NextGEN · 2026 Honorees
Nominations are now open.
July 25, 2026 · Anvil Centre
Who
Investors · Founders · Owners
When
July 25, 2026
Where
Anvil Centre, BC
Runtime
08:00 — 18:00 PST
Government, enterprise, and operators — on one stage, in one room, for one unforgettable day.
No. of Seats
200
Curated room. One day.
NextGEN · 2026 Honorees
Nominations are now open.
July 25, 2026 · Anvil Centre
NextGEN Founder Stage
Five minutes to present, five minutes with judges, and one curated room of investors, operators, partners, and business builders.
Up to 10 minutes total stage time
— The Audience
Not for spectators. This is the room where British Columbia’s investors, founders, and business owners spend a single deliberate day together.
Meet vetted founders & operators building what’s next in British Columbia — curated for signal, not noise.
A clear read on the economy, new tech, and the playbooks that move revenue and raise capital in 2026.
Proven strategies in sales, marketing, franchising and ops — from leaders who’ve scaled, sold, and led.
— The Takeaway
Six outcomes. One unforgettable day. Each one earned by the room — not delivered from a slide deck.
Government insight on AI, technology, and what is coming for BC businesses.
Sales, marketing, franchising, technology, and scaling tools from BC's top leaders.
Investors, founders, and business owners — all in one room, one day.
Direct proximity to the people shaping BC business policy right now.
Learn from those who have built, scaled, sold, and led at the highest levels.
Stop building alone. Find your room.
— Why this summit exists
Most business owners are building alone.
Without the right information.
Without the right people.
Without a clear picture of where the economy is heading.
NextGen is the day you stop building in the dark.
— The People
Confirmed speakers with complete profiles appear first. Additional scheduled contributors and pending roles are listed below as details are finalized.
— Featured Voices
13 confirmed
Government AddressMinister of State for AI and New Technologies
Province of British Columbia
Session —Government Address: AI, Emerging Technology & Government Support for BC Businesses — Live Moderated Q&A
Tech-sector engineer turned MLA. Appointed Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence & New Technologies in July 2025 — bringing first-hand industry experience to BC policy.
Rick Glumac was first elected as MLA for Port Moody-Coquitlam (now Port Moody-Burquitlam) in 2017. He was appointed as Minister of State for AI and New Technologies in July 2025.
Rick comes to government from the tech sector and a background in computer engineering. He previously served as Minister of State for Trade, Parliamentary Secretary for Technology, as well as Premier's Liaison to Washington state.
Rick graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Electronics Engineering. He has worked in a variety of high-tech industries, including animation on films such as Shrek 2, video games, and developing mobile apps for Fortune 500 companies. Rick understands first-hand the value of B.C.'s high-tech sector and the benefit it brings to the economy.
BC Economic LandscapePresident & CEO
BC Business Council
Session —Keynote: The BC Economic Landscape — Opportunities & Realities for Small & Medium Business
Nationally recognized policy leader behind Canada's Red Tape Awareness Week. Published by the OECD and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy.
Laura Jones is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Business Council of British Columbia, a non-partisan organization representing leading businesses across all sectors of the provincial economy. She is a nationally recognized public policy leader, known for her work on regulatory modernization and economic competitiveness, including the creation of Canada's annual Red Tape Awareness Week.
Laura has chaired the federal External Advisory Committee on Regulatory Competitiveness and has advised governments at both the provincial and federal levels. Before joining the Business Council, she was the Chief Strategic Officer and Executive Vice President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, where she led national advocacy, research, and member engagement initiatives.
Her work has been published by the OECD and the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Mount Holyoke College and an M.A. in Economics from Simon Fraser University.
Strategic RelationshipsCEO
Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade
Session —Command the Room — Make Every Relationship Count
20+ years across stakeholder relations, government affairs, and communications — driving economic growth and business advocacy across the region.
Joslyn Young is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in stakeholder relations, government affairs, and communications.
As CEO of the Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade, she drives economic growth and business advocacy. Her background includes leadership roles at the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, CN Rail, and regional municipal organizations.
