Kingston Startup Ecosystem Fireside Chat with Claudio Rojas

Join Kingston’s vibrant startup community for a morning of networking, collaboration, and inspiring conversations.
About this Event

Join Kingston Economic Development for a fireside chat with Claudio Rojas, CEO of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO), exploring what angel investors are looking for in today’s evolving funding environment.

Claudio will share insights into the Canadian and global funding landscape, sectors attracting investor interest, and the factors shaping angel investment decisions in 2026 and 2027.

Topics Include:

• The Funding Landscape: Understand what is happening across the Canadian and global startup funding environment.
• Investor Priorities: Explore what angel investors are considering when evaluating opportunities in 2026 and looking ahead to 2027.
• Industries to Watch: Learn which sectors and emerging areas are expected to attract increased angel investor attention.
• Fireside Chat & Q&A: Hear Claudio’s perspective and ask questions about fundraising, investor expectations, and the evolving investment landscape.

This session is ideal for founders, entrepreneurs, and startups looking to better understand investor priorities and position their businesses for future funding opportunities.

Meet our Guest:

Claudio Rojas

Claudio Rojas has 20 years of experience at the intersection of law, entrepreneurship, and capital formation. As CEO of the National Angel Capital Organization (NACO), he leads a national network of 4,000 angel investors who have deployed $1.92 billion across more than 3,000 portfolio companies, catalyzing the private capital that fuels Canada’s innovation economy.

He has appeared as a witness before the Standing Senate Committee on Banking, Commerce and the Economy, and NACO’s policy work has informed the design of Canada’s $1.75 billion venture capital strategy. Throughout his career, Claudio has championed an entrepreneurial approach to investing in high-growth ventures, combining strategic foresight with decisive action to identify transformational opportunities and drive long-term value creation.

A CFA Charterholder with an MBA from the Ivey Business School and a JD from Western University, Claudio is a lawyer and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He bridges legal, financial, and governance disciplines to strengthen Canada’s innovation economy and advance the entrepreneurs building its future.