Welcome to June at Venn!

We’re jumping into June with sunny vibes, bright ideas, and plenty of momentum! As the days get longer, so does our list of exciting updates, inspiring moments, and opportunities to connect and grow together.

Let’s dive in and see what’s blooming this month!

🌈 Happy pride month from all of us at venn🌈

At Venn, we believe in celebrating the full spectrum of identity and creating an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to be themselves. This month, we’re proud to stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQI+ community and continue fostering a culture of visibility, support, and love.

Welcome to the Team

We're excited to introduce the newest member of our team! Please join us in welcoming Shannon McMackin, our Program Coordinator for Tech Connect Southeast, a Venn Innovation program that connects internationally trained tech professionals with paid work placements in New Brunswick.

She brings over 20 years of experience in recruitment, workforce strategy, and employer outreach. Based in Riverview, Shannon has supported hiring for global companies including Google, PayPal, Cisco, and VMware, and has led recruitment teams across North America, Asia, and Africa. She holds certifications in Contingent Workforce Management, Social Media Marketing, and Leadership through Emotional Intelligence. 

At Tech Connect, Shannon manages program delivery, builds employer relationships, and supports participants through every stage of their placement. She works with funders, civic partners, and industry leaders to ensure the program meets workforce needs and delivers results for both employers and participants.

She also contributes to Civic Tech Moncton, where she helps coordinate technology projects for local non-profits and community organizations.

At home, she enjoys a glass of wine with her husband while watching her kids make Smore's over a campfire, or singing and dancing loudly to their favourite Just Dance songs.

We are also excited to formally introduce our summer interns Jessie Levine-Kpai and Ibrahim Kane!

Jessie is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Commerce from Mount Allison University, specializing in accounting, finance and economics. Passionate about furthering her technical skills, Jessie is gaining hands-on experience in financial planning, data analysis, and event management. With a strong foundation in financial reporting, she is eager to provide support to startups in making decisions for sustainable growth.

Ibrahim is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) at Université de Moncton. Passionate about discovering new things, he is building a solid foundation in information systems design, data management, and business analysis. With a natural curiosity and a love for sports, he brings energy and adaptability to every challenge.

Community Startup Huddle at Crandall

On May 14th, we wrapped up an energizing Community Startup Huddle at Crandall as part of our Entrepreneurship & Innovation Workshop Series. This series is all about equipping aspiring student entrepreneurs with the tools, mindset, and networks they need to thrive in Canada’s dynamic business landscape.

During the event, our student founders confidently pitched their early-stage business ideas to a room full of engaged and supportive professionals. It was an incredible afternoon of crowdsourced wisdom, insightful feedback, and meaningful connections across sectors.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—you helped create a space that was not only inspiring, but also deeply practical for our emerging entrepreneurs. Your time, input, and encouragement truly made a difference as these students take their first steps toward building impactful ventures in our local community.

IDEA Centre Pitch Fest 2025

On May 15th, we gathered to celebrate the IDEA Centre Pitch Fest 2025, our annual showcase of student innovation and entrepreneurship… and what a celebration it was! This year marked our biggest pitch fest yet, with 36 incredibly talented students sharing their bold, creative business ideas.

Held at Venn Innovation, the day was filled with energy and inspiration. From engaging networking to an uplifting guest speaker and live music. The atmosphere buzzed with community spirit. The highlight, of course, was watching our finalists take the stage and confidently present their final pitches.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and supported these emerging entrepreneurs. Your presence, encouragement, and enthusiasm helped make this milestone event truly unforgettable. We can’t wait to see where these young innovators go next!

The Launch of Tech Connect Southeast

In partnership with the McKenna Institute at the University of NewBrunswick, we have officially announced the launch of Tech Connect Southeast, a new program designed to break down barriers and connect job seekers with real opportunities.

Designed for newcomers, underrepresented groups, and those lacking Canadian work experience, this program offers paid work placements, hands-on training, and one-on- one mentorship to help participants gain industry-relevant skills and land meaningful jobs.

The Tech Connect Southeast program will officially get started on June 1, 2025 with Shannon McMackin, who has been playing a leadership role with the Civic Tech movement in the area, serving as the Program Coordinator.

