ABOUT MATERA

Matera is a leading global provider of digital ledger software, QR code technology, and instant payment solutions tailored for financial institutions. Trusted by two of the top three global banks, three of the top 10 U.S. banks, and one-third of all banks in Brazil, Matera is expanding its footprint into Canada.

Digital Twin
QR  Code Solution
Wallet as a Service

ABOUT MATERA

Matera is a leading global provider of digital ledger software, QR code technology, and instant payment solutions tailored for financial institutions. Trusted by two of the top three global banks, three of the top 10 U.S. banks, and one-third of all banks in Brazil, Matera is expanding its footprint into Canada.

Digital Twin
QR  Code Solution
Wallet as a Service

WHY ATTEND

Launch the Next Big Thing

Dreaming big is easier when you’re part of a community. At Innovation Weekend, you’ll find the support, inspiration, and expertise to turn your ideas into reality alongside like-minded entrepreneurs, paving the way for something extraordinary.

Ignite Connections with Trailblazers

The Innovation FinTech Weekend is your gateway to a thriving network of visionaries. Whether you’re looking for new friends, collaborators, mentors, co-founders, or investors, this is the ultimate space to connect with individuals who share your drive to build and innovate.

Learn from Industry Leaders

Discover the secrets of innovation from experts who’ve successfully navigated the startup world. With hands-on guidance, you’ll gain invaluable insights into what it takes to disrupt industries and launch a successful business.

Sharpen Your Skills

Accelerate your growth with targeted workshops designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to reach the next level. Whether it’s business strategy or cutting-edge tech, the Innovation Weekend offers the tools you need to thrive.

CIMMO Certification

CIMMO will offer all participants free access to a Career Development Certification entitled “I’ve Graduated, What’s Next? How to Build Your Personal Brand,” designed to support their personal and professional growth.

This course includes:

  • A self-assessment tool
  • Guidance on creating a professional e-portfolio
  • Goal-setting strategies
  • Supplemental materials tailored to each program.

Participants will learn how to overcome career stagnation, gain recognition for their work, develop skills for writing compelling proposals, boost productivity, explore new career opportunities, and improve collaboration.

The regular price for this certification is $465.00.

CIMMO
Certification

CIMMO will offer all participants free access to a Career Development Certification entitled “I’ve Graduated, What’s Next? How to Build Your Personal Brand,” designed to support their personal and professional growth.

This course includes:

  • A self-assessment tool
  • Guidance on creating a professional e-portfolio
  • Goal-setting strategies
  • Supplemental materials tailored to each program.

Participants will learn how to overcome career stagnation, gain recognition for their work, develop skills for writing compelling proposals, boost productivity, explore new career opportunities, and improve collaboration.

The regular price for this certification is $465.00.

FAQ

No prior experience is required—just a passion for innovation and technology.

Bring your creativity, a laptop, and a collaborative mindset! All other tools will be provided.

Absolutely! This event is designed for participants to connect with industry leaders, mentors, and peers.

Yes, complimentary food, snacks, and beverages will be provided throughout the three days of the event.

SCHEDULE

  • 5:00 PM – Check-In
  • 5:30 PM – Networking & Set-Up
  • 6:00 PM – Opening Remarks
    Refreshments will be provided
  • 6:30 PM – Inspirational Session
    Zamir Frotan, Global Lead, Business Operations Strategy @ United Nations
    Power Pitch
    Groups have 1 min to pitch their project to the mentors
  • 7:40 PM – Matera Solutions
    Matera team will present their platforms
  • 8:00 PM – Networking & Refreshments

  • 8:00 AM – Fintech Breakfast
  • 8:30 AM – Competition Orientation
  • 9:00 AM – Talk: FinOps, Controlling Cloud Costs
    Sergio Loza, Professor @ TBC and Consultant @ Brainwork
  • 9:30 AM – Start
    Groups start working on validating the problem and define value proposition
  • 12:00 PM – Working Lunch & Networking
  • 12:30 PM – Talk: Advantages of Instant Payment Platforms
    Marcos Goulart, Sr VP of Business Dev for FI’s & Cash Automation @ GardaWorld Cash service
  • 1:00 PM – Develop Technical Solution
  • 3:00 PM – Talk: MVP Workshop
    Stéfano Helou Frontini, Fintech & Capital Markets Strategies @ Allidem and a55
  • 6:00 PM – Dinner & Networking

