SaaS North 2025 PitchFest Highlights: Xena Intelligence Takes the Win
SaaS NORTH marked its 10th anniversary in Ottawa, celebrating a decade of SaaS innovation. UpNext Global was on-site to spotlight 23 founders and the PitchFest-winning moment from Xena Intelligence.
Ottawa, Canada — November 5-6, 2025
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, SaaS North once again brought together Canada’s leading SaaS founders, investors, and innovators for two days of insight, connection, and bold ideas. From the Gateway Stage at the Rogers Centre, 23 ambitious startups stepped into the spotlight to pitch their vision and compete for the SaaS North PitchFest 2025 title.
This milestone year marked a powerful moment for Canada’s SaaS ecosystem, showcasing how founders across the country are scaling meaningful, globally competitive businesses. Our UpNext Global Media Team was on the ground to put a spotlight on the founders who participated in PitchFest and to celebrate this milestone event alongside the community.
Winner: Xena Intelligence
Founder: Akhil Suresh Nair
Focus: AI-powered eCommerce growth analytics
Taking the crown this year, Xena Intelligence impressed judges and the audience alike with its data-driven insights that help consumer brands scale profitably across digital marketplaces. Founder Akhil Suresh Nair delivered a sharp, confident pitch that stood out for both its clarity and commercial potential.
“We’re building a world where every brand — big or small — has the intelligence to compete,” said Nair after the win.
Finalists Who Stood Out
Serenity Vet – Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov
“We’re solving the matchmaking and payment problems for veterinary clinics and freelance vets.”
Serenity Vet connects clinics with freelance veterinarians through a simple digital platform, already working with over 550 vets and 200 clinics across Canada.
Construction Clock – David Peters
“We give small contractors their Saturdays back.”
Construction Clock helps contractors automate timesheets using verified GPS data — saving teams hours of manual tracking every week.
Resilio Climate Solutions – Moustafa Naiem
“We help real estate asset owners understand how climate change affects their portfolios.”
Resilio is building digital twin models to assess and mitigate climate risk, helping developers future-proof assets.
Founders Who Impressed
Purple Wins – Mina Johl
Eezly – Phil Dallaire
AI Eyes – Tara Akhavan & Vanessa Poulin
KrosAI – Joshua Firima Jr.
Kavodax – Gharsa Amin
Parados – Pascal McCarthy
CoLab Education – Ariella Racco
Digibiomix – Meraj Khan
Home.ca – Peyman Aleagha
Cleversearch – Mae Woods
Enablism Technologies – Karan Khiani
Handle – Sabit Ali
CompCrafter – Igbagbo “IG” Ajagunna
Tappy Rewards – Harry Crane
Meet the Founders
Stay tuned as we’ll release full interviews and behind-the-scenes moments from SaaS North’s 10th anniversary. Each conversation reveals the mindset, ambition, and breakthroughs behind Canada’s next generation of SaaS founders.
Follow the stories at UpNext.World or on LinkedIn.