Sparkchange 2025 – Pitch Competition Recap

On Saturday, May 31st, we proudly hosted our first annual Sparkchange Pitch Competition at the Learning Centre right here at the Junction, and what a phenomenal day it was!

The morning kicked off with 10 incredible student teams from various post-secondary institutions pitching their bold, creative, and innovative ideas to a panel of expert judges. After an exciting round of presentations, we broke for lunch, giving students, sponsors, and partners the chance to connect, network, and exchange ideas.

In the afternoon, we welcomed Garage Program entrepreneurs Pascale Michaud from Agrogene and David Sanchéz from DeCarb Inc. for a dynamic Q&A session, where they shared their entrepreneurial journeys, offered valuable advice, and sparked inspiration across the room.

The day wrapped up with the announcement of our winning teams, who walked away with well-deserved prizes and a big round of applause.

1. In first place we had Nicholas Lavalée and Jonathan Belliveau

2. In second place we had Ashish Deshmukh

3. In third place we had Nathalie David

It was a completely bilingual day full of innovation, inspiration, community, and celebration.

A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, partners, judges, volunteers, and student pitchers. This event wouldn’t have been possible without you.

We’re already looking ahead to the next Sparkchange Pitch Competition in March 2026. We can’t wait to see you there!

Venn Friday Office Hours – Startup Mentorship

Congratulations to the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton’s Top 20 Under 40!

NBIF Office Hours

On Tuesday, May 13th, we had the pleasure of welcoming the NBIF team to Venn Innovation for a day of insightful conversation, meaningful connections, and shared ideas around innovation and entrepreneurship in New Brunswick.

Hosted at The Learning Centre, the event featured special guests Jeff White, CEO of NBIF, and Paul Thornton, Innovation Partnership Manager. Their visit provided an invaluable opportunity for current and former Venn-supported startups, as well as aspiring founders, to engage directly with NBIF leadership.

The day kicked off with a warm welcome and an introduction to NBIF’s programs, followed by an open Q&A session that encouraged dynamic discussion on funding, partnerships, and market growth. In the afternoon, Jeff and Paul held one-on-one office hours with entrepreneurs seeking tailored guidance and support for their ventures.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a success. Events like these continue to strengthen our innovation ecosystem and open doors for future collaboration and growth.

Atlantic Fintech – Equifax in Moncton

On May 28th, we were thrilled to welcome Equifax to Moncton for a high-energy morning of networking, learning, and connection, hosted in collaboration with Atlantic Fintech.

Equifax, a global leader in data, analytics, and technology, brought their expertise and insights to our local innovation community. With operations in 25 countries and a team of over 11,000 employees, their presence made for a dynamic and inspiring event.

The morning featured a lively fireside chat and valuable networking opportunities, all wrapped in the energy of big ideas and even bigger potential.

A huge thank-you to Equifax and Atlantic Fintech for making this event possible, and to everyone who came out to be part of the conversation. Moments like this help drive our ecosystem forward.

Supporting NB Entrepreneurs: Your Local Impact

New Brunswick — and Canadian — entrepreneurs create incredible products, from food and beverages to innovative technology. Supporting local businesses strengthens our economy, our communities, and the people behind these brands. There’s no better time than now to #BuyLocal and #BuyCanadian! 🇨🇦

Some of the best products and expertise are right here in New Brunswick. For more ways to support local, check out Excellence NB—a non-profit that showcases businesses, artisans, boutiques, and more from across our picturesque province.

Atlantic Venture Forum | June 4 & 5, 2025 | Halifax Convention Centre

We’re heading to Halifax! The Atlantic Venture Forum is back, bringing together early-stage and growth-stage companies, investors, and tech leaders from across the region. Attendees can expect premium networking opportunities, a standout tech showcase, and fresh insights on innovation and investment trends.

Members of the Venn team will be there to connect, share, and celebrate Startup Atlantic’s 3rd Annual Kitchen Party, a highlight of the forum and a true celebration of our region’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Understanding Market Intelligence – Making sense of a vast sea of information with Kyle Murray-Zelmer

Moncton Tech Hive

June 27, 2025 | 6:00 – 8:00 PM | The Junction