  • 8:00 AM – Power up Breakfast
  • 9:00 AM – Working Session with Mentors
  • 9:30 AM – Prepare Final Deck
    Groups finish their challenge and send the final presentation to the organizers
  • 12:00 PM – Working Lunch & Networking
  • 12:30 PM – Pitch Practice
    Mathew Mozaffari, Co-Founder @ Speer and Chief Technology Officer @ Grata
  • 2:30 PM – Presentations: First Round of the Competition
  • 5:00 PM – Networking & Refreshment
  • 5:30 PM – Talk: Quantum Safe Encryption
    Mark Jarvis, Financial Services Sector Leader @ IBM
  • 6:00 PM – Finalists Pitch their Solutions
  • 7:00 PM – Awards & Closing Remarks
    Geoff Russell – Regional Sales Director @ Convergint Technologies
  • 8:00 PM – Celebration & Dinner

Sponsors & Partners

SPONSORS & PARTNERS

Sponsors

Simon MacQueen

CEO @ TBC and Brainwork


Simon has dedicated his career to driving transformative change through education and fostering innovation in the business world.

He has worked in a variety of fields and lived in different parts of the world, where he applied a framework of historical and global perspective to these projects.

Since he acquired and expanded a school to help international students and newcomers obtain the skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in Canada’s job market, he has held leadership positions in post-secondary institutions and has led new startup initiatives with the goal of helping people and organizations thrive through the use of technology.

Thierry Sebastien Battistini

Canada Country Manager @ Matera


Thierry currently works as a Canada Country Manager in Matera and a RedwolfAI founder.

He has 23 years of experience as a business and financial strategist with a dynamic record of achievement in design and implementation of sophisticated transformational business management and technology initiatives.

He led the team which developed the proof of concept that the Brazilian Central Bank used to guide its Open Banking public consultation. He was hired directly by the former Central Bank President Henrique Meirelles to unlock the launch of the very first 100% digital bank (Blanco Original). Thierry was the first Brazilian CreditTech CTO (Gero now Open-Co). He sold the nogord.io low code company to Experian in Brazil.

GUESTS

Mathew Mozaffari (Speaker & Judge)

Co-Founder @ Speer
Chief Technology Officer @ Grata

Matthew has a passion for computer science which stems beyond the academic and theoretical study of programming.

He believes computer science is just the edge of what we can build.

With these programming tools, we can build solutions in any field and work with the best minds of STEM to help innovate our world to make life easier.

Fast forward to 2019 Mathew has presented on various panels in different universities, hosted a technology and innovation panel with the biggest technology companies in the world.

He has travelled to 6 different countries for various competitions and has been selected as a Top 30 Developer Under 30 in Canada.

Throughout the last 3 years, Mathew has been the youngest at a consulting firm who took on a lead developer and project management role.

He has also designed applications and led end to end project development for various firms – from designing, to MVP, to beta release and production.

Zamir Frotan (Speaker)

Global Lead, Business Operations Strategy
@ United Nations

An experienced business operations strategist and management consultant with expertise in change management, organisational development, and business strategy. Zamir possesses a unique skill set essential to driving business efficiency with an MBA in Management, BA in Business Administration, and a certified Project Management Professional.

Zamir has successfully rolled out business operations strategies for the United Nations in 131 countries, delivering positive results in complex environments. With his change management and business strategy expertise, he has helped organisations achieve their goals and drive success.

As the Global Lead for Business Operations Strategy (BOS 2.0) and Global Shared Services in the UN System, Zamir coordinates the efficiency and reform efforts. With a focus on bringing cost reduction and quality improvement to operational services through business consolidation, collaboration, change management and management advisory. Some of his responsibilities include providing technical support to UN Country Teams and regional offices, developing partnerships with the private sector, and designing and implementing change management initiatives to make the UNCTs and RCPs/ROMTs self-sufficient in leading collaborative operations. Zamir also generates and analyses surveys, organize meetings, and conducts training workshops and seminars to support the implementation of Business Operations Strategies Policy.

Through his efforts, the UN System has optimized its operational services and improved client satisfaction while reducing costs. My work has helped drive organizational change and capacity building, resulting in a more efficient and effective UN System.

Bruno Biazzini (Mentor)

Director of Operations
@ Inner Cool Systems

Bruno is a dynamic business consultant and Director of Operations with a diverse background. Passionate about driving growth and fostering innovation, Bruno helps businesses overcome challenges through strategic thinking, adaptability, and strong interpersonal connections.

His people-focused approach emphasises collaboration and empathy, ensuring success within teams and with clients. Drawing on international market experience, Bruno delivers global insights and innovative solutions that position businesses for sustainable growth.

Bryan Chiasson (Judge)

Vice President
@ Access Group Inc.

