A fresh wave of community-building technology is emerging from Toronto, and it's backed by some of Canada's biggest names in tech.
Wygo, a new event planning platform, has just secured nearly $1.6 million in pre-seed funding to help community organizers create and manage in-person gatherings. The app, founded by 22-year-old CEO Jocelyne Murphy and CTO Christopher Oka, operates similarly to platforms like Eventbrite or Luma—but with a mission that feels distinctly modern: getting people to experience life offline instead of scrolling through it online.
"I keep hearing myself start stories with the words 'I saw this Instagram reel the other day' and wishing that those stories were instead about things I had experienced first-hand in the real world," Murphy said.
The funding round includes backing from heavy hitters like Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke, alongside investment firms StandUp Ventures, N49P, Garage Capital, and others. What's striking to investors isn't just the concept—it's Murphy herself. At just 22 years old, she's already built credibility as a community organizer, co-founding Socratica, a student-led organization focused on bringing young people together for meaningful connection and creative collaboration.
Building the Real-World Economy
Wygo allows event hosts to create gatherings, sell tickets, and accept donations through a simple interface. Since launching as a side project in 2023, the platform has already facilitated over 500 ticket sales for in-person events, including unconventional gatherings like The GO OUTSIDE Games—a hybrid experience combining elements of The Amazing Race, Pokemon Go, and city scavenger hunts.
Murphy and Oka only transitioned Wygo to full-time work after graduating from the University of Waterloo, a shift their backers clearly believe was the right call.
"What strikes us most about Joss Murphy is not the decade of experience, though that is rare. It's that she is absolutely incapable of not solving this problem," wrote Katheleen Eva, an investor at StandUp Ventures, highlighting Murphy's relentless focus on tackling the isolation many young Canadians feel.
With the new capital, Wygo plans to expand its team by hiring a designer, software engineer, and multimedia storyteller—positioning itself as an economic engine for independent community builders across Canada and beyond.
The timing couldn't be better. As post-pandemic Canadians increasingly crave authentic, in-person experiences over digital engagement, platforms that facilitate real-world connection are gaining serious momentum. Wygo is betting that the next generation of entrepreneurs won't be building apps or SaaS companies—they'll be building communities.
This story was originally reported by BetaKit. Read the full report at BetaKit.com.