Sales & MarketingPresident
EleWin Consulting Inc.
Session —Stop Chasing and Start Closing — Win Faster and Bigger with a Revenue Machine That Delivers
BC's exclusive Sandler-certified Sales & Leadership coach. 25+ years of B2B sales leadership turning conversations into predictable revenue.
Shams Hirani is the President of EleWin Consulting Inc., BC's exclusive Sandler Sales and Leadership coaching firm. With over 25 years of B2B sales leadership experience and an MBA in Marketing and Business Development, Shams works with small and mid-sized businesses to build high-performing sales teams, sharpen sales processes, and drive sustainable revenue growth.
As a Sandler-certified coach and trainer, he brings practical, no-nonsense frameworks that help business owners and sales professionals close faster, close at full value, and stop leaving money on the table. He is known for turning sales conversations into consistent, predictable revenue for his clients.
Summit WelcomeCEO
CoreOrbit Systems Ltd.
Session —Founder Welcome Address
CEO & Co-Founder of CoreOrbit, COEngine & NextGen Summit. Building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in BC, one room at a time.
Jasmeen Kaur Judge is the CEO & Co-Founder of CoreOrbit, COEngine, and the NextGen Summit — a BC-based marketing, systems & automations firm and technology company built to help entrepreneurs transform their operations, scale with confidence, and lead the future of business.
With a deep commitment to building a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in British Columbia, Jasmeen founded the NextGen Business Summit, BC's most anticipated business event of 2026, bringing together investors, founders, Govt. and business leaders for one powerful day of insight, strategy, and connection.
She believes every entrepreneur deserves a seat at the table, and she built this event to make that possible.
MCMC
NextGEN Summit
Session —Full-Day MC
Board leader, business consultant, and event organizer building meaningful connections between organizations, newcomers, and BC professional networks.
With over 8 years of Board leadership experience (including serving as Board Chair), and a strong background in HR, event organizing, business consulting, and workforce development, Badhri plays a key role in shaping CoreOrbit's direction and market presence.
Badhri specializes in building meaningful connections between organizations, newcomers, industry partners, and community networks. His work includes leading business consulting initiatives, strengthening brand visibility, and organizing impactful networking and professional events that bring people together.
His approach is rooted in collaboration, inclusion, and creating platforms where professionals and organizations can connect, grow, and succeed. At CoreOrbit, he is committed to elevating community impact and expanding opportunities for newcomers, entrepreneurs, and professionals across BC.
AI at Global ScaleFounder & CEO
Aiman El-Ramly Promotional Group (AEPG)
Session —AI at Global Scale — What the Next Generation of Business Must Know
Founder, board director, and strategic growth architect turning fragmented signals into accountable execution.
Aiman El-Ramly is a founder, board director, and strategic growth architect focused on building AI-native platforms that transform decision-making in complex environments.
He is the Founder and CEO of Aiman El-Ramly Promotional Group (AEPG), with a focus on helping leaders translate fragmented market signals into clear strategy and accountable execution.
He co-founded ZE PowerGroup Inc. and ZE Power Engineering, scaling global businesses, and serves as a board director at Zema Global Data Corporation and Yocale.
Aiman holds an MBA from Royal Roads University, a BA from the University of British Columbia, and is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC).
Land AcknowledgementKnowledge Keeper & Founder
Talaysay Tours
Session —Indigenous Land Acknowledgement & Knowledge Keeper Address
Indigenous entrepreneur, TED speaker, and Tourism Woman of the Year. Co-Owner of Talaysay Tours and founder of THEDA X NENA, rooted in Squamish and Sechelt Nation teachings.
Born and raised within the Squamish Nation and Sechelt Nation, Talaysay Campo is a respected Indigenous entrepreneur and health and wellness advocate, specializing in business leadership, cultural revitalization, and economic reconciliation.
