This Month at Volta
Hi Network Members,
Here's a list of events and opportunities happening in November!
Today’s reading time: 4 minutes.
Here's a list of community news, events, and opportunities happening soon!
Behind The Build: What It Really Takes to Build with AI
Women in Tech Canada is hosting an honest panel with women who’ve invested heavily in building with AI. They’ll cover the costs, tools, hard lessons, and human skills that make the difference, plus what they wish they’d known at the start. Afterward, keep the conversation going in small-group networking with panelists and peers.
Bring a question or an AI project you’re working through, and come ready to connect. Open to Women in Tech members and guests who are building, leading, or curious about AI work. Register
Is It Time to Incorporate? Five Questions to Help You Decide
McInnes Cooper has published a new article for founders weighing when to incorporate. The piece walks through five questions that signal it may be time, covering bringing on co-founders or early hires, signing a first major agreement, protecting IP, raising money, and taking on new hires or expenses, built around the idea that getting the timing and setup right early is far easier than untangling ownership, liability, or IP issues once an investor or departing founder forces the question. Read the full article here.
Events & Networking Opportunities
Tuesday, November 17 | 6:00-8:30pm
An evening of live AI demos, expert insights, and networking with innovators, entrepreneurs, and AI enthusiasts from across Halifax's ecosystem — see real-world applications in action and connect with the people building them. Register
Wednesday, November 25 | 9:00am-5:00pm
Looking for a change of scenery to get some work done? Swing by Voltafor Coffee, Community & Co-Work. There's no set agenda — just an open, drop-in workspace with harbour views, free coffee, tea, and snacks to keep you going. Enjoy a relaxed atmosphere alongside fellow founders, innovators, and professionals. Bring your laptop and make the most of the space to focus, connect, and recharge. Register
Thursday, November 26 | 12:30pm
A pick-up hockey game at the Scotiabank Centre with Volta and Global Bluenosers: lace up and skate, connect, and have some fun with founders, builders, tech enthusiasts, and community members, whether you've played for years or just want an excuse to get on the ice. Puck drops at 12:30pm sharp on November 26, so arrive early to gear up. Register separately for each date. Register
Thursday, November 12 | 7:45–8:45am
A guided 1-hour Ashtanga-based yoga session for desk-based lifestyles, combining structured movement with calming breathwork to relieve tension and boost focus. Led by longtime instructor Jaimee Lee-Baggley — bring your own mat. Register
Space Closures: November
Please note the following closures at Volta this month:
Thursday, November 5: Closed all day
Wednesday, November 11: Closed for Remembrance Day
Thursday, November 19: Closing at 3:30 pm
Look For More Events Here
Past Events Roundup
AI Showcase and Mixer
Wednesday, October 14
Volta and Digital NS brought the AI community together for another evening of live demos, practical insights, and plenty of networking. Jamie Davison and Lokitha Nilaweera of Absolute AI Consulting showed how their venture studio turns AI strategy into real products, including TalkiePrep, an AI tutor that gives learners real-time, personalized feedback. Ryan MacArthur demoed Beira, a sandboxed, long-horizon agent harness with full control over the context window, and Dan Mendoza Kariya of WhereNow showed how they’re helping people beat digital fatigue by finding in-person events near them in real time.
From SEO to GEO: Getting Cape Breton Businesses Found in AI Search
Thursday, October 15
Volta and Ignite Atlantic teamed up with Cape Breton entrepreneur Nicholas Driscoll for a lunch and learn on Generative Engine Optimization. Nicholas broke down how AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity decide which businesses to recommend, then walked Cape Breton business owners and marketers through a simple way to check how AI describes their business, plus practical first steps to become more discoverable.
Pick Up Hockey
Thursday, October 15
Volta and Global Bluenosers laced up at the Scotiabank Centre for a pick-up game with founders, builders, tech enthusiasts, and community members. Seasoned players and first-timers alike hit the ice for a fun, low-key way to connect outside the office.
Vibe Coding Meetup
Monday, October 19
Sam Silver hosted guest speaker Jonathan Seller for a technical deep dive into evaluating LLM performance. They explored practical approaches to measuring outputs and building more reliable AI applications, giving developers working with LLMs, RAG, and AI-powered tools a sharper way to test what they ship.
The Rules of the Game: Competition Law and Procurement 101
Tuesday, October 20
As part of Small Business Week, the Competition Bureau hosted a webinar on why competition law matters to small businesses. Attendees learned how it applies to procurement for both tender issuers and bidders, and how to put compliance measures in place to protect their business.
Yoga & Meditative Breathing
Thursday, October 29
Longtime instructor Jaimee Lee-Baggley led a one-hour Ashtanga-based session built for desk-based lifestyles. Participants combined structured movement with calming breathwork to release tension and start the day with better focus.
In the News
BDC Launches Two New AI Programs for Small Businesses
Coveo buys Y Combinator alum to bolster AI commerce search
Live event marketing tech startup Hive brings on Frontier Growth with Series B
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