+1,415
Canada's startup ecosystem is rapidly growing, with significant activity in cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal. As of 2023, Canada hosts around 10,000 startups, supported by a favorable business environment and government incentives such as the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit. In 2022, Canadian startups attracted approximately CAD $10 billion in venture capital funding, underscoring the country's robust entrepreneurial landscape.
As of 2023, Canada's startup ecosystem comprises about 10,000 startups. The market has shown substantial growth, with venture capital investments reaching CAD $10 billion in 2022. This impressive financial influx highlights the ecosystem's capacity for expansion and innovation, attracting entrepreneurs and investors alike. The diverse range of industries represented within the Canadian startup landscape further enhances its market size and potential.
Canada's startup ecosystem is characterized by several key strengths, including a high quality of life, a diverse and skilled workforce, and robust support for innovation and research. The country excels in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), clean technology, and biotechnology. These strengths are bolstered by world-class educational institutions and a strong emphasis on R&D, positioning Canada as a competitive player in the global startup arena.
Toronto, often dubbed 'Silicon Valley North,' is a major hub for tech startups, particularly in AI and fintech. Montreal boasts a vibrant AI research community, contributing significantly to advancements in machine learning and related fields. Vancouver is renowned for its expertise in software development and gaming. These cities collectively drive Canada's innovation, making substantial contributions to the country's economic growth and technological advancements.
Beyond the major cities, emerging hubs like Ottawa, Calgary, and Waterloo are gaining traction. Ottawa is noted for its strength in telecommunications and software, Calgary for its focus on energy and cleantech, and Waterloo for its burgeoning tech scene and strong ties to academic institutions. These emerging hubs are expanding Canada's startup ecosystem, providing new opportunities and attracting a diverse talent pool.
Canada's startup ecosystem benefits from a robust network of accelerators, incubators, and co-working spaces. Notable initiatives like the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto and the Creative Destruction Lab in various cities provide startups with mentorship, resources, and access to capital. This supportive infrastructure is crucial for nurturing early-stage companies and fostering a collaborative entrepreneurial environment.
Despite its strengths, the Canadian startup ecosystem faces challenges such as access to late-stage funding and a smaller market size compared to the U.S. Additionally, navigating regulatory frameworks and attracting international talent can be hurdles for startups. Addressing these challenges requires strategic investments and policy support to sustain growth and competitiveness in the global market.
Canada's strategic location and trade agreements offer startups significant opportunities for international expansion. The emphasis on sustainability and green technology drives innovation in sectors like clean energy and environmental solutions. Continued investment in AI, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies positions Canada for sustained growth. The future outlook for Canada's startup ecosystem is promising, with strong potential to play a pivotal role in the global innovation landscape.
The Canadian startup ecosystem demonstrates remarkable resilience and adaptability, essential for navigating global economic shifts and market dynamics. The country's multicultural society and diverse talent pool foster a rich environment for innovation. As Canada continues to invest in its entrepreneurial infrastructure and support systems, it is well-equipped to handle future challenges and capitalize on new opportunities, ensuring sustained growth and success.
Canada's startup ecosystem is supported by numerous influential angel investors who provide crucial early-stage funding and mentorship. Notable figures include Mike Volker, a prolific angel investor with investments in over 100 startups, and Dan Martell, known for his investments in tech and SaaS companies. These investors typically contribute between CAD $25,000 and CAD $500,000 per deal, offering not only capital but also strategic guidance and industry expertise, which are vital for the growth and development of nascent companies.
Leading venture capital firms in Canada play a critical role in driving the growth of startups. Firms such as BDC Capital, Real Ventures, and Inovia Capital are at the forefront, providing substantial funding to high-growth companies. BDC Capital, for instance, has invested in over 700 companies, supporting a wide range of sectors including cleantech, healthcare, and ICT. These firms typically engage in Series A to Series C funding rounds, with investment sizes ranging from CAD $1 million to CAD $50 million, facilitating significant scaling opportunities for startups.