As co-owner of Talaysay Tours, she has helped build one of British Columbia's leading Indigenous cultural tourism businesses, creating transformative land-based experiences that advance cultural education, environmental stewardship, and reconciliation through Indigenous knowledge and ethnobotany. Under her leadership, the company continues to strengthen relationships between Indigenous communities, corporate partners, educational institutions, and the tourism sector.
Talaysay is also the founder of THEDA X NENA, a skincare line rooted in plant medicine from the North Shore Mountains, inspired by the teachings of her matriarchs and created in honour of her mother, Candace Theda Campo. The brand reflects generations of ancestral knowledge, healing, and connection to the land.
Her leadership has been recognized through BC tourism industry awards, including honouring her contributions to Indigenous tourism and being recognized as Tourism Woman of the Year. She has also shared her voice as a TED speaker through her presentation, "The Door of Opportunities," where she speaks to resilience, identity, and creating pathways for future generations.
Above all, Talaysay is most proud of being an auntie to Simaya and Cyrus Campo, grounding her work in family, legacy, and the responsibility of carrying culture forward for the next generation.
Panel 2 ModeratorVice-President, Marketing
OSI Digital
Session —Panel 2 Moderator
VP Marketing at OSI Digital. 30-year trailblazer in Canadian PR & tech — first woman of South Asian heritage to practice PR in Canada. BC Business Woman of the Year 2023.
Karen Dosanjh is a trailblazer in the Marketing, Public Relations & Communications industry in Canada. Throughout her remarkable 30-year career, Karen has overcome both gender and cultural barriers to reach new heights in the business and technology sector.
She serves as the Vice-President, Marketing at OSI Digital and leads the global marketing strategy for the leading AI & digital transformation solutions provider. Karen is a force to be reckoned with in Canada's technology sector and was instrumental in the launch of three successful tech start-ups throughout her career including Bit Stew Systems.
Karen is recognized as the first woman of South Asian heritage to practice public relations (PR) in Canada. She began her career in public relations in 1992 and is recognized as a trailblazer in the Canadian PR field.
In 2023, Karen was named a BC Business "Women of the Year" in the "Entrepreneurial Leader" category and was the first woman of Punjabi heritage to be featured on the cover of the magazine. In 2025, Karen Dosanjh was named a Top 20 South Asian Influencer in Vancouver by Urban Asia, and she also won the Times of Canada Business Luminary Award in the same year for her contributions to the business landscape in Canada.
FranchisingFranchise Expert
Franchise 101 Inc.
Session —Panel 2: The New Face of Franchising: Women, Immigrants, and the Next Generation of Franchise Owners in Canada & Q/A
Almost 40 years in franchising. Recognized by Global Franchise Magazine as the go-to expert for Canadian franchising. Expert Franchise Witness recognized by the Courts.
Norm Friend is widely recognized as an expert in expansion strategies, franchise development and franchisee recruitment with almost 40 years' experience in all aspects of franchising. He was recognized by Global (World) Franchise Magazine as the go-to-expert for Canadian franchising.
Norm has negotiated the sale of over 250 businesses including unit franchises, sub-franchises, and the sale of two Canadian franchise networks. He is recognized by the Courts as an Expert Franchise Witness.
He has presented numerous seminars, and keynote talks to business organizations, universities, colleges, professional associations, and financial institutions throughout North America, including the U.S. Department of Trade and Commerce.
Fireside ChatPrincipal
Varshney Capital Corp.
Session —Fireside Chat: Building and Financing Great Companies — What Actually Matters
Principal of Varshney Capital Corp., founding impact investor, FCPA, FCA, and one of BC's Top 500 Most Influential Business Leaders.
Praveen has been a principal of Varshney Capital Corp., a Vancouver based family office, since 1991. He's also a Founding Director of Pyfera Growth Capital & a Founding Director of Humanitas Smart Planet Fund, both with a social impact focus. Mr. Varshney obtained his UBC Sauder BComm in 1987 and is a FCPA, FCA. He has been a member of the Vancouver Chapter of EO since 1996 and a founding Director & Charter Member of TiE Vancouver since 2000.
