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Canada’s 100 Top Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs 2025
Canada Top Startup Programs List 2025 Edition

Canada’s 100 Top Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs 2025

Canada Top Startup Programs List 2025 Edition

There’s no doubt it’s been a challenging year economically in Canada. Startups and small businesses truly hold the key to innovation and creating new opportunities.

With unemployment rate hitting new heights, entrepreneurship and self-employment will explode in Canada in the coming year. We need to create a thriving ecosystem that truly supports venture creation in Canada. This includes funding opportunities, better economic policy, and entrepreneur-led programs.

Founders must navigate the ecosystem and find the right programs and resources to build, grow, and scale. After months of development, we are delighted to announce the Top 100 Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs 2025 for entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators in Canada. This annual report highlights the top programs founders can leverage to get the support they need to build new businesses in Canada. Some of the factors, such as alumni success, funding, level of support, founder-led networks, and entrepreneurs’ feedback, have been considered. This updated list includes accelerators, incubators, and venture studios.

A huge thank-you to our members, community, and partners who made this coverage possible.

For partnership opportunities get in touch. Join the largest community for entrepreneurs, startup accelerators, and incubators.

Ranking Startup Program
1 Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator
2 Innovation Factory
3 Next Canada
4 Google for Startups Canada
5 University of Waterloo Velocity Incubator
6 Highline Beta
7 OneEleven
8 DMZ Tech Incubator
9 Alberta Accelerator 500 Global
10 Communitech
11 Dobson McGill University
12 Health Innovation Hub @UAlberta
13 Launch Academy
14 Creative Destruction Lab
15 Venture Canada
16 Founder Fuel
17 Y Space
18 Antler Canada
19 University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
20 Applied Pharmaceutical Innovation
21 Entrepreneurship at UBC
22 Accelerator Center
23 Treefrog Accelerator
24 L-spark
25 Intuit Prosperity Accelerator
26 Forum Ventures Toronto
27 EDGE Sheridan College
28 Reach Canada
29 TandemLaunch
30 IDEA Mississauga
31 Hatchery Incubator University of Toronto
32 Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship
33 YEDI Incubator
34 Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre
35 ICUBE Incubator
36 Invest Ottawa
37 Western Accelerator
38 Platform Calgary
39 HATCH ventures
40 Y2 Labs
41 Launch Lab
42 Edmonton Unlimited
43 Health Innovation Hub
44 Climate Ventures
45 Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility
46 Alacrity Canada
47 The BRIDGE University of Toronto
48 Laurier StartUp Lab
49 Synapse Consortium
50 eCommerce North
51 Fashion Zone
52 Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator Elevate
53 Biomedical Zone
54 John Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise
55 JLABS Toronto
56 Venture Labs
57 eHUB Entrepreneurship Centre
58 Volta
59 Alberta Innovates
60 Toronto Fashion Incubator
61 The Knowledge Society
62 SpinUp
63 MaRS Discovery District
64 Altitude Accelerator
65 Computer Science Innovation Lab UofT
66 MTLab
67 Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst
68 Laurier Women Entrepreneurship Centre
69 Innovation Hub at Carleton University
70 Lassonde School of Engineering BEST Program
71 Bioenterprise Canada
72 District 3 Innovation
73 startGBC
74 Legal Innovation Zone
75 Toronto Business Development Centre
76 The Hub University of Toronto
77 Bhive
78 Plug and Play Tech Center Toronto
79 Science Discovery Zone
80 GreenHouse
81 Black Founders Network
82 GENIAL York University
83 Holt Xchange
84 InnovED
85 Imagination Catalyst Incubator
86 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre at Algonquin College
87 Futurpreneur
88 Station FinTech Montreal Accelerator
89 Co.Labs
90 League of Innovators
91 MC2 Capital
92 Spring Activator
93 Social Venture Zone
94 The Forum
95 Transmedia Zone
96 Startup Calgary
97 New Ventures BC
98 Global Startups
99 Brampton Venture Zone
100 Ideas Inc
101 Foresight Canada
102 Brampton Entrepreneur Centre
103 Parkdale Centre for Innovation
104 Centre for Entrepreneurship University of Toronto
105 Canada’s Tech Network
106 Digital Media and Gaming Incubator
107 Startup Garage
108 Lazaridis ScaleUp
109 Clean Energy Zone
110 ideaHUB
111 Halton Region Small Business Centre
112 Centech
113 TechAlliance
114 CEED
115 LiftOff
116 Design Fabrication Zone
117 The Forge
118 Innovation Boost Zone
119 La Piscine MTL
120 Canada's Music Incubator
121 ACCEL Centennial College
122 Artscape Daniels Launchpad
123 Shad Canada
124 Canadian Technology Accelerators
125 Le Pont Quebec
126 LabaseHEC Montreal
127 C100
128 North Forge

1. Community Safety & Wellness Accelerator Powered by AlchemistX

Alberta’s tech ecosystem is on the rise. The Community Safety & Wellness Accelerator (CSW) is a first-of-its-kind accelerator focused on addressing the social and safety challenges facing our communities. Currently in cohort 6 the program and the cohort will be graduating with a global delegation trip to Silicon Valley in April. The CSW Accelerator is part of the Alberta Innovates Scaleup and Growth Accelerator Program which helps businesses scale, grow and contribute to a thriving innovation ecosystem in Alberta.

