Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending The Humans Behind the Next Wave—a 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 enduring—from lab to market, and from idea to impact.

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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.

🔹 Startups are pain. Period.
Especially in deep tech, where cycles are long, uncertainty is high, and the science isn’t optional. Founders need stamina, not just vision. It’s a 10+ year journey, and even if the company doesn’t make it, the founder comes out better, sharper, and more valuable. That’s not failure—it’s education.

🔹 AI is not one thing.
We lump AI companies together, but that’s intellectually lazy. Infrastructure plays vs. productized models vs. vertical-specific solutions—they’re worlds apart. Founders (and investors) need to ask: What’s our actual moat when the core tech is increasingly commoditized? If your value prop is \"we use AI,\" you're already behind.

🔹 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). That’s where breakthroughs compound—when hardware, software, and science collide. If you’re not thinking systemically, you’re missing half the game.

🔹 Networks matter—but 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 you’re joining a program, what you want from it, and how it aligns with your stage. Otherwise, you’re just spinning your wheels with pretty slides.

🔹 Your startup is global.
If you’re building deep tech, you’re already playing on the global stage—whether 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.

🔹 Funding ≠ success. Especially if you’re spending it all.
We all hear about the monster rounds in Silicon Valley—but 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 systems—not just apps or chatbots
Hyper-personalization across healthcare, nutrition, and wellness
Advertising embedded into every digital (and physical) experience

We’re entering a decade where the boundaries between biology, software, and hardware will blur. Those who understand how to orchestrate across disciplines—those who collaborate deeply and scale wisely—will 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 that’s where real insight lives.

Huge thanks to the organizers, panelists, and attendees who made this such a meaningful exchange. This wasn’t just another tech panel—it was a strategy session for the future.

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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 plans—spanning 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 deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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Peggy Van de Plassche

🤖Shaping Tech Across Borders: The Humans…