Invest Ottawa

Name

Invest Ottawa

Legal name

Invest Ottawa

Website

https://investottawa.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Miscellaneous Intermediation (523910)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Capital Raising Advisory (Debt/Equity/Private Capital) (BPAHADAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Strategy & IT Advisory (BPAEAAAA)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Startup acceleration programs
• Business advisory services
• Venture development programs
• Entrepreneurship support

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Invest Ottawa operates as the lead economic development agency for knowledge-based industries in Canada's Capital, delivering a portfolio of entrepreneurship and venture programs (IO Ignition, IO Flex, IO Accelerator, IO ScaleUp, Starter Company Plus, Summer Company, SheBoot, ElevateIP), business advisory services, global expansion support, and physical R&D facilities (Bayview Yards and Area X.O). The agency provides these services at no cost to participants, funded through government sources, to drive startup creation, business growth, and economic impact in Ottawa.

Product overview

Invest Ottawa is an economic development agency that offers a comprehensive suite of programs and services for entrepreneurs and businesses at every stage of the lifecycle. The portfolio includes early-stage programs (IO Ignition, IO Flex, Starter Company Plus, Summer Company), growth-stage programs (IO Accelerator, IO ScaleUp), specialized services (ElevateIP, SheBoot, Global Expansion, Business Advisory Services), and physical facilities (Area X.O R&D complex and Bayview Yards workspace). The organization also leads the Defence Innovation Hub initiative to position Ottawa as Canada's defense innovation center. Invest Ottawa does not offer a single unified software product but rather provides advisory services, training programs, mentorship, funding access, and workspace facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Area X.O: A technology-rich, secure R&D complex for next-gen smart mobility, autonomy and connectivity technologies created for all-weather experimentation.
• Bayview Yards
• IO Ignition
• IO Flex
• IO Accelerator
• IO ScaleUp
• SheBoot