2. Innovation Factory  

Innovation Factory runs number of programs for entrepreneurs, innovators, and tech leaders in city of Hamilton and recently with the merge of Haltech supporting entrepreneurs in the Halton region. One of the top programs include Innovation Factor’s annual startup competition called LiONS LAIR is known for a spot where many startups get a head start. The competition features a gala for entpreneurs and community to network.

3. Next Canada

With the recent funding round, Next Canada’s program is geared towards fuelling more young entrepreneurs into creating their own opportunities.

4. Google for Startups Canada

Google is renowned for its DNA in innovation, consistently pushing boundaries in technology and user experience. Among its many initiatives, this program stands out as one of the top online platforms, offering exceptional resources and opportunities to its users worldwide.

5. University of Waterloo Velocity 

University Waterloo is a hot spot for Canada’s top technical talent. The Velocity delivers offers numbers of programs for Uwaterloo students and alumni that are looking to build the next big thing.

6. Highline Beta

Highline Beta is a leading venture studio based in Canada, renowned for its innovative approach to building and scaling startups. By bridging the gap between corporations and the startup ecosystem, Highline Beta helps entrepreneurs turn their ideas into viable businesses while also enabling corporations to accelerate their innovation strategies.

7. OneEleven

OneEleven is one of the fastest-growing tech communities in Toronto, known for its strong focus on scaling high-growth startups. Over the years, it has become a central hub for entrepreneurs and innovators in the tech space, offering a variety of services designed to support the development of startups at every stage. Since its shake-up in 2020, the program has undergone a rapid transformation, adapting to the changing needs of the startup ecosystem.

8. DMZ Tech Incubator

The DMZ is one of the growing tech hubs in Toronto, renowned for its dynamic ecosystem that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. Located at Toronto Metropolitan, the DMZ provides startups with access to resources, mentorship, and funding opportunities, helping early-stage companies succeed.

9. Alberta Accelerator 500 Global

Alberta Accelerator 500 Global (A500 Global) is a notable startup accelerator program based in Alberta, Canada, designed to support and scale high-potential early-stage companies. This initiative is a key player in Canada’s burgeoning startup ecosystem, offering entrepreneurs a combination of mentorship, funding, and networking opportunities to help them navigate the growth and development of their businesses.

10. Communitech 

Waterloo continues to be the hot spot for startups. Communitech is Waterloo’s innovation community. The Fierce Founder program for women and female founders has had a significant traction over the years to creating women-led companies in Ontario and Canada.

If you enjoyed this coverage, you will love our tech community to connect with founders and tech leaders.

About the Author

Eric RafatEric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

 

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Canada’s Top 30 Cities to Launch a Startups
Canada Top Cities for Startups

Canada’s Top 30 Cities to Launch a Startups

Canada Top Cities for Startups

What are some of the top cities in Canada to launch a startup in 2024? Each city has its own unique ecosystem, and some are more favorable for startups than others. As the saying goes, “it really takes a village to raise a startup”. In this post, we present the top cities to launch a startup. We considered factors such as cost of living (20%), access to funding (25%), startup ecosystem (20%), talent pool (20%), and notable companies (15%).

Some cities, such as Calgary, are emerging as new tech hubs, with the rise of companies like ZayZoon, Standard Field Systems, and many more. For the complete list of Canada’s top companies, check out the full coverage here.

Ranking City Score
1 Toronto 🇨🇦 76
2 Waterloo 🇨🇦 75
3 Vancouver 🇨🇦 71.25
4 Montreal 🇨🇦 71
5 Calgary 🇨🇦 64.25
6 Edmonton 🇨🇦 63.75
7 Ottawa 🇨🇦 62.25
8 Victoria 🇨🇦 62.75
9 Hamilton 🇨🇦 62.75
10 Mississauga 🇨🇦 61.75
11 Markham 🇨🇦 61.75
12 Quebec City 61.75
13 Halifax 🇨🇦 60.75
14 St. John’s 🇨🇦 57.25
15 Fredericton 🇨🇦 56.25
16 Burlington 🇨🇦 56.25
17 Brampton 🇨🇦 56.25
18 Guelph 🇨🇦 56.25
19 Gatineau 🇨🇦 56.25
20 Collingwood 🇨🇦 56.25
21 Saskatoon 🇨🇦 56.25
22 Kamloops 🇨🇦 53.75
23 Kingston 🇨🇦 53.75
24 Windsor 🇨🇦 53.75
25 Sherbrooke 🇨🇦 53.75
26 Prince George 🇨🇦 50.25
27 Grande Prairie 🇨🇦 48.75
28 Thunder Bay 🇨🇦 47.75
29 Regina 🇨🇦 47.75
30 Winnipeg 🇨🇦 47.75

1. Toronto

Toronto’s scale is unmatched across Canada. With growing companies such as Index Exchange, Shopify, and others, Toronto’s ecosystem continues to thrive. One factor that may be holding the city back is its high housing prices. If these prices don’t decrease, they could significantly impact Toronto’s standing. When it comes to entrepreneurship, we need a lower cost of living in Canada.