He has been a Co-Founder, Director or Officer of many publicly traded and private companies over the years such as one of Canada's first producing diamonds mines, Mogo and Little Kitchen Academy. He also serves or has served on numerous charity boards over the years including The Vancouver Foundation, The Vancouver Police Foundation and Foundations for Social Change.
Praveen is also a recipient of Business in Vancouver's 40 Under 40 Awards, the 2020 Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Wendy McDonald Diversity Awards Outstanding Mentor and a 2025 prestigious King Charles III's Coronation Medal for community service. He was also listed as one of the Top 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in BC 2021-2026.
Fireside ChatSerial Impact Entrepreneur & Investor
Spring Activator
Session —Fireside Chat: Building and Financing Great Companies — What Actually Matters
Serial impact entrepreneur and investor. Co-founder of five ventures, including Spring Activator and Canada's largest early-stage impact investing network.
Keith Ippel is a serial impact entrepreneur and investor. He has co-founded five ventures, including Spring Activator, a Vancouver-based organization created to help change the world through entrepreneurship and impact investing.
To date, Spring has supported 3,000+ entrepreneurs through incubation, acceleration, and investment readiness programs, and has helped 1,100 investors step into impact investing.
Keith also co-founded the Spring Investing Collective, Canada's largest early-stage impact investing network, as well as the Spring Impact Capital Fund, a pre-seed to seed-stage fund focused on the intersection of People and Planetary Health.
FranchisingFranchisee
The Chopped Leaf · Rise & Thrive
Session —Panel 2: The New Face of Franchising: Women, Immigrants, and the Next Generation of Franchise Owners in Canada & Q/A
Entrepreneur, multi-location Chopped Leaf franchisee, co-founder of Creekside Millworks, and founder of Rise & Thrive.
Jas Rai is a high-performing entrepreneur and mother. Jas spent years in the corporate world before making the deliberate choice to build something of her own. She became a Chopped Leaf franchisee, growing her portfolio to multiple locations and mastering every layer of what it takes to run a real business: operations, people, numbers, and growth. She then co-founded Creekside Millworks, expanding her entrepreneurial footprint into the trades: an industry that demands precision, trust, and relentless execution. Through it all, she was intentionally designing a life centered on family and freedom.
Now, Jas channels everything she has earned: the wins, the hard lessons, the boardroom instincts into Rise & Thrive. As a Certified Canfield Success Principles Coach and founder of Rise & Thrive, she creates the room she once needed: a supportive community where women in business strengthen their mindset, understand their money, and believe that bigger is possible. Real strategy. Real accountability. A community that moves with them.
— Scheduled Contributors
Profiles in progress
Confirmation pending
Fireside Chat: Building and Financing Great Companies
Name and profile forthcoming
TBA
Confirmation pending
The New Face of Franchising
Name and profile forthcoming
TBA
Confirmation pending
Sales & Marketing Panel
Name and profile forthcoming
TBA
Confirmation pending
Five live rounds · Two presenters per round
Name and profile forthcoming
TBA
Additional speaker details will be added as confirmations are finalized.
— The Agenda
23 segments · 8:00 AM — 6:30 PM PST · Curated for depth, not noise.
8:00 – 9:00
60 min
Registration
Check in, enjoy morning coffee and refreshments, and begin meaningful conversations with founders, investors, operators, and business leaders.
All attendees
9:00 – 9:10
10 min
Opening
Talaysay Campo opens the summit by acknowledging the land, its peoples, and the responsibility to build business with respect, reciprocity, and community in mind.
Talaysay Campo
Knowledge Keeper & Founder, Talaysay Tours
9:10 – 9:15
5 min
Founder Welcome
Jasmeen Kaur Judge opens NextGEN 2026 with the purpose behind the summit and a clear invitation to participate, connect, and put the day's ideas to work.
Jasmeen Kaur Judge
CEO, CoreOrbit Systems Ltd.
9:15 – 9:20
5 min
Special Address
A focused message for the founders, employers, investors, and community leaders building the next chapter of British Columbia's economy.