Bryan is a dynamic and results-driven professional with extensive experience in Business Sales and Leadership, with a proven track record in Business Development, Sales Management and Marketing. Passionate about driving growth and fostering innovation through technology, he helps businesses achieve their business outcomes by delivering simplicity which drives growth.

Bryan adopts a people-centric approach that prioritizes collaboration and empathy, fostering success both within teams and in client relationships. Leveraging extensive national market experience, he provides valuable insights and innovative solutions that strategically position businesses for sustainable growth.

Sergio Frias (Mentor)

CEO
@ CX Hub

Sergio had a remarkable career in construction and aerospace industry serving as VP of large corporations such as Embraer, Bombardier and De Havilland, leading important organizational transformation in those companies. He supports large corporations to improve productivity.

He has created a successful methodology called NICE to guide enterprises with the tools they need to have better customer services.

Iram Tanvir (Mentor)

Professor and Course Lead for Marketing Strategy 
@ Yorkville University

Iram is an accomplished marketing educator with over 15 years of experience. Currently a Professor and Course Lead for Marketing Strategy at Yorkville University, she is known for leading innovative student initiatives like PowerHour, a forum exploring cutting-edge business trends, and YU LaunchPad, which showcases student entrepreneurship.

Iram actively supports student entrepreneurs, guiding them from idea to execution.

She is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Board and the University of Richmond Advisory Board.

Dr. Gurleen Kaur (Mentor)

Professor
@ Sheridan College and Georgian College

Dr. Gurleen is an esteemed Assistant Professor with a robust background in higher education, specializing in Cloud Computing and Machine Learning. Holding a Ph.D. from Thapar University and a Master of Computer Applications from Punjab Agricultural University, she demonstrates proficiency in R, Cloud, Data Analytics, and Operating Systems. Dr. Kaur exhibits expertise across various programming languages and tools, including Python, Java, Microsoft Azure, and AWS.

Throughout her illustrious career spanning 10 years, Dr. Kaur has distinguished herself in teaching and leadership roles. Presently serving as a Professor at Sheridan College and Georgian College in Toronto, she adeptly delivers captivating lectures, formulates course curriculum, and meticulously evaluates student performance. Her adeptness extends to online teaching platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, and Moodle.

In addition to her pedagogical endeavors, Dr. Kaur has significantly contributed to cloud computing research, as evidenced by her prolific publications in esteemed scientific journals. She actively contributes to the advancement of scientific knowledge as a reviewer for various international scientific journals. Her insights and expertise have been instrumental in ensuring the quality and rigor of research publications in her field.

With an unwavering dedication to academia and a continuous pursuit of professional growth, Dr. Gurleen Kaur remains at the forefront of advancing computer science education. Beyond her scholarly pursuits, she indulges in various interests, including music, podcasts, hiking, cooking, and staying abreast of news and current affairs.

Mohamed Matar (Mentor)

Professor
@ Georgian College

Mohamed is an accomplished professional and educator with a dynamic blend of academic expertise and 24 years of business experience. He holds a PhD and MSc in Civil Engineering, specializing in sustainability, along with an MBA, which has empowered him to navigate and lead across various industries. His career spans strategic management, international business, real estate development, and sustainability.

In his academic role, Mohamed is a passionate professor of Strategic Management, International Business, Market Entry Strategies, and Business Management, having taught at institutions such as McMaster University and Georgian College Toronto Campus. He is recognized for his innovative teaching techniques, course development, and mentorship. His dedication to research has resulted in multiple publications and over 210 citations in international journals, contributing significantly to sustainable systems modeling and construction management.

Professionally, Mohamed has held senior roles in major real estate and consulting firms in both local and international contexts. At Mountain View Real Estate and DMG, he led strategic planning, project development, and corporate sustainability initiatives, overseeing real estate development projects totaling 2,500 acres and generating over $9.3 billion in revenue. As a consultant, he has worked on a wide range of projects related to business strategy, organizational development, strategic management, and business process reengineering.

Marcos Goulart (Speaker & Judge)

Sr VP of Business Dev for FI’s & Cash Automation
@ GardaWorld Cash Services

Marcos is currently Senior Vice President of Business Dev for FI’s and Cash Automation at GardaWorld Cash Services, the world’s largest privately owned security services company, with over 25 years of experience in developing products and markets across various industries and segments. He has a postgraduate degree in strategic administration, a further specialization in Neuroscience applied in Economics and a strong background in technical sales, international business, new business development, financial markets, and open innovation.