See the Guide

2. Waterloo

Waterloo is known as Canada’s ultimate tech hub. With its smaller population, Waterloo offers a close-knit, small-town feel that can foster the growth of startups into scale-ups. The city also benefits from top technical talent emerging from the University of Waterloo.

See the Guide

3. Vancouver

With Web Summit moving to Vancouver, the city is gaining more attention. Vancouver has produced many homegrown success stories and continues to be a leading city for startups.

See the Guide

4. Montreal

Montreal’s cost of living is more favorable for startups. With lower costs, we may see more risk-taking from entrepreneurs. Montreal is also becoming a significant hub for AI development.

See the Guide

5. Calgary

Calgary is a rising tech hub with enormous potential to become a leader in Canada’s tech ecosystem.

See the Guide

6. Edmonton

Edmonton is quickly growing in prominence as a technology and innovation hub. The city benefits from the presence of the University of Alberta, which ranks among the top research universities in the country, contributing to the city’s AI and health tech sectors. Startups in Edmonton are also gaining support from local incubators, accelerators, and organizations like Startup Edmonton. Its affordable cost of living and increasing access to funding make it an attractive destination for entrepreneurs.

See the Guide

7. Ottawa

Ottawa is often overlooked, but it’s one of Canada’s most promising cities for startups, especially in the SaaS (Software as a Service) sector. The nation’s capital has a rich talent pool, thanks to the presence of institutions like the University of Ottawa and Carleton University. The city is also home to leading companies such as Shopify, which continues to inspire the local startup ecosystem. With the Canadian government being a significant employer and client, Ottawa offers unique opportunities for businesses targeting public sector innovation.

See the Guide

8. Victoria

Victoria, BC is rapidly establishing itself as a dynamic tech hub, especially for startups focused on software, gaming, and clean tech. With a vibrant local economy, excellent quality of life, and a supportive business environment, the city offers a nurturing ecosystem for new ventures. Companies like FreshWorks Studio (acquired by EY) have grown rapidly, helping to put Victoria on the map as a growing tech city. Additionally, its proximity to Vancouver and the U.S. West Coast provides strategic access to larger markets while maintaining lower operational costs.

9. Hamilton

Hamilton’s housing market offers more advantages compared to Toronto, making it more attractive to startups. The city is ideal for healthcare startups, as it hosts a strong healthcare innovation hub.

See the Guide

10. Mississauga

Mississauga is strategically located in the Greater Toronto Area. With the opening of new innovation hubs and programs, it’s becoming a better place to launch a startup.

See the Guide

In which city are you launching a startup in Canada? Let us know!

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Top Startup Memes on Startup Accelerators & Incubators
Startup Memes Cover Social

Top Startup Memes on Startup Accelerators & Incubators

Startup Memes Cover Social

Navigating the waters of startup accelerators and incubators can feel like an endless quest. That’s why we created the Startup Directory—to make finding the perfect program a little less daunting. But is it a startup accelerator or a decelerator? Finding the right accelerator can be a game-changer for founders, giving your venture the boost it needs to succeed. Whether it’s access to funding, mentorship, or a strong network of industry connections, the right program can fast-track your growth and help you avoid common pitfalls. On the flip side, getting into the wrong program can decelerate your startup and take away valuable time from finding and keeping paying customers! In this post, we explore the lighter side of startups and accelerators via some hilarious startup memes.

1. The right startup accelerator can make you feel like flash!

Startup Memes Accelerators vs Decelerator

The right startup accelerator can make you feel like flash! It can actually deliver value and help you grow your company. This can be done via funding, introduction or other ways.

2. Getting into Y Combinator is a mission impossible.

Startup Meme Accelerators

Getting into Y Combinator has become like a mission impossible. Stay lazer focused on your company mission!

3. When you apply to Y Combinator Second Time

Startup Memes Accelerator Application

Might as well shoot your shot few other times at the startup accelerator!

3. When you get Startup Advice from those who never done a startup

Startup Memes Advice

There is plenty of startup advice out there, but the source is the most important factor. Look for those who have been there and have at least tried to build a startup.

4. More Demand for accelerators vs finding paying customers

Startup Memes Accelerator vs Finding Paying Customers

There seem to be more demand for startup advice on accelerators. Founders need to focus on finding paying customers more.

Are you applying to any startup accelerators or incubators? Let us know.

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Top Fintech Startup Accelerators, Incubators and Programs
Top fintech startup accelerators and incubators

Top Fintech Startup Accelerators, Incubators and Programs

Top fintech startup accelerators and incubators

Building a fintech startup is radically different from any other venture. Some of the challenges founders have to deal with include regulations and compliance, as well as monetization. If you’re building a fintech company, check out some of the top resources specifically designed for fintech startups:

1. Fintech Sandbox

Fintech Sandbox provides free access to critical data and resources to entrepreneurs around the world through our Data Access Residency, enabling them to build and scale their early-stage fintech products.

2. Boston Fintech Week

Boston Fintech Week brings you industry leaders in fintech and the opportunity to make meaningful connections with the innovators, regulators, and investors building the future of financial services.

3. Fintech Cadence

Fintech Cadence is known as Canada’s Fintech Hub. They specifically focus on education, supporting fintech startups and collaborating with FIs.