The investment size and scope in Canada's startup ecosystem vary widely, catering to different stages of business growth. Early-stage investments, often provided by angel investors, range from CAD $25,000 to CAD $2 million. For growth-stage companies, venture capital firms offer larger funding rounds, typically between CAD $5 million and CAD $50 million. The scope of these investments spans various sectors, including AI, biotechnology, fintech, and cleantech, reflecting the diverse and dynamic nature of Canada's entrepreneurial landscape.
Canada's venture capital and angel investment activity are robust, with a significant number of deals annually. In 2022, over 600 venture capital deals were recorded, amounting to approximately CAD $10 billion in investments. This high level of activity underscores the vibrancy of the Canadian startup ecosystem, with both angel investors and venture capital firms actively seeking out and funding promising startups across a broad spectrum of industries.
The future outlook for Canada's investment market is highly optimistic. With continued emphasis on innovation and technology, sectors such as AI, biotechnology, and clean technology are expected to drive substantial growth. Government support through initiatives like the SR&ED tax credit further bolsters the ecosystem. As global interest in sustainable and innovative solutions increases, Canada's startups are well-positioned to attract significant international investments, fostering an environment ripe for continued expansion and success.
Support and mentorship are critical components of Canada's startup ecosystem. Angel investors and venture capitalists often provide more than just financial backing; they offer strategic advice, industry connections, and operational support. Programs like MaRS Discovery District in Toronto and Creative Destruction Lab across various cities enhance this support, offering structured mentorship, resources, and access to capital. This comprehensive support system helps startups navigate early challenges and scale effectively.
The Canadian government and various institutions play a pivotal role in nurturing the startup ecosystem. Initiatives such as the SR&ED tax credit and the Canada Small Business Financing Program provide substantial financial support and incentives. Additionally, organizations like Innovate Canada and provincial programs offer grants, loans, and advisory services. This extensive support infrastructure is vital for fostering innovation, reducing financial barriers, and promoting sustainable growth within the startup community.
Canada's startup ecosystem is bolstered by top angel investors, leading venture capital firms, and extensive support systems. With a diverse range of investment sizes and scopes, the market is poised for significant growth. The future outlook remains positive, driven by innovation, government support, and a collaborative environment. As Canada continues to attract global investments and foster entrepreneurial talent, it stands to become a key player in the global startup landscape, contributing to advancements across various high-growth sectors.
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San Francisco Bay Area - LatAm (Latin ), U.S.A. - Canada
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • Woman Focused
CEO of CreatorDAO
Palo Alto - Austin - Salt Lake City - Provo - Seattle - Boston / New - New York - San Jose - San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • BioTech • FinTech (& Financials services) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Future Of Work • Medical Devices (& Hospital Services) • DeepTech • Healthcare (& Wellness)
Most Interested In
I'm looking for prime movers that are developing auto-pilot for the intelligent enterprise particularly in network and software monitoring, HR, sales, and supply chain. In consumer: marketplaces and anything with high engagement
Not Interested In
e-commerce / retail / ad optimization
Boston - New York - Cambridge - Washington - Miami - Baltimore - Toronto (Ontario) - Massachusetts, U.S.A. - Canada
BioTech • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • Hardware (& Manufacturing) • A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Analytics • DeepTech • Woman Focused
EIR at Techstars Future of Longevity
Managing Director at Techstars, Female Founders First with Barclays and Techstars
