasHaus bridges the gap between generic wall art and meaningful storytelling, proving that the most powerful stories are the ones we live ourselves.

FIRESIDE CHAT – PANELIST

Rachel Cheng

Co-Founder Misfit Ice Cream

Rachel Cheng is the cofounder of Misfit Ice Cream, a Toronto-based small-batch brand blending creativity, culture, and craft into every scoop. With experience in hospitality and brand strategy, Rachel brings a thoughtful yet playful approach to building memorable food experiences. She’s passionate about collaboration, community, and creating brands that people connect with — one scoop at a time.

FUCKUP NIGHTS – SPEAKER

Jamil Bhuya

Managing Partner at Otherhalf Studio and Founder of Burgers n’ Fries Forever (BFF)

Jamil is the managing partner at Otherhalf Studio, a custom design and development studio that builds beautifully crafted, high-converting Shopify stores from scratch. He leads sales, marketing, and partnerships, helping brands connect strategy with design to create meaningful growth online.
Before joining Otherhalf, Jamil founded Burgers n’ Fries Forever (BFF) in 2013, a cult-favorite burger brand featured on Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here, HuffPost Canada, and Thrillist. After BFF’s acquisition last year, he remains a minority shareholder as the brand scales to over 10 locations across Ontario this year.
He also co-founded Yellow Beauty, a turmeric-based skincare brand that was carried by Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and FabFitFun, and featured in Cosmopolitan, GQ, and Allure.

FUCKUP NIGHTS

Marsha Druker

Founder, Fuckup Nights Toronto

Marsha Druker is passionate about creating community and driving innovation. As the founder of Fuckup Nights Toronto, a speaker series that champions learning through failure, Marsha has built a vibrant and supportive platform where entrepreneurs can openly share their stories. Since its launch in 2017, she has grown it into one of the city’s most popular event series, sparking meaningful conversations around failure, mental health, and resilience. Her work with Fuckup Nights has earned recognition in Forbes, Bay Street Bull’s Top 30 Under 30, CBC The National, CTV The Social, and more.

Marsha is also the Regional Innovation Director (Ontario) at the Canadian Food Innovation Network (CFIN). In this role, she is committed to advancing innovation in the Canadian food ecosystem by building strong partnerships and driving community initiatives that support the growth and success of food and beverage businesses.