4. Fintech Innovation Lab

Fintech Innovation Lab focuses on accelerating fintech startups globally. It is co-founded by the Partnership Fund for New York City & Accenture. Fintech Innovation Lab has 270 companies with $2.7B raised. It has office in New York, London, and Asia Pacific.

5. Canada Fintech Forum

Canada Fintech Forum organizes annual conference for the fintech industry.

6. DCU Fintech Innovation Centre

DCU Fintech Innovation Centre, this is in partnership with MassChallenge to support innovation in financial and technological advances in fraud prevention, cyber security, AI applications, financial product development and consumer experiences.

7. Plug and Play fintech Sunnyvale

Plug and Play fintech startup accelerator has a specific program out of Sunnyvale in California for fintech companies.

As you navigate the process of building a fintech company, surround yourself with a community and networks that will open doors for your startup in the near future.

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Top 100 Venture Capital Firms in Canada
Top 100 Venture Capital List Canada

Top 100 Venture Capital Firms in Canada

Top 100 Venture Capital List Canada

Fundraising in Canada is one of the most challenging tasks for founders. Canada’s landscape is radically different from its U.S. counterpart. In the latest report mapping out Canada’s Startup Ecosystem, which we released last week, there are more startup accelerators and incubators in Canada than venture capital firms. Canada needs more full-time entrepreneurs than ever, and funding at the very early stage massively helps the whole ecosystem. Early-stage funding fuels the next generation of companies in Canada, creating new jobs and economic growth in the community.

In this post, we bring you the list of Venture Capital Firms in Canada. This list aims to act as a guide for founders as they start their fundraising efforts and navigate the Canadian startup ecosystem. Each venture capital firm is unique in its thesis and how it works with startups. Check it out below.

In this post, we bring you the list of Venture Capital Firms in Canada. This list aims to act as a guide for founders as they start their fundraising effort and navigate the Canadian startup ecosystem. Each venture capital firm is unique in their thesis and how they work with startups. Check out it below here.

For partnership opportunities, join the largest community for founders, accelerators, and venture capital firms.

Join the Community

1 IX Labs
2 Thin Air Labs
3 Archangel Network of Funds
4 Real Ventures
5 Diagram Ventures
6 OMERS Ventures
7 Golden Ventures
8 Round13
9 Alate Partners
10 Storytime Capital
11 iNovia Capital
12 Staircase Ventures
13 Relay Ventures
14 Two Small Fish Ventures
15 Mistral Venture Partners
16 Front Row Ventures
17 Good News Ventures
18 District Ventures Capital
19 Panache Ventures
20 Celtic House Venture Partners
21 Lumira Ventures
22 GreenSky Ventures
23 Northside Ventures
24 Kanata Ventures
25 Verstra Ventures
26 N49P Ventures
27 Cycle Capital
28 GroundBreak Ventures
29 Versant Ventures
30 CMD Capital
31 Radical Ventures
32 Globalive Capital
33 ArcTern Ventures
34 Mantella Venture Partners
35 Information Venture Partners
36 Vertu Capital
37 First Ascent Ventures
38 ScaleUP Venture Partners
39 BKR capital
40 Intact Ventures
41 Loyal VC
42 Stand Up Ventures
43 Paradigm Capital
44 Portage
45 Framework Venture Partners
46 Georgian
47 Klass Capital
48 Impression Ventures
49 Plaza Ventures
50 Ripple Ventures
51 Active Impact Investments
52 Mobio Technologies
53 GetFresh Ventures
54 Versant Ventures
55 Renewal Funds
56 Quark Venture
57 Badhouse Ventures
58 Launch Ventures
59 InBC Investment
60 Vanedge Capital
61 Pender Ventures
62 Pangaea Ventures
63 Chrysalix Venture Capital
64 7 Gate Ventures
65 Rhino Ventures
66 AllosteRx Capital
67 Accelia Capital
68 Boreal Ventures
69 Ferst Capital Partners
70 Amplitude Ventures
71 Version One
72 BCF Ventures
73 Luge Capital
74 Brightspark Ventures
75 Allied Venture Partners
76 ATB Ventures
77 Metiquity Ventures
78 Cognition Fund
79 Matbridge
80 Sandpiper Ventures
81 Northside Ventures
82 Garage Capital
83 Rogue Insight Capital
84 Ethical Capital Partners
85 Quantum Valley Investments
86 DMZ Ventures
87 Venture Ontario
88 Last40 Ventures
89 Build Ventures
90 LOI Venture
91 Raven Indigenous Capital Partners
92 RBCx
93 FirePower Capital
94 TheVenture.Fund
95 Facit
96 Telus Ventures
97 BDC Venture Capital
98 Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners
99 MaRS Investment Accelerator Fund
100 Gibraltar & Company
101 Deloitte Ventures
102 Alignvest Management Corporation
103 Union Capital

1. IX Labs

There’s no doubt that AI is the biggest revolution of our time. IX Labs is the venture capital arm of Index Exchange that invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups using data and artificial intelligence to solve problems. It is led by Mayuran Yogarajah, who previously led the Engineering team at Index Exchange. Mayuran also writes an editorial column on AI and startups for FoundersPress.

Learn More

2. Thin Air Labs

Founded by James Lochrie, who previously found success with the Wave accounting software platform, Thin Air Labs is based in Calgary and invests in numerous tech companies in the area.

