Breakout Startups

Pioneering the Future: Breakout Startups Redefine Industries at Web Summit Vancouver 2025

Mr. Noah Palansky, Co-founder and CEO of Taiv, introduced his company’s AI-powered platform, transforming idle venue screens into smart, revenue-generating displays. Taiv’s proprietary hardware and AI detect and replace commercial breaks during live sports, showing targeted content like drink specials, events, and third-party ads relevant to the specific audience and venue.

Taiv has achieved significant growth, raising over $20 million and recognized as Canada’s fourth fastest-growing company with 7,400% three-year revenue growth. Operating in over 3,000 locations across 21 major US markets, Taiv distinguishes itself as a “second-generation” ad network, offering superior targeting, real-time deliverability, and precise measurement compared to traditional advertising methods.

Ms. Arbia Smiti, CEO and Founder of ROSALY, presented her “fintech for good” startup, addressing financial stress in Europe where many live paycheck to paycheck. ROSALY aims to transform payroll into a platform for financial empowerment, offering earned wage access, or “salary on demand,” allowing workers instant access to a portion of their earned wages without debt or fees.

For employers, ROSALY provides an automated, plug-and-play solution integrated with existing payroll software, without affecting cash flow. Serving hundreds of companies across Europe, ROSALY enhances employer branding, reduces employee turnover by up to 27%, and increases applicant attractiveness. The comprehensive app also includes financial education, budgeting tools, and savings programs, achieving an NPS of 74.

Mr. Maxime Barbier, CEO and Co-founder of TimeLeft, introduced his social startup, which reinvents real-life connections by organizing “dinner with strangers” events in over 50 countries. This unique concept brings thousands together weekly, with no swiping or pictures, and participants unaware of companions or venue until the last minute, fostering genuine human connection.

TimeLeft has seated over 1 million people globally and leads the “in real life tech” movement. Mr. Barbier highlighted that loneliness is a symptom of people not “showing up” in real life. He stressed that despite algorithms, true connection emerges when people engage deeply, advocating for real-life tech as the next major trend to counter AI’s tendency to replace human interaction.

Mr. Dima Shvets, Co-founder and co-CEO of Mirai, presented his deep tech company, which brings AI directly onto devices, eliminating the need for cloud infrastructure. Mirai provides developers with fast, privacy-preserving tools to run AI locally on platforms like macOS and iOS, making machine learning more accessible, secure, and efficient, advancing the edge AI revolution.

Mr. Shvets envisions a “post-app era” or “software 3.0,” where AI constructs user experiences on the fly based on intent, moving beyond predefined interfaces. Mirai is developing an “LLMOS” (Large Language Model Operating System) that is intuitive and creates interfaces using text or video, emphasizing fast, personal AI close to user data and context, leveraging powerful local hardware.