On the TechTO stage ×1
First seen on the TechTO stage in 2026. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Scott ↗
In their words
most startups fail, most VCs say no, most customers never respond to emails
the key has been not to bang your head against a wall that's not going to move, but to say okay, why did he say no
More from TechTO ×1
Around the web ×2
Quick answers
What is Scott Elliot known for?
Co-founding and leading Slate, an embedded-lending company that lets Canadian software platforms offer credit to their small-business customers without taking on bank-level compliance.
What was his TechTO talk about?
Bending the Odds, at Together Vancouver in February 2026 — what it is like to build a startup as someone trained to think about downside risk, and how a fast enough loop of iteration turned an investor's no into a yes within a week.
Why build embedded lending in Canada?
He argued the borrower behaviour differs: in the US, borrowers will connect a bank account to an alternative lender without thinking, while in Canada trust sits with the banks — which mostly do not serve small businesses. Platforms already hold that trust.