Two event entrepreneurs prove IRL is thriving by choosing collaboration over competition in Toronto’s event scene
“In the event space, you can’t just be a thinker or a talker—you have to be a doer,” says Amenah Rizwan (Entrepreneurship and Strategy ’22). “If you don't build your own roadmap, nobody is going to hand you one.”
Rizwan isn't just laying out park blankets; as founder of Picnics Toronto (external link) , she has spent the last five years engineering a full-service luxury outdoor experience and event concierge. What started as an elegant, pandemic-safe workaround to social isolation has scaled into a thriving enterprise with over 300 events, activations and VIP concierge services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to the Toronto Raptors.
But even the most meticulous micro-luxury brand needs major operational muscle to scale. Enter Marco R. Briganti (Hospitality and Tourism Management ’19), co-founder of Cazador Events (external link) . Since launching in 2023, Briganti has focused on the strategic, macro-logistics engine of large-scale corporate programming, cultural activations and weddings for crowds of 500-plus.
“Working in client operations at an agency taught me the hard skills, but I craved an ecosystem where content keeps evolving,” explains Briganti. “At Cazador, we can take the brand beyond events into YouTube, brand collaborations, charity work and more.”
“It keeps our audience intrigued and invested in what we're building,” they add.
While less collaborative founders might view two event firms in the same city as natural rivals, Briganti and Rizwan describe themselves as collaborators, never competitors.
Describing their expertise as complementary, both entrepreneurs explain that they’ve stress-tested a model that delivers when a client wants a bespoke, sensory-rich experience with larger operational scale.
The ultimate proof of concept for this dual-engine model came during last year’s Pride Month in Toronto’s Liberty Village. The duo co-produced Solid Red Disco, a fully immersive, sold-out outdoor drag brunch featuring performances by Denim (external link) and Adrianna Exposée (external link) .
“This wasn't an event with a rainbow filter thrown over it for optics,” says Briganti, who spearheaded the concept development, venue stakeholders and sponsor integrations with brands like Kiehl's (external link) and Casa Del Rey (external link) .
“Authenticity wins over optics every time. This was a curated community event where everyone felt like they belonged, which is more valuable than throwing the biggest event.”
Rizwan agrees, noting that the synergy has unlocked a brand-new market tier for both companies. “When Cazador’s operational scale meets our bespoke hospitality instinct, the result is something neither company could produce alone.”
That shared operational vocabulary wasn't built overnight. The foundation for this event partnership was laid at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM), where both served as student leaders on the Ted Rogers Students' Society (external link) (TRSS).
“TRSS is where I learned to be a founder before I ever had a business, and those skills transferred directly” reflects Rizwan, who served as Director of Business Management, managing budgets and planning summits for 30 student organizations.
Briganti points to their time as VP of Events for TRSS, where they executed the flagship Ted Rogers Management Conference (external link) and booked Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak as a keynote speaker, as a watershed moment for their career trajectory.
“Events don't wait for you to figure it out,” they explain. “Studying how professionals operated under pressure gave me the confidence to make quick decisions.”
Today, both alumni routinely give back, with Picnics Toronto acting as a proud sponsor of the Ted Rogers Alumni Leadership Association (external link) (TRALA). The connection is deeply personal for Rizwan. “I've been lucky enough to plan the proposals and engagements of several TRSM alumni, which never gets old. Giving back always feels like gratitude in action.”
Both are looking to the future, with plans for joint FIFA World Cup office parties, corporate activations and co-developed podcast collaborations; the duo encourages current students to embrace the less-than-linear reality of entrepreneurship.
“It's okay to take the middle path,” advises Rizwan. “Picnics Toronto started small, with one setup and one client. Stop waiting for perfection. Start with what you have, build with intention, and scale when the market responds.”
“There's nothing I'd trade this for. Every day brings real joy and gratification,” says Briganti. I get to build a career on my own terms. You never know who your next big lead, collaborator, or game-changing vendor will be.”