As an early stage investor, strategic advisor, and board member. I have worked on everything from early internet search solutions and web analytics to robotics and software used to design semiconductors. I spend most of my time on b2b software - right now on AI Trust & Transparency. My most recent investments leverage the power of data and automation to transform industries. They span synthetic biology (Ginkgo Bioworks), data transparency (ClearGov), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for sales optimization (Spiro.ai), and Industrial IOT for advanced manufacturing (MachineMetrics). I am also a global executive versed in bridging corporate and entrepreneurial disciplines. Successfully incubated and advised start-up ventures, including seed round, IPO and turnaround. Responsible for millions in valuation, earnings and commission revenue. Grown platforms from the ground up through successful exit. Experience identifying and advising successful teams delivering breakthrough technology. Strategic thinker with exceptional knowledge of market trends and data. Change driver who impacts and imparts large-scale decisions and effective execution. Highlights and Accomplishments: • Built Black & Company internet research platform from the ground floor into one of the most profitable and successful businesses, generating $2M in commission revenue annually. • Grew research platform at Wells Fargo Securities to generate more trading volume than the firm’s other analysts combined, resulting in commission revenue of $4M annually. • Led seed stage investment in Ginkgo Bioworks resulting in appreciation based on most recent financing of 5x. • Orchestrated transparent global investor relations program that directly contributed to $350M increase in market capitalization of publicly traded software company.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Canada
BioTech • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Autonomous vehicles (& Cars) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Nanotechnology • Consumer
Most Interested In
Deep Tech/Hard Science, Developer Tools, E-Commerce, Education, Enterprise, Entertainment, Fintech, Future of Work, Gaming, Government Technology, Health and Wellness, Healthcare/Medtech, Industrial, Internet and Mobile, IoT, Life Sciences, Marketplace, Productivity, Proptech/Real Estate, Robotics, SaaS, Social, Supply Chain/Logistics, Transportation, Travel/Hospitality
San Francisco Bay Area - Toronto (Ontario) - California, U.S.A. - Canada
A.I. (& Big Data) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Woman Focused
AI expert, entrepreneur and investor in world-changing ventures.
Dr. Barney Pell serves as Board Member at LocoMobi. He is a Board Member of Ecoation Innovative Solutions. He is an Associate Founder and serves as Advisor at Singularity University. He serves as a Board Member at Speak With Me. He is also a Co-Founder and serves as Chief Strategy Officer and Chairman at LocoMobi. He was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of QuickPay. He was previously Co-Founder and CEO of Powerset. He is Co-Founder, Vice Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of Moon Express, a private company building autonomous robotic lunar landers and is also Associate Founder and Trustee of Singularity University. Barney received his Ph.D. in computer science from Cambridge University, where he was a Marshall Scholar and his B.S. degree in Symbolic Systems from the Stanford University, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and was a National Merit Scholar.
Los Angeles - Toronto (Ontario) - Berkeley - San Francisco Bay Area - Boise City - Atlanta - New York - Seattle - Austin - South San Francisco - California, U.S.A. - Canada
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • HealthTech (& Fitness) • Analytics • Robotics • Mobility
Investor & Entrepreneur
Entrepreneur and Investor
Most Interested In
Machine Intelligence Co-bots Market Networks in overlooked verticals AI to improve our healthcare system
Not Interested In
Consumer apps
Founder @direct-local-food, @gsquare-companies • Works at @bee-partners, @boise-angel-alliance • Studied at @stanford-university, @university-of-washington
, U.S.A. - U.K. - Singapore - Israel - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • AgroTech • Entertainment (& Sports) • CleanTech • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Gaming (& eSports) • Logistics (& Distribution) • Woman Focused • UrbanTech
Frank Meehan is a Co-Founder and serves as Partner at SparkLabs Global Ventures. He also is an Angel Investor. He serves as Partner at SparkLabs. Jimmy is Co-founder and President of N3N, an IoT platform company and Cisco's first global IoT investment. They service numerous Fortune 500 companies and governments, such as Samsung Electronics, POSCO, Port of Singapore, The North Face, and Hyundai Motors. Previously, he co-founded and served as Chief Executive Officer at Kuato. He served as Board Member at Spinlist. He previously served as N3N's CEO. He received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Northwestern University, and also an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Jimmy also completed the Stanford University's Graduate School of Business's Executive Management Program.