His passion is to create tailored solutions for the financial and payments sectors, leveraging emerging technologies such as Instant Payments, DeFi, OpenFinance, and CBDC. He has successfully implemented cash automation projects for major banks, retailers, and governments, increasing revenue, margin, and cash flow in a massive, but sustainable manner. He also mentors startups, manage open innovation programs, and serve as board of advisors member for several organizations. His current mission is to drive digital transformation and innovation into the cash management industry.

Mark Beider (Mentor)

Founder @ Mark Beider Tutoring
Director of Finance @ Blue Dawn Properties

Mark is a professional with 15 years of experience in providing full-service tutoring, credential assessments and application assistance. The application assistance ranges from minor editing all the way to complete application construction with the student across multiple schools, simultaneously.

Mark has tutored several hundred students across his 15 years and has aided them in attending schools across Canada and the United States, including: Harvard, Columbia, Stanford U of T and UBC. He believes that students succeed when they are able to control the space in which they learn.

Mark also has extensive experience working with students with disabilities. He has worked with students who have dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, processing speed and working memory issues, and much more. Mark has great expertise in specialized tutoring and content material for LSAT, GMAT, GRE and MCAT exams. Leveraging his math degree and extensive experience, Mark also specializes in acquisitions and optimizing operational expenses to enhance property performance.

Sergio Loza (Speaker and Mentor)

Professor @ TBC
Consultant @ Brainwork

Sergio has 20 years of global experience in technology industry

He has expertise in Cloud architecture, DevOps, IT security, SaaS product management (ideation, design, development, pricing, customer support), sales leadership (revenue and sales management, team building). Cloud investment analysis, FinOps, and enterprise software negotiation.

He launched the IBM Garage, supported large enterprises, directed consulting business, led Business Units (Cloud platform and Software), led regional Cloud Sales Businesses. He Supported global enterprise clients building complex distributed applications, including IBM mainframes and Unix servers, high-transaction rate systems and container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes) for very large ($500 bn+ in assets) financial services organizations, IoT systems for renewable energy, manufacturing, insurance, and telecommunications companies, and BI and AI systems for telecommunications and banking industries.

Stéfano Helou Frontini (Speaker & Mentor)

Strategist
@ Allídem / a55 / Deutsche Bank

Stéfano is a specialist in fintech, strategy, growth, and financing, with 12 years of experience in capital markets.

He has been working at Deutsche Bank for 6 years as part of the Investment Banking team, participating in USD 500M in financings.

As CFO of a55 from its inception, he has worked on the structure from Angels to Series A round, co-raised over $6M in equity. a55 fintech has financed $130M for over 600 tech and digital-based companies in Brazil and Mexico.

As Advisor at Allídem, a strategic consulting firm focused on fintech positioning and growth, Stéfano has been overseeing 11 strategic projects (BEE4, Edmond, Moya).

Having lived in the USA, England, Germany, and currently Canada, Stéfano is passionate about business growth and diverse cultures. He has been an honorary member of IFL-SP (The Leaders Institute of São Paulo) for 6 years.

Liana Baciu (Mentor)

Agile Coach
@ RBC

Liana is a senior manager at RBC helping digital teams and leaders to adopt better ways of working and to bring increasing value to clients.

With experience in product delivery, product management and change management in several industries, Liana loves supporting the next generation of adventurers.

Geoff Russell (Speaker)

Regional Sales Director
@ Convergint Technologies

A recognized agent of change with nearly 15 years’ experience building highly effective, cross functional teams to deliver on engineering and software solution services. Experience in developing and implementing team-embraced metrics that result in long term, measurable impact across multiple business segments.

Whether tackling new initiatives or rebuilding lean, profitable, and effective teams, Geoff craves collaborative problem solving. In a team or as an individual contributor, Geoff is proficient in adaptive change hurdling across organizational boundaries delivering industry wide impact.

Garvin Ferdinand (Mentor)

Professor @ TBC

Lecturer with extensive experience in strategic planning, financial analysis, and business development. Currently teaching at Toronto Business College, Garvin brings a wealth of industry knowledge to his students in International Finance and Economics.

With a background in leading cross-functional teams, he has driven innovation and operational efficiency across sectors, holding an MBA in International Business and a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University.

Throughout his career, Garvin has successfully overseen major initiatives, from managing large corporate portfolios in Canada and the Middle East to driving revenue growth and product development at RuveneCo Inc.

His leadership and commitment to excellence have earned him recognition, including the Bank’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Garvin’s deep knowledge of the financial sector, coupled with his experience as an educator, makes him a valued mentor and strategist in today’s complex business environment.