Learn More

3. Archangel Network of Funds

Archangel Network of Funds is a network that invests in startups. One of the major funds is Phoenix Fire, an angel-stage investment fund that applies a systematic, disciplined approach to investing in women entrepreneurs across Canada. This fund is led by Danielle Brewin Graham who previously led the Fierce Founders Program for female founders.

Learn More

4. Real Ventures

One of the major accelerators in Montreal is called Founder Fuel, led by Real Ventures, a VC firm that believes in supporting founders from day one and helping them scale themselves as they scale their businesses. For more information on Founder Fuel check out the complete guide to Canada’s Startup Accelerators and Incubators.

Learn More

5. Diagram Ventures

Based out of Montreal, Diagram Ventures is a venture builder that conceives and launches technology companies in the financial services, insurance, and health industries.

Learn More

6. OMERS Ventures

OMERS is Ontario Municipal Employees’ Retirement System. OMERS ventures is a global early-stage tech investor.

Learn More

7. Golden Ventures

Golden Ventures is one of the leading seed-stage venture capital fund, investing across North America. Some notable companies from Golden Ventures include Wattpad.

Learn More

8. Round13

Founded by Bruce Croxon to address the market opportunity created by the lack of funding available to growth-stage digital companies, Round13 is led by Bruce Croxon, a former Dragon’s Den judge and venture capitalist. The inspiration behind the name comes from boxing.

Learn More

9. Alate Partners

Real estate startups are on a rise. Alate is an early-stage venture capital fund focused on real estate technology.

Learn More

10. Storytime Capital

Storytime Capital invest in founders who are innovators in the future of work. If you’ve got an exciting idea in this area check out their portfolio companies.

Learn More

About the Author

Eric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and is always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

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The Most Complete Guide to America’s Startup Ecosystem
United States Startup Ecosystem

The Most Complete Guide to America’s Startup Ecosystem

United States Startup Ecosystem

America is known to be the land of opportunity. There are no other country that embraces entrepreneurship like the Americans do. The level of support and scale for startups in United States is certainly not found elsewhere. If you’re a founder you have to navigate each city with its ecosystem to find out where might be the place to build and grow your business.

Each startup is unique and has its own unique challenges. Sometimes you just have to got where the opportunities are.In this post, we bring you the list of top startup resources in America

1. San Francisco

San Francisco Accelerators & Incubators – 59
San Francisco Venture Capital – 137
San Francisco Conferences – 15
San Francisco Meetups – 13
San Francisco Venture Studio – 3

San Francisco has the most number of venture capital firms and startups in the world. While the city has been grappling with housing and other issues, the scale is unmatched. There are literally thousands of companies in the Silicon Valley and surrounding areas.

2. Austin

Austin Accelerators & Incubators – 17
Austin Venture Capital – 24
Austin Conferences – 2
Austin Meetups – 4

Austin has became a startup powerhouse recently. Texas in general has no state tax and a low sales tax, which is more favourable for venture creation. Some famous companies out of Austin include WholeFoods and Dell.

3. Boston

Boston Accelerators & Incubators – 25
Boston Venture Capital – 30
Boston Conferences – 7
Boston Meetups – 14
Boston Female Founders – 3

Boston is known to the hub for biotech companies. They city’s ecosystem is well-developed to help companies scale. Some notables from Boston include Hubspot, TripAdvisor, GE, and Boston Consulting Group.

4. Miami

Miami Accelerators & Incubators – 19
Miami Venture Capital – 20
Miami Conferences – 2
Miami Meetups – 9

Miami has become a hot spot for new entrepreneurs as it has the perfect combination of weather and favourable ecosystem to start new businesses. Many founders have migrated here to start new businesses. Even the founder of Amazon is moving here believe it or not!

5. New York 

New York Accelerators & Incubators – 62
New York Venture Capital – 74
New York Conferences – 7
New York Meetups – 16

New York is the number 2 spot for most venture capital in the country. The ecosystem is equipped to help startups scale. Some famous accelerators in the city include the Entrepreneurs’ Round Table, which invests in up coming startups.

6. San Diego

San Diego Accelerators & Incubators – 8
San Diego Conferences – 4
San Diego Meetups – 4
San Diego Venture Capital – 2

San Diego is a dream place to start a startup. It has beautiful coastline and growing hub for technology and innovation.

7. Boulder

Boulder Accelerators & Incubators – 8
Boulder Conferences – 1
Boulder Meetups – 9
Boulder Venture Capital – 13

Boulder has a vibrant local startup ecosystem. One of the most notable companies would be Techstars, which is founded in Boulder in 2006

8. Denver

Denver Accelerators & Incubators – 3
Denver Conferences – 1
Denver Meetups – 5
Denver Venture Capital – 4

9. Buffalo

Buffalo Accelerators & Incubators – 7
Buffalo Venture Capital – 3
Buffalo Conferences – 1
Buffalo Meetups – 5

Buffalo’s startup ecosystem is small but mighty. The city attracts the top startups in the country via 43 North competition. The 43North invests $5M in annual investment in the startups.

If you’re building a startup or looking to grow your local ecosystem join our online community.

