Co-op Mode combines play personalities with video game creation. Participants will learn about the different ways people engage with play by completing hands-on activities that each produce a component of a real video game.

We’ll kick things off with self-discovery using Dr. Stuart Brown’s 8 Play Personalities to explore how you naturally engage with curiosity, connection, problem-solving, and collaboration. We’ll look at play as a mindset (not just an activity) and how understanding your “play nature” can help teams communicate better, build trust faster, and create a more energized team culture.

We’ll then assign 1-2 people per play personality to tackle a unique task. The whole group will work together around a selected theme for their game to create something unique. By the end, all the pieces come together into a simple, playable web-based game that is unique to the group that creates it. Co-op Mode is designed for anyone curious about tech, creativity, and play. No coding or game development experience is required. Attendees will walk away learning more about play and videogames, as well as a collaboratively created game they can play themselves and share with others.

 

 

As technology continues to shape how we work, it’s also changing how our bodies feel, move, and perform. Screen-heavy, sedentary work has become the norm across Manitoba’s tech and knowledge-based industries — bringing new challenges related to pain, fatigue, focus, and burnout.

Built for the Future: Designing Healthy Humans for a Tech-Driven Workplace is an interactive, community-focused session exploring the human impact of modern work and how Manitoba organizations can build healthier, more sustainable teams. Through live audience insights, facilitated discussion, and small-group breakouts, participants will examine how physical well-being, data, and prevention play a role in workforce performance, retention, and long-term success.

This session is designed to spark conversation, share perspectives, and explore innovative, made-in-Manitoba approaches to supporting people in a technology-driven economy.

Join RBCx for an easygoing Afternoon Brew at Lavanda on the second day of Mb Tech Week. ​

Drop by anytime between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM for coffee, snacks, and good conversations!

No presentation or formal agenda — just a relaxed space to meet, swap ideas, and catch up on what’s happening in the Manitoba tech ecosystem.

Get an exclusive behind the scenes look at how Research Partnerships & Innovation (RPI) at RRC Polytech is fueling Manitoba’s future through applied research, innovation, and industry collaboration.

This guided tour brings participants inside the Polytech’s leading research environments to explore Manitoba made solutions in sustainability, advanced technology, energy efficiency, digital innovation, and future ready workforce development. Attendees will meet researchers, see demonstrations, and learn how RPI works with companies, community partners, and public institutions to turn ideas into real world impact.

Tour Details:

The experience will feature Vehicle technology & Energy centre’s (VTEC) applied research in alternative energy, including demonstrations of the B2U fast‑charging initiative and the electric go‑kart project, highlighting innovation in sustainable transportation. Participants will then tour Building Efficiency Technology Access Center(BETAC), where applied research is advancing energy‑efficient, net‑zero‑ready buildings. The session will conclude with a demonstration of a digital transformation project by CAMTT team, showcasing how technology is driving real‑world impact.

A conference to learn about practical technology for real business productivity

Join business leaders and technology experts to explore practical applications of AI, automation, ERP systems, robotics, and modern software , all focused on improving productivity and business performance.

The Southern Manitoba Technology Conference 2026 is a focused, one-day, in-person professional conference tailored for manufacturing and operations leaders who are responsible for advancing business transformation through technology adoption. The event is designed to move beyond theoretical discussion and deliver practical, actionable insights from industry-leading practitioners, with an emphasis on real-world implementation of Robotics and Automation, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Attendees will:

  • Gain clear, actionable guidance on adopting key technologies in manufacturing environments
  • See firsthand how leading manufacturers approach automation, ERP, and AI
  • Build professional connections with industry peers and technology solution providers
  • Leave with practical strategies for addressing real operational and technological challenges
  • Have the opportunity to network with peers and subject matter experts while gaining insights

Featured Sessions

  • Live Hackathon Kickoff: Hands-on demonstration of real software solution development
  • Keynote Address: Why technology adoption is essential for modern manufacturing
  • Robotics & Automation Workshop: Practical robotics use cases and adoption strategies
  • ERP in Practice: Tools and support available, with implementation insights
  • AI in the Workplace: Real use cases showing how AI improves production outcomes

Panel and Interaction

  • Industry Panel: ERP, Automation, and the path forward with industry leaders
  • Hackathon Demo & Awards: Showcase of solutions developed throughout the day
  • Networking Breaks: Purpose-driven interaction to establish connections and share insights

 

Breakfast and Lunch included in ticket price.

Sponsorship opportunities available, $500 – $1,200.

Join us for a 2-day exhibition dedicated to vintage computers and retro games, where we celebrate the nostalgia of technology history.

Discover the factors that led reputable design studios and publishing companies to depend on Apple hardware during the 1990s and 2000s. We will delve into the historical context, explore the technology involved, and examine the cultural phenomenon that positioned the Mac as a vital player in the creative landscape.

This pop-up event aims to educate the community about the evolution of computing and video games and the impact of hardware and software on our culture. It’s an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with fellow enthusiasts!

Join us for a 2-day exhibition dedicated to vintage computers and retro games, where we celebrate the nostalgia of technology history.

Discover the factors that led reputable design studios and publishing companies to depend on Apple hardware during the 1990s and 2000s. We will delve into the historical context, explore the technology involved, and examine the cultural phenomenon that positioned the Mac as a vital player in the creative landscape.

This pop-up event aims to educate the community about the evolution of computing and video games and the impact of hardware and software on our culture. It’s an opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with fellow enthusiasts!

Lower TCO. Zero busywork. Infrastructure that runs itself—so your business can run ahead.