San Francisco Bay Area - California, U.S.A. - Canada
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Hospitality (& Events) • FinTech (& Financials services) • Mobility • Consumer • Woman Focused
General Partner at August Capital
Most Interested In
B2C Marketplaces B2B Marketplaces Consumer Internet Fintech API E-Commerce Education Enterprise Entertainment Future of Work Government Technology Health and Wellness Industrial IoT Productivity Proptech/Real Estate Robotics SaaS Social Supply Chain/Logistics Transportation Travel/Hospitality
Not Interested In
We tend to avoid healthcare-oriented biotech (patient facing).
Salt Lake City - New York - Toronto (Ontario) - Toronto (), Canada - U.S.A.
FinTech (& Financials services) • Payments
Fintech VC - that’s it. Super boring.
Fintech VC- that’s it. Super boring.
Most Interested In
Companies disrupting all aspects of financial services with technology (fintech)
Not Interested In
Anything that is not fintech
Christian Lassonde is the Founder and serves as Managing Partner at Impression Ventures. He serves as a Board member of Finaeo. Lassonde is a tech founder and CEO, having built and sold Virtual Greats, a luxury online IP rights broker, and Millions of Us, a digital agency. He has also taught high-growth technology entrepreneurship at The Next 36 to over 30 companies. Those companies have gone on to build successful products and raise millions of dollars in follow-on financing. Christian spent a decade in San Francisco selling and building software for Second Life, LucasArts and Electronic Arts to customers Sony, Nike, Warner Brothers, General Motors, Coke, Intel and many more Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from the USF, a BESc in computer engineering and a BSc in computer science from Western. Christian is currently Vice-Chair of SickKids Foundation, Chair of the TFS Foundation, serves on the Fintech Advisory Council for the Ontario Securities Commission, and a former Governor of the Board of Western University.
San Francisco Bay Area, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
BioTech • Businesses Solutions • A.I. (& Big Data) • DeepTech
Daniel Gross the founder of Greplin, a search engine. Greplin operated by linking together various online accounts into one search experience. For example, a customer could search their Facebook, Gmail and Dropbox accounts from one unified service without check each individually. In 2011, Greplin raised $4 million in funding from venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. Gross was one of Sequoia's youngest founders at the time. They introduced a premium offering at $5 a month, which allowed customers to link enterprise-facing services like Salesforce. In 2012 the company renamed itself to “Cue” and launched an additional predictive search features. In addition to search, Cue offered customers an automatic and intelligent agenda of their day. This included files, emails, addresses, phone numbers and more that were deemed algorithmically relevant. Cue was a similar product to Google Now. He is Y-Combinator's first Israeli.
New York - Newark, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Retail (& E-Commerce) • Sales (& Marketing) • Cosmetics (& Fashion) • Entertainment (& Sports)
CEO of FUBU and The Shark Group | TV Personality on ABC Shark Tank
Daymond John is a Co-Founder and serves as President & Chief Executive Officer at Fubu. John served as an Advisor at Innovation Capital Advisors. Previously, he served as a Board Member at Resultly. In 2009, Daymond became co-star on ABC's hit series Shark Tank, where aspiring entrepreneurs present their companies to a panel of successful business icons to raise capital. Daymond invested in several of the companies on the show and has emerged as a spokesman for active angel investing. In 2007, Daymond released his first book, Display of Power, the story of how he built FUBU into a global fashion power. In 2010, his second book, The Brand Within, examines the loyalty-based relationships that brands and celebrities seek to establish with their customers and fans.
New York, U.S.A. - Global: U.S.A., Australia, Canada, Germany, U.K., Israel, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland
Software (Web Marketplace Saas..) • Businesses Solutions • FinTech (& Financials services) • A.I. (& Big Data) • Blockchain (& Cryptos) • Web Security (& Privacy) • Cloud Services (& Infrastructure) • Developer tools • Future Of Work • Payments • Woman Focused
Business Development, Investments, Partnerships, Strategy, Fundraising, Go-to-Market