About the Author

Eric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

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The Most Complete Guide to Canada’s Startup Ecosystem
Startup Ecosystem Canada

The Most Complete Guide to Canada’s Startup Ecosystem

Startup Ecosystem Canada

Looking to startup a startup in Canada? Look no further as we bring you the most complete guide to Canadian startup ecosystem. This guide contains the complete list of accelerators, incubators, meetups, and venture capital. There are currently 209 startup accelerators and incubators in Canada in major cities. Discover the top resources and programs in Canada to get started.

1. Toronto

Toronto Accelerators & Incubators – 80
Toronto Venture Capital – 65
Toronto  Meetups – 38
Toronto Conferences – 21
Toronto Female Founders Resources – 16
Toronto Venture Studios – 9

Toronto is leading the country with the most number of resources. What’s interesting is that Toronto has more accelerators and incubators than venture capital. Could this be a problem in some ways? There’s no doubt that Canadian startups need more funding opportunities.

2. Waterloo

Waterloo Accelerators & Incubators – 20
Waterloo Conferences – 4
Waterloo Female Founders Resources – 2
Waterloo Meetups – 13
Waterloo Venture Capital – 6

Waterloo has most startups per capita in Canada and the ecosystem seems more balanced. There are currently 20 startup programs and incubators for entrepreneurs.

3. Hamilton

Hamilton Accelerators & Incubators – 5
Hamilton Meetups – 3

There are currently 5 startup accelerators and incubators in Hamilton. The city has a great hub for healthcare startups. The ecosystem is growing and its punching above its weight.

4. Mississauga

Mississauga Accelerators & Incubators – 4
Mississauga Venture Capital – 1

There are currently 4 startup accelerators and incubators in Mississauga. The city recently opened a new innovation hub in Square One.

5. Markham

Markham Accelerators & Incubators – 3
Markham Venture Capital – 2

There are currently 3 startup accelerators and incubators in Markham. Markham’s startup scene can be found at Y space. The city has been developing its programs to help founders build companies in Markham,

6. Ottawa

Ottawa Accelerators & Incubators – 11
Ottawa Conferences – 4
Ottawa Meetups – 5
Ottawa Venture Capital – 3

The most successful Canadian tech company came from Ottawa. The ecosystem has a lot of potential to grow but this starts with keeping the talent in Ottawa.

7. Vancouver

Vancouver Accelerators & Incubators – 28
Vancouver Conferences – 7
Vancouver Female Founders Resources – 3
Vancouver Meetups – 13
Vancouver Venture Capital – 22

There are currently 28 startup accelerators and incubators in Vancouver. Vancouver has a great proximity to Silicon Valley, but is it living to its potential? There are some great companies founded here including Hootsuite and others.

8. Montreal

Montreal Accelerators & Incubators – 45
Montreal Conferences – 4
Montreal Female Founders – 2
Montreal Meetups – 8
Montreal Venture Capital – 21
Montreal Venture Studios – 2

Montreal has a growing AI hub in Canada. The city has a great advantage as rental prices and housing seems to be cheaper in contrast to other parts of Canada. This is more likely to help talent stay in Montreal.

9. Calgary

Calgary Accelerators & Incubators – 15
Calgary Conferences – 1
Calgary Meetups – 6
Calgary Venture Capital – 9
Calgary Venture Studio – 2

Calgary is probably going to the next tech hub in Canada. Favourable housing situation, talent, and growing ecosystem, this makes a top destination to start a startup in Canada.

10. Halifax

Halifax Accelerators & Incubators – 5
Halifax venture capital – 3
Halifax meetups – 4

11. Saskatoon

Saskatoon Accelerators & Incubators – 3

Are you build, growing or scaling a startup? Join the largest community of founders, innovators, and talent here.

About the Author

Eric RafatEric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

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Top 100 Startup Accelerators and Incubators Globally for Founders
Top 100 Startup Accelerators and Incubators List

Top 100 Startup Accelerators and Incubators Globally for Founders

Top 100 Startup Accelerators and Incubators List
Going global is the key for startup founders from the very beginning. Oftentimes, this involves expanding beyond the local geographical location in which the startup operates. Founders have to navigate the global startup ecosystem to find those opportunities to continue to grow. This include opportunities for finding paying customers, funding, and also talent. 

In this post, we are beyond thrilled to bring you the top startup accelerators and incubators global list. This list contains the top programs in major cities across the globe. Some programs accept founders from around the world, while others are localized to their specific locations. Check out the full list below.

For partnership opportunities, join the largest community for entrepreneurs, startup accelerators, and incubators.