Speaker to be announced
9:20 – 9:40
20 min
Government Address
Hon. Rick Glumac examines how AI, emerging technology, and provincial priorities are shaping the opportunities and decisions facing BC businesses.
— Live Moderated Q&A
Hon. Rick Glumac
Minister of State for AI and New Technologies, Province of BC
Moderator — Jasmeen Kaur Judge
9:40 – 10:00
20 min
NextGEN Pitch
Two entrepreneurs take the stage for focused 10-minute pitches, presenting the opportunity, the business case, and the path forward.
— Live Pitch
Judged live for clarity, market, model, and momentum
Two pitch presenters · Names forthcoming
Field
2 founders
Format
10 min each
10:00 – 10:30
30 min
Keynote
Laura Jones delivers a clear-eyed view of BC's economy, separating the headlines from the conditions that matter most to small and medium-sized businesses.
— Keynote
Laura Jones
President & CEO, BC Business Council
10:30 – 10:50
20 min
NextGEN Pitch
Two more entrepreneurs present 10-minute pitches built to communicate the problem, the opportunity, and why their solution deserves attention.
— Live Pitch
The competition field starts to sharpen
Two pitch presenters · Names forthcoming
Field
2 founders
Format
10 min each
10:50 – 11:00
10 min
Connection
A guided audience exercise breaks the ice quickly and helps attendees identify the people, ideas, and opportunities worth pursuing throughout the day.
Audience participation
11:00 – 11:45
45 min
Fireside Chat
Praveen Varshney, Keith Ippel, and a LaunchBC representative examine what makes a company financeable: market proof, disciplined growth, strong operators, and the right capital at the right time.
— Fireside Chat
Praveen Varshney + Keith Ippel + LaunchBC Representative (TBA)
Investor and impact-capital perspectives · LaunchBC representative forthcoming
Moderator — TBA
11:45 – 12:45
60 min
MasterMind Lunch
A working lunch for purposeful introductions, peer problem-solving, and conversations that can move ideas, partnerships, and opportunities forward.
All attendees
12:45 – 1:05
20 min
Relationship Building
Joslyn Young shares practical ways to start stronger conversations, earn trust quickly, and turn a brief introduction into a relationship with lasting business value.
Joslyn Young
CEO, Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade
1:05 – 1:25
20 min
NextGEN Pitch
The third pair of entrepreneurs steps forward with 10 minutes each to make the case for the market, the model, and the momentum behind their businesses.
— Live Pitch
Midday momentum with the room fully warmed up
Two pitch presenters · Names forthcoming
Field
2 founders
Format
10 min each
1:25 – 2:15
50 min
Panel 2
Norm Friend, Jas Dosanjh Rai, and a Scotiabank representative discuss ownership, financing, operating realities, and the pathways opening for a new generation of Canadian franchisees.
— Franchising
Norm Friend + Jas Dosanjh Rai + Scotiabank Representative (TBA)
Franchise expertise, owner experience, and banking perspective
Moderator — Karen Dosanjh
2:15 – 2:35
20 min
NextGEN Pitch
Two entrepreneurs deliver 10-minute pitches designed to show a compelling need, a credible business, and a clear route to growth.
— Live Pitch
Late-stage pressure as the finalist field takes shape
Two pitch presenters · Names forthcoming
Field
2 founders
Format
10 min each
2:35 – 2:50
15 min
Break
Refuel, reconnect, and continue the conversations that deserve more time before the final afternoon sessions begin.
All attendees
2:50 – 3:30
40 min
Sales & Marketing
Shams Hirani and a BDC representative connect sales discipline, market positioning, and business resources to show how growing companies can build a more dependable path to revenue.
— Sales & Marketing Panel
Shams Hirani + BDC Representative (TBA)
Sales, marketing, and business-growth perspectives
3:30 – 3:50
20 min
NextGEN Pitch
The final two entrepreneurs take the stage, each with 10 minutes to make a decisive case for the problem they solve and the business they are building.
