Startup Festival And Taylor Swift Hackers

Startupfest is back, and it’s shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss.

Running this week (from July 10th to 12th) at the picturesque Grand Quay in the Port of Montreal, this annual gathering has become a staple for entrepreneurs, investors, and tech enthusiasts.
Founded by Phil Telio, Startupfest has grown over the past 14 years into a premier event that attracts global attention.
What makes Startupfest special is its unique blend of high-energy networking, insightful talks, and a summer camp vibe that keeps things both professional and fun.

This year’s lineup is particularly exciting.

Harley Finkelstein from Shopify and his podcasting partner, David Segel (founder of David’s Tea and Firebelly Tea), will be doing a live interview with Heather Reisman (CEO of Indigo Chapters) for their awesome show, Big Shot.
Also, my weekly 6 Links That Make You Think collaborator, Alistair Croll has a new book coming out with his co-author Emily Ross (Director of Brand Strategy and Creative at X – Twitter for Europe Middle East and Africa) called, Just Evil Enough, and they are previewing the content with a workshiop called, Subversive Marketing (that I will be attending).
This event promises a range of activities from mentor sessions (I’ll be a mentor) to pitch contests that give startups a chance to shine (and win some real money and connections).

It’s three days packed with opportunities to learn, connect, and grow.

Lastly, my startup (ThinkersOne) is providing a handful of 15-minute virtual keynote presentations courtesy of Mark Bowden, Dorie Clark, Amy Landino, and Ron Tite.
So, get your tickets and prepare to be inspired.

Also this week… Hacking is no longer just a shadowy, underground activity – it’s big business.

The latest headline-grabber?
Hackers are holding the data of 440,000 Taylor Swift ticket holders for ransom, demanding a cool $8 million.
This incident, involving Ticketmaster is a glaring example of how hacks have become alarmingly common and sophisticated.

This isn’t just a tech issue… it’s a societal one.

The normalization of paying ransoms to get on with business is a very real relaity.
Hackers know the value of their loot and price it just right – enough to hurt, but not enough to make fighting back seem worth it.
Companies not only face the ransom but also deal with recovery costs, legal fees, and potential fines (even legal action from their consumers).

So, what’s the solution?

Paying ransoms may seem like a quick fix but could encourage more attacks in the long run.
On the flip side, in many situations, paying might be the only way to quickly regain control, especially if the data includes highly sensitive information.
This ethical and strategic dilemma is where businesses find themselves entangled.

This isn’t just about the tech world.

It’s about every one of us who depends on these digital services.
The Ticketmaster hack is another reminder of our digital vulnerabilities.
It forces us to rethink our approach to cybersecurity – balancing immediate responses with long-term resilience, legal compliance, and transparent communication.
We all need to unite and push for a safer digital environment.

The era of ransom as a legitimate business is upon us, and it’s up to us to figure out how we navigate this going forward…

This is what David Heurtel and I discussed on CJAD 800 AM. Listen in right here.

Before you go… ThinkersOne is a new way for organizations to buy bite-sized and personalized thought leadership video content (live and recorded) from the best Thinkers in the world. If you’re looking to add excitement and big smarts to your meetings, corporate events, company off-sites, “lunch & learns” and beyond, check it out.