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106 Polsky Institute
105 Starta
104 Greylock Edge
103 The Mint
102 Surge
101 L-spark
100 Starburst Aerospace
99 AWS accelerators
98 Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre
97 South Park Commons
96 Venture Out
95 Edge Sheridan College
94 Pioneer Square Labs
93 Huckletree
92 Y Space
91 Dogpatch Labs
90 Accelerator Center
89 Enterprise Ireland
88 Startup Lighthouse
87 Astro Labs
86 1871 accelerator
85 Bunker Labs
84 Cogo Labs
83 MIT delta v
82 IDEO CoLab Ventures
81 Factory Berlin
80 Grace
79 Reach
78 VentureVilla Accelerator
77 REAKTOR
76 Berlin Startup School
75 SIBB Deep Tech Accelerator
74 Austin Technology Incubator
73 Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship
72 TechRanch
71 Intuit Prosperity Accelerator
70 SKU
69 Alliance
68 Platform Calgary
67 Communitech
66 50 Partners
65 Built in Miami
64 Paris&Co
63 Innovation Factory
62 Launch Academy
61 Hax
60 TandemLaunch
59 Wilco
58 EvoNexus
57 Founder Friendly Labs
56 Next Canada
55 Founder University
54 StartX
53 Pioneer
52 Agoranov
51 MedTech Innovator
50 Endeavor
49 Highline Beta
48 Launch Lab
47 Creative Destruction Lab
46 Tech LabsMIT delta v
45 Boomtown Accelerators
44 Dobson McGill University
43 FoundersSpace
42 HATCH ventures
41 Plug and Play Tech Center
40 Founder Fuel
39 DMZ Tech Incubator
38 MuckerLab
37 TechNation
36 University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
35 Draper Startup House Accelerator
34 Built in Miami
33 Menlo Labs
32 Expa
31 Visible Hand Accelerator
30 43North
29 Catalyze CU
28 Idea: Northeastern University's Venture Accelerator
27 University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
26 Visible Hand Accelerator
25 University of Waterloo Velocity Incubator
24 Founders, Inc
23 YUE Accelerator
22 Indie Bio
21 Texas Venture Labs
20 MassChallenge
19 Expa
18 Launch Accelerator
17 Life Changing Labs Accelerator
16 Forum Ventures
15 Miracleplus
14 King’s20 Accelerator
13 Antler Global
12 Techstars
11 Hardvard Innovation Labs
10 Founders Factory
9 Capital Factory
8 Google for Startups
7 On Deck
6 Entrepreneurs Round Table Accelerator
5 Entrepreneur First
4 AnglePad
3 Alchemist Accelerator
2 500 Global
1 Y Combinator

10. Founders Factory

Founders Factory builds and funds startups together with exceptional entrepreneurs and the world’s leading companies.

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9. Capital Factory

Capital Factory is the place to be for entrepreneurs in Texas.

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8. Google for Startups

Google for Startups runs a number of program for early-stage technology ventures. Some are delivered virtually for founders.

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7. On Deck

On Deck is one of the few programs that is equity-free for founders. On Deck has a great network in San Francisco for founders to get connected. For the complete list of equity-free startup accelerator and incubators check it out here.

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6. Entrepreneurs Round Table Accelerator

Entrepreneurs Round Table Accelerator is an early stage fund and technology accelerator located in New York City that runs two, four month programs per year.

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5. Entrepreneur First

Entrepreneur First is based out of UK with international presence that supports early-stage startups to scale globally.

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4. AnglePad

AngelPad is a seed-stage accelerator program based in NYC and San Francisco. AngelPad companies raised over $2.2 Billion in funding

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3. Alchemist Accelerator

Alchemist is a US-based accelerator that is focused on accelerating the development of early-stage ventures that monetize from enterprises.

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2. 500 Global

500 Global started in Mountain View, California, in 2011. Today, it runs one of the most international programs out there. One of the most notable investments includes Canva.

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1. Y Combinator

Y Combinator was the very fist startup accelerator in the world. It was founded by Paul Graham. The scale and reach of Y Combinator is truly global. Some notable companies include Airbnb, DropBox, and many more. Y Combinator has funded over 4,000 startups globally.

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About the Author

Eric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

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Top 100 Startup Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs in Canada
Startup Accelerators and Incubators Canada

Top 100 Startup Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs in Canada

Startup Accelerators and Incubators Canada

Canada has incredible potential for innovation, yet it remains largely untapped. Navigating the ecosystem can be a challenge for entrepreneurs in Canada, especially when it comes to fundraising. Early access to capital and a supportive culture can significantly aid in transforming more startups into scale-ups and tech giants.

After months of development, we are delighted to unveil the Top 100 Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs for entrepreneurs, founders, and innovators in Canada. This comprehensive list aims to facilitate and guide those navigating the entrepreneurial landscape in the country.

For partnership opportunities, join the largest community for entrepreneurs, startup accelerators, and incubators.