Who it’s for: Business owners, C‑suite leaders, and decision makers who want IT to be a force multiplier—not a distraction.

Why attend?
Because every hour spent managing infrastructure is an hour not spent growing your business. Walk away with a clear, understanding of the financial and operational levers available to you with a Private Cloud adoption —what to shift, what to keep, and how to realize outcomes quickly.

PLUS: All those in attendance will receive complimentary SWAG (and we don’t mean pens & notebooks), and if you speak to one of the EPIC team during the event you’ll also be entered to win one of our exciting prizes!

Grand Prize: Lenovo Laptop

Second Prize: 2 Tickets to Techapalooza (Saturday Feb 28th, 2025)

What to expect:

EPIC in 90 seconds
A concise snapshot of who we are and why organizations trust us to keep mission‑critical infrastructure running—so they can focus on growth.

Private Cloud, Simplified
A practical look at how EPIC Private Cloud (IaaS) shifts you to a predictable OPEX model, reduces TCO, and eliminates administrative overhead that slows teams down.

Proof in the Numbers
A real‑world case walkthrough showing how moving off on‑prem infrastructure reduces operating effort and cost—freeing capital and people for innovation and expansion.

Don’t take it from us…
Hear it straight from leaders already realizing the benefits. In a candid fireside chat, customers will share tangible outcomes—what changed, what they saved, and how their teams now move faster with fewer operational roadblocks.

And that’s not all…
We’ll close with an exclusive reveal that promises to change the way you think about productivity and flexibility. This launch is designed to unlock new levels of agility, empower teams to work smarter from anywhere, and accelerate business outcomes—all without adding complexity. Be among the first to hear what’s next, followed by networking, delicious food, and refreshments.

 

An exclusive tour of Valley Fiber Data Centre, Manitoba’s only Tier III designed data centre.

This guided technical walkthrough provides an inside look at the infrastructure powering Valley Fiber’s Data Centre in Winkler, Manitoba (approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes from Winnipeg). The session explores how modern data centre design enables high availability, redundancy, and secure cloud-based environments that support today’s critical systems.

Attendees will gain practical insight into physical and network security, power and cooling redundancy, connectivity to major cloud providers, and real-world use cases for colocation, hybrid cloud, and disaster recovery. The tour highlights how resilient data centre architecture underpins scalable, future-ready technology strategies.

Designed for IT decision-makers and technology professionals seeking a deeper understanding of cloud infrastructure, this experience offers behind-the-scenes access to a secure, operational facility. The session is educational in nature, focused on infrastructure and design principles, and is not a sales presentation.

Additional details:

  • Tour duration: approximately 75 minutes

  • Limited capacity — please register only if you can guarantee attendance

  • Closed-toe shoes and government-issued photo ID required

  • Photography is restricted in certain areas

If you need to reach out regarding the event, to please email marketing@valleyfiber.ca 

 

 

Kicking off during MbTech Week,  Launch Coworking Space will host Founders Coffee, a weekly gathering designed to foster entrepreneurial community, connection, and collaboration. This event will be lead by 360 Coaching Group with coffee from Muse Café.

Chris Johnson – Three Mistakes I Made Building (and Exiting) a Startup in Winnipeg

THE TALK

Three Mistakes I Made Building (and Exiting) a Startup in Winnipeg

This is a short coffee conversation about three themes that slowed us down while building a SaaS startup — all things that felt reasonable at the time and only became obvious once the dust settled on the other side of an exit.

In ten minutes, I’ll share a few decisions that weren’t catastrophic, but in hindsight had us running with one of those weighted vests strapped on without knowing it. The kind of calls founders make every day while trying to be careful, scrappy, and “do the right thing,” without realizing the trade-offs.

THE SPEAKER

 Chris Johnson is a repeat enterprise SaaS founder and operator who has led multiple successful exits. He was the Founder and CEO of Permission Click, a K–12 workflow and forms platform acquired by SchoolMessenger in 2021. Following the acquisition, Chris became President of SchoolMessenger, where he led the business through its next phase of growth and operational maturity, culminating in a $300M acquisition by PowerSchool in 2023. Across these roles, Chris has built and scaled product-led organizations, overseen go-to-market transformations, and navigated the complexities of post-acquisition integration. Beyond operating roles, Chris is a co-founder of North Forge Technology Exchange and an active supporter of the Manitoba startup ecosystem as a mentor, advisor, and early-stage investor.

 

ABOUT FOUNDERS COFFEE

Beginning February 24th during Manitoba Tech Week, our Launch Downtown location will host Founders Coffee, a weekly Tuesday-morning (8 am to 9 am) gathering designed to foster entrepreneurial community, connection, and collaboration. Founders Coffee provides a welcoming space where local entrepreneurs can share their stories, present their ventures, and receive meaningful feedback from peers, mentors, and community partners.

Each session features:

  • A 10 min spotlight presentation from an early-stage founder or small business.
  • A guided 20 min Q&A and community feedback discussion.
  • Open Mic & networking (30 min) to help build relationships, spark ideas, and support the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Our goal is to cultivate a consistent, inclusive gathering that brings together innovators, creators, small-business owners, and community champions.

Presented by Futurepreneur, hosted by Launch Coworking, lead by 360 Coaching Group, and fueled by Muse Cafe, Founders Coffee strengthens the connective tissue of our local business community and helps entrepreneurs access the insight, encouragement, and resources they need to grow.

Founders Coffee will serve as a weekly ritual—a place where relationships are built, ideas take shape, and founders feel supported on their journey.