When the Boast team touched down in Canada’s capital for SaaS North 2025, the timing couldn’t have been better. As the conference kicked off, the federal government released Budget 2025—delivering the most significant SR&ED enhancements we’ve seen in years. Suddenly, every conversation was about more than just innovation; it was about how Canadian founders could supercharge their growth with a new wave of R&D funding.

The Perfect Storm: Budget 2025 Meets Canada’s SaaS Community

If you missed it, Budget 2025 introduced sweeping changes to SR&ED: bigger tax credits for manufacturers, broader eligibility, and streamlined processes—all designed to put more money directly into the hands of innovators. Walking the halls at SaaS North with this fresh news, every handshake came with a natural question: “Have you seen what this means for your R&D investments?”

Our team was ready.

Carlos Coelho, one of Boast’s SR&ED specialists on site, spent the conference breaking down exactly what these changes mean for Canadian businesses. Whether founders were building next-gen SaaS platforms, manufacturing hardware, or developing AI, Carlos helped them see how Budget 2025 could fast-track their growth.

A highlight of Day 1 was teaming up with TechTO to co-host a pitch competition on the Gateway Stage. If you’ve ever attended a TechTO event, you know the energy they bring to Canada’s startup scene—and SaaS North was no exception.

Carlos from Boast joined Marie from TechTO on stage, inviting founders up one by one to pitch their innovations to a packed main hall.

The atmosphere was electric: investors leaned in, founders brought their best, and the Gateway Stage became the launchpad for Canadian companies showcasing everything from AI-powered analytics to next-gen manufacturing tech.

Watching these founders pitch reminded us why we do what we do. Each one is solving real problems, pushing boundaries, and investing heavily in R&D to bring their vision to life. And with the new SR&ED enhancements? They now have even more fuel to accelerate.

Conversations That Count: In-Depth Interviews with Ottawa’s Innovation Leaders

Beyond the stage, we spent SaaS North doing what we love most: connecting with innovators. With cameras in hand and genuine curiosity, we captured conversations with founders, tech leaders, and ecosystem builders shaping Canada’s future.

Our interview lineup featured:

  • Ryan from Invest Ottawa, on how the capital region supports scaling startups
  • Exectify Branding Solutions, sharing strategies for building standout brands in competitive markets
  • m2m Tech, discussing manufacturing innovation and how enhanced SR&ED credits open new doors
  • Mova Realities, exploring immersive tech and the R&D needed to push XR boundaries
  • Colab Education, highlighting how edtech companies are transforming learning through constant innovation
  • ForeCaaS, unpacking predictive analytics and the technical hurdles of building truly intelligent forecasting tools

Every conversation reinforced a clear theme: Canadian innovators are world-class, but they need capital to compete globally. That’s where SR&ED comes in—and why Budget 2025’s enhancements matter so much.

Watch all our SaaS North interviews: Boast at SaaS North 2025 Playlist

Budget 2025 Unpacked: Carlos’s Expert Insights

Carlos recorded three in-depth videos at the conference, focused on the SR&ED changes. Whether you’re in manufacturing, SaaS, or deep tech, these explain:

  • What’s changed with Budget 2025’s SR&ED enhancements
  • Who benefits most from the expanded credits
  • How to maximize your R&D tax credit returns under the new rules

For manufacturers in particular, this budget is a game-changer. Enhanced SR&ED credits now unlock unprecedented R&D funding for Canadian manufacturers, making it possible to invest in automation, AI, and next-gen production processes that were previously out of reach.

These changes mean real dollars—funds that can extend your runway, speed up product development, and help you compete with global players who’ve enjoyed stronger R&D incentives for years.

Why Ottawa, Why Now

There’s something special about being in Ottawa when policy meets real-world impact. At SaaS North, you could feel the momentum. Founders who were once skeptical about SR&ED suddenly wanted to know if they qualified. CFOs pulled us aside to talk claim strategies. Investors asked how enhanced credits could boost their portfolio companies’ bottom line.

The energy spilled beyond the conference, as the SR&ED overhaul marked a turning point for Canadian innovation funding.

What’s Next?

If SaaS North proved anything, it’s that Canada’s innovation ecosystem is ready to seize these SR&ED improvements. The technology is here, the talent is here, and now the funding support is finally catching up.

Whether you’re building in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, or anywhere across Canada, the real question isn’t if you qualify for SR&ED—it’s how much R&D funding you’re leaving on the table by not claiming it strategically.

Curious how Budget 2025’s SR&ED enhancements could impact your business? Our team combines deep tax expertise with AI-powered technology to maximize your returns and minimize your workload. Get your free R&D credit assessment or contact our team to discuss your unique situation.

Boast specializes in helping organizations claim and access eligible R&D tax credits, minimizing audit risks and time-consuming processes in Canada and the United States. We combine in-house technical and R&D tax expertise with the latest AI technology to help companies effortlessly navigate the complexities of tax credits, enabling them to focus on what they do best: innovate.

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See you at the next one, Canada! Keep building, keep innovating, and don’t leave your R&D funding on the table.