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Ranking Startup Program
1 Google for Startups Canada
2 University of Waterloo Velocity Incubator
3 University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
4 Next Canada
5 Communitech
6 Y Space
7 Innovation Factory
8 Venture for Canada
9 Launch Academy
10 Highline Beta
11 Creative Destruction Lab
12 DMZ Tech Incubator
13 Alberta Accelerator 500 Global
14 Founder Fuel
15 Dobson McGill University
16 TELUS Community Safety and Wellness Accelerator
17 Accelerator Centre
18 L-spark
19 Intuit Prosperity Accelerator
20 Idea Mississauga
21 Forum Ventures Toronto
22 EDGE Sheridan College
23 Reach Canada
24 TandemLaunch
25 Treefrog Accelerator
26 Hatchery Incubator University of Toronto
27 YEDI Incubator
28 ICUBE Incubator
29 Entrepreneurship at UBC
30 UTEST
31 Invest Ottawa
32 Platform Calgary
33 HATCH ventures
34 Y2 Labs
35 Medical Innovation Xchange
36 VentureLAB
37 Volta
38 Centre for Entrepreneurship University of Toronto
39 MaRS Discovery District
40 UTEST
41 Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship
42 Antler Canada
43 Co.Labs
44 Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre
45 Venture Labs
46 Lazaridis ScaleUp
47 Launch Lab
48 OneEleven
49 League of Innovators
50 Altitude Accelerator
51 The Knowelge Society
52 New Ventures BC
53 Haltech
54 Foresight Canada
55 The Hub University of Toronto
56 Seneca HELIX
57 Launch Lab
58 MTLab
59 startGBC
60 Health Innovation Hub @UAlberta
61 ELLA Accelerator for Women Entrepreneurs
62 District 3 Innovation
63 Imagination Catalyst Incubator
64 Plug and Play Tech Center Toronto
65 Startup Garage
66 Western Accelerator
67 TechAlliance
68 JLABS Toronto
69 Imagination Catalyst Incubator
70 Alacrity Canada
71 Toronto Business Development Centre
72 BC Tech Association
73 Futurpreneur
74 Ontario Centre of Innovation
75 Parkdale Centre for Innovation
76 Computer Science Innovation Lab UofT
77 Laurier StartUp Lab
78 Holt Xchange
79 Biomedical Zone
80 Social Venture Zone
81 Legal Innovation Zone
82 SpinUp
83 Innovate BC
84 BC Tech Association
85 Women+ Entrepreneur Incubator Elevate
86 eHUB Entrepreneurship Centre
87 Lassonde School of Engineering BEST Program
88 Science Discovery Zone
89 Bioenterprise Canada
90 InnovED
91 The BRIDGE University of Toronto
92 Startup Garage
93 GENIAL York University
94 Transmedia Zone
95 RBC Women in Cleantech Accelerator
96 Clean Energy Zone
97 Fashion Zone
98 Digital Media and Gaming Incubator
99 Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
100 MC2 Capital
101 SpinUp
102 Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility
103 Synapse Consortium
104 Brampton Entrepreneur Centre
105 Innovation Hub at Carleton University
106 Brampton Venture Zone
107 Bhive
108 Halton Region Small Business Centre
109 LatAm Startups
110 Spring Activator
111 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Centre at Algonquin College
112 Alberta Innovates
113 Laurier Women Entrepreneurship Centre
114 GreenHouse
115 The Forum
116 HATCH ventures
117 Canada's Tech Network
118 John Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise
119 Station FinTech Montreal Accelerator
120 Edmonton Unlimited
121 Alacrity Canada
122 Black Founders Network
123 Climate Ventures
124 ideaHUB
125 Startup Calgary
126 Ideas Inc
127 Opus University of Saskatchewan
128 Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst
129 Techstars Toronto
130 CEED
131 Le Pont Quebec
132 FoundHers
133 Le Pont Quebec
134 The Forge
135 Centech
136 LabaseHEC Montreal
137 La Piscine MTL
138 Canadian Technology Accelerators
139 Innovation Boost Zone
140 ACCEL Centennial College
141 Black Founders Network
142 Shad Canada
143 Grebel Peace Incubator
144 Toronto Business Development Centre
145 eCommerce North
146 Toronto Fashion Incubator
147 Canada's Music Incubator
148 Design Fabrication Zone
149 Full Motion Accelerator
150 Artscape Daniels Launchpad
151 LiftOff
152 C100
153 Canada-India Acceleration Program

1. Google for Startups Canada

Google is known for its innovation DNA across the globe. Google for Startups Canada delivers an accelerator for Canadian startups in a 10-week program equity-free program. This program is delivered virtually.

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2. University of Waterloo Velocity Incubator

University Waterloo is a hot spot for Canada’s top technical talent. The Velocity delivers offers numbers of programs for Uwaterloo students and alumni that are looking to build the next big thing.

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3. University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

The Entrepreneurship at UofT has been developing a large ecosystem to support entrepreneurs from UofT. These include accelerators, incubators, and research programs to commercialize new innovations.

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4. Next Canada

Next Canada offers three programs for startups including one specifically on AI startups. Next Canada is founded by some of Canada’s top business leaders.

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5. Communitech

Communitech is Waterloo’s innovation community. The Fierce Founder program for women and female founders has had a significant traction over the years to creating women-led companies in Ontario and Canada.

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6. Y Space

Y space is one of rising accelerator programs in Canada at York University located in Markham.

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7. Innovation Factory

Innovation Factory runs number of programs for entrepreneurs, innovators, and tech leaders in city of Hamilton. Innovation Factor’s annual startup competition called LiONS LAIR is known for a spot where many startups get a head start.

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8. Venture for Canada

Venture for Canada is ideal for students and young leaders, interested in exploring about tech and startups. Venture for Canada connect top talent from universities to some of the fastest growing startups.

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9. Launch Academy

Launch is one of Vancouver’s top premier startup accelerator helping Canadian tech at every stage.

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10. Highline Beta

Highline Beta runs number of innovative startup programs and corporate innovation partnership to bring new ideas forward.

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If you enjoyed this coverage, you will love our entrepreneurs community. Check our community here.

About the Author

Eric Rafat is a passionate founder with expertise in startups, building high-performing teams, and growth marketing. He is a top ranked tennis player and always up for a conversation about startups and tech. Connect with Eric here.

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