Products and services

• IO Ignition A 10-week bootcamp for entrepreneurs who want to validate a tech startup idea and establish a solid foundation to build upon. Since 2018, the program has supported 25 cohorts and 450 startups.
• IO Flex A flexible program giving founders and business leaders access to early-stage advisors, cost-saving startup perks, and a network of like-minded peers for every phase of business development.
• IO Accelerator A high-touch, milestone-driven program offering expert guidance on finding product-market fit, securing funding, and building major business disciplines for tech startups with early market traction. As of June 30, 2025: 94 companies supported, $467 million capital raised, 1,530 jobs created.
• IO ScaleUp A program for high-growth tech companies that have reached $2 million in revenue or capital and are on track to generating $100 million or more. Provides access to elite advisors, vertical-specific peer groups, talent services, and customized market research. As of June 30, 2025: 90 scaling firms, $1.46 billion in outcomes.
• Starter Company Plus A training program for Ottawa-based, non-tech entrepreneurs who have launched or are ready to launch a new business. Offers interactive training, mentorship, and the chance to pitch for up to $5,000 in grant funding.
• Summer Company A program teaching youth aged 15-29 practical skills for starting up a successful business during summer break. Participants receive mentorship, interactive workshops, and grants of up to $3,000.
• Area X.O A technology-rich, secure R&D complex for next-generation smart mobility, autonomy, and connectivity technologies created for all-weather experimentation. Located in Ottawa's Kanata North business park.
• Bayview Yards An expansive facility equipped with meeting spaces and workspaces that helps entrepreneurs and technology firms develop technical, business, and market capabilities. Serves as a hub for Invest Ottawa programs.
• ElevateIP for Women & Indigenous Founders A funded program providing access to funding and expert support to help women and Indigenous founders protect, manage, and grow their business through intellectual property.
• SheBoot A women-led program jointly established by Invest Ottawa and the Capital Angel Network that teaches women founders how to pitch their business and secure investment.
• Business Advisory Services Real-world guidance from experienced business experts specific to business needs and challenges. Provides tailored guidance through advisory sessions.
• Global Expansion Program A program for businesses seeking to expand their global footprint in Ottawa and those already established in the city looking to scale up their enterprises internationally.
• Defence Innovation Hub An initiative to position the National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau) as Canada's Defence Innovation Hub, aiming to attract up to $3 billion in public-private investments over five years and create up to 18,000 jobs.
• E-Commerce Accelerator Program A program equipping established entrepreneurs with expert support, peer networks, and actionable training to help scale their annual recurring revenue through e-commerce channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• $635 million GDP impact generated in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ross VideocoreTechnology or Integration · 21 May 2026Ross Video announced expansion of its manufacturing and R&D operations in Ontario supported by the Invest Ontario Fund, with facilities in Ottawa and Iroquois. The expansion accelerates development of the next generation Ultrix hyperconverged media processing platform featuring AI-enabled processing and modular deployment options.
• Defence Innovation Task ForcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 202633-member task force chaired by retired Gen. Rick Hiller, backed by Invest Ottawa, to position the National Capital Region as Canada's Defence Innovation Hub and bid for hosting the proposed global Defence, Security and Resilience Bank headquarters. Initiative aims to unlock up to $3 billion in business and investment.
• Aurrigo International plccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Aurrigo launched its Auto-Shuttle Mk2 autonomous shuttle at Kanata Business Park in Ottawa, following initial testing at Invest Ottawa's Area X.O R&D complex. The partnership positions Kanata North as a national testbed for smart mobility.
• BluWave-aicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partnership with Area X.O on a project to optimize grid-scale batteries using AI technology to manage EV loads and mitigate grid congestion in Canada. The project involves deploying two battery energy storage systems in Ottawa, co-funded by IESO.
• Queen's Partnerships and InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Collaborative administration of the Scale Up Platform program in partnership with Invest Ottawa, funded by Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. The program provides microgrant funding to help companies develop customer portals and marketing campaigns.
• Nuclear MediaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarketing campaign partner for ScribeWire, helping the company expand beyond broadcast-only clients into corporate, government, and digital sectors.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub offering startup acceleration, venture services, and ecosystem programs — the most directly comparable Canadian urban innovation intermediary to Invest Ottawa, though larger in scale and more venture-focused.
• Communitech: Waterloo, Ontario-based tech hub supporting founders through accelerator programs, talent services, and corporate innovation — directly comparable mission and program structure to Invest Ottawa's IO Ignition/Accelerator/ScaleUp stack.
• DMZ (Ryerson/TMU): Toronto-based tech incubator/accelerator providing programs, mentorship, and capital access for early-stage startups — directly comparable to IO Ignition and IO Accelerator in target audience and program design.
• Innovation Factory: Hamilton, Ontario regional innovation center operating accelerator programs and commercialization support — closely comparable mid-sized Ontario innovation intermediary serving a regional mandate similar to Invest Ottawa's.

Broad incumbents

• Toronto Region Board of Trade / Toronto Economic Development: Larger-scale economic development and business advocacy organization serving the Toronto region — comparable economic-development mandate at much greater scale; does not specialize in early-stage tech acceleration.
• Montréal International: Greater Montreal economic development agency focused on foreign direct investment attraction, talent, and international business support — comparable mandate in attracting global companies and talent, but broader scope without dedicated accelerator programs.

Regional players

• Vancouver Economic Commission: Municipal economic development agency for Vancouver with mandate to attract investment and support business growth — comparable role and structure but operating in a different Canadian tech hub geography.
• Calgary Economic Development: Calgary, Alberta's economic development agency supporting business expansion and investment attraction — comparable mission and government-affiliated structure to Invest Ottawa, focused on a different Western Canadian hub.
• Halifax Partnership: Halifax, Nova Scotia economic development organization supporting business growth, population attraction, and capital flows — similar economic-development mission and non-profit government-funded structure to Invest Ottawa, serving a different regional market.

Emerging players

• Creative Destruction Lab (CDL): University-affiliated seed-stage program for massively scalable, science-based startups — overlaps with Invest Ottawa's ScaleUp mandate for high-growth tech ventures, but CDL operates as an objective-driven fellowship rather than a regional economic development agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/invest-ottawa
• Xx.com/Invest_Ottawa
• Facebookfacebook.com/InvestOttawa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments37 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Invest Ottawa