Small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are the engine of Canada’s economy, creating jobs, fueling innovation, and driving community growth from coast to coast. With more than 1.1 million small employer businesses, they make up over 98% of all Canadian businesses and employ roughly 46% of the private-sector workforce.
But for the entrepreneurs behind them, turning a bold idea into a sustainable business can often feel like an uphill climb.
In today’s business landscape, there’s no shortage of tools available: software, shipping solutions, marketing automation, and financing options are all in abundance. However, long-term success takes more than simple access to services. It takes connection. Founders need to know where to turn for trusted guidance, how to navigate a fragmented support system, and how to build relationships that open real doors.
That’s where Startup Canada comes in. As the national convener of Canada’s entrepreneur ecosystem, we are here to make sure every founder, whether they’re in downtown Calgary or in a remote section of the Territories, has access to the right people, programs, and opportunities at the right time. With over $200,000 in dedicated funding committed across our 2026 programs, the question for any ambitious founder isn’t whether they should get involved; it’s why they didn’t get involved sooner.
Beyond the Screen: Mobilizing Support Across the Country
Entrepreneurship doesn’t happen in isolation, and neither should entrepreneurial support. Through initiatives like the Startup Canada Tour, founders have access to resources, expertise, and mentorship, all while having the opportunity to network with like-minded entrepreneurs.
These events are more than conferences. They’re dynamic, hands-on experiences designed to tackle the real challenges founders face, like navigating government programs, securing growth capital, or expanding into international markets.
Rather than asking entrepreneurs to navigate through layers of complexity alone, the Startup Canada tour brings the ecosystem to them. Policymakers, industry leaders, and support organizations join founders under one roof, transforming red tape into real conversations and clear next steps. Several organizations across Canada offer similar events to support the Canadian ecosystem; it’s important for Canadian entrepreneurs to seek these opportunities out to streamline the support and resources they need to take their business to the next level.
The Power of the Right Information and the Right Connection at the Right Time
For many entrepreneurs, success hinges on more than just a great idea; it often comes down to access to the right information and the right connection when you need it most. Entrepreneurs need to seek out organizations that create these pivotal moments both virtually and in-person to ensure they have the guidance, mentorship, and exposure they need to grow. At Startup Canada, we offer this support through:
- Startup Canada Tour: Founders connect in person with keynote speakers, panellists, and mentors, engage in fireside chats, and build meaningful relationships through structured networking and storytelling.
- Ask the Expert Lounges: Founders can connect one-on-one with experts for tailored, confidential advice on everything from digital marketing to fundraising.
- Startup Global Pitch Competition: Founders compete for their share of over $100,000 in cash prizes, gaining exposure to investors and media while showcasing Canadian innovation on a national stage.
- Equal Slice Pitch Competitions: In partnership with Pizza Hut, these competitions award $100,000 in cash funding plus mentorship and education to Canadian founders, providing national exposure and celebrating inclusive entrepreneurship across the country.
- Webinars and Roundtables: Our virtual sessions cover practical topics such as finance, scaling, hiring, marketing, and navigating government programs, making expert guidance accessible wherever founders are.
- Startup Canada Podcast: Entrepreneurs hear firsthand from founders, investors, and ecosystem leaders, sharing insights, lessons learned, and stories of resilience from across Canada.
- Ecosystem Connections: From accelerators and incubators to local economic development offices, Startup Canada bridges founders to programs, mentors, and partners who can help transform ideas into sustainable businesses.
By combining practical advice, mentorship, and high-value connections, Startup Canada ensures that Canadian founders have the tools and networks they need to succeed, no matter where their entrepreneurial journey begins.
Building a Stronger Ecosystem, Together
Canadian entrepreneurs are resilient and resourceful, building businesses that contribute to our economy’s growth, diversity, and global competitiveness. Our role at Startup Canada is to amplify that strength by ensuring the ecosystem around them is connected and coordinated.
Through our partnerships with all levels of Canadian government, private sector business supporters like UPS and Mastercard, and hundreds of national and local non-profits, accelerators, and economic development organizations, Startup Canada unites Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring founders can access the right support at the right time
To strengthen the Canadian economy, we must invest in the people driving it. Startup Canada will continue to be the national voice and central hub that connects, guides, and empowers every entrepreneur to start, scale, and succeed, no matter where they are in their journey.