— Live Pitch
Final round before the winning idea is revealed
Two pitch presenters · Names forthcoming
Field
2 founders
Format
10 min each
3:50 – 4:40
50 min
AI & Global Business
Aiman El-Ramly separates practical opportunity from noise, examining how AI is changing decisions, operations, markets, and competitive reach for growing companies.
— AI Panel
Aiman El-Ramly
AI, strategy, and global business perspectives
4:40 – 5:00
20 min
NextGEN Honors
NextGEN recognizes people whose leadership, execution, and contribution are creating meaningful progress across business and community.
— Awards Recognition
Honorees to be announced
5:00 – 5:20
20 min
Pitch Results
The winning entrepreneur is announced and recognized for presenting the strongest combination of opportunity, clarity, commercial promise, and execution.
— Winner Announcement
Winner announced live
5:20 – 5:30
10 min
Announcement & Closing
Jasmeen Kaur Judge closes the summit with an important announcement and a direct invitation to carry the day's relationships and decisions into what comes next.
Jasmeen Kaur Judge
CEO, CoreOrbit Systems Ltd.
5:30 – 6:30
60 min
Networking
Reconnect with speakers, partners, founders, investors, and peers while the day's ideas are fresh and the next conversation can still become a real opportunity.
All attendees, speakers, sponsors, and partners
— Partners
The organizations helping NextGEN reach the right business builders, community leaders, resource networks, and professional communities across British Columbia.
Advocacy. Growth. Prosperity.
swrbot.com
A regional business voice helping Surrey and White Rock companies grow through advocacy, education, networking, and economic development.

Engineering mentorship. Scholarships. Community.
speatbc.org
A volunteer-driven non-profit supporting engineers, technologists, students, and newcomers through mentorship, scholarships, and professional connection across BC.
Financing. Advice. Entrepreneur tools.
bdc.ca
The bank for Canadian entrepreneurs, supporting business owners with flexible financing, expert advisory services, capital, and practical resources to keep companies moving forward.

Business news. Intelligence. Events.
biv.com
A trusted source for Metro Vancouver and British Columbia business news, commentary, ranked industry lists, special publications, and events for decision-makers.

A landmark civic & cultural venue in New Westminster — built for the rooms that matter.
— Asked Often
Clear facts for attendees, partners, and anyone evaluating the room before July 25.
01
NextGen Business Summit 2026 is a one-day business event in New Westminster, BC for investors, founders, and business owners. The summit focuses on BC economic insight, AI and emerging technology, financing, franchising, sales, marketing, and practical growth strategies.
02
NextGen Business Summit 2026 takes place on July 25, 2026 from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM PST at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia Street, New Westminster, BC V3M 1B6. The venue is a short walk from New Westminster SkyTrain.
03
The summit is designed for investors, founders, business owners, franchise operators, and growth-minded leaders who want direct access to government insight, capital perspectives, practical revenue strategies, and high-quality business networking in British Columbia.
04
The agenda covers the BC economy, government support, company financing, strategic relationship building, franchising, sales and marketing, AI at global scale, five live NextGEN Pitch rounds, NextGEN Honors, and structured networking throughout the day.
05
Scheduled speakers and contributors include Hon. Rick Glumac, Laura Jones, Talaysay Campo, Jasmeen Kaur Judge, Badhri Narayanan, Joslyn Young, Norm Friend, Karen Dosanjh, Aiman El-Ramly, Shams Hirani, Praveen Varshney, Keith Ippel, and Jas Dosanjh Rai. Additional representatives from LaunchBC, Scotiabank, and BDC will be announced.
06
Registration is available on the official NextGen Summit website at nextgensummit.co through the Register Here section. Tickets are handled through the embedded HiEvents ticket widget on the event page.
— Register Here
“Seats are limited to preserve the quality of the room. Early registrants get priority access to networking sessions and partner introductions.”
Date
July 25, 2026
Venue
Anvil Centre
New Westminster, BC
Capacity
200 seats · Curated
In The Room
Investors · Founders · Owners
Secure checkout powered by HiEvents · Confirmation emailed instantly
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NextGen Summit · 2026
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