Startup Canada
Startup Canada is a national non-profit founded in 2012 that delivers free entrepreneurship programs, events, podcasts, and research to Canadian founders, supported by 200+ corporate and institutional partners including Mastercard, CIBC, Scotiabank, BDC, and Pizza Hut.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersOttawa, Canada
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Startup Canada does
Startup Canada is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2012 and headquartered in Ottawa that operates as the country's national entrepreneurship support body. It is not a technology product company; rather, it delivers a portfolio of free programs, events, podcasts, and research publications designed to support Canadian entrepreneurs across the full journey from ideation to international scaling. Its flagship offerings include the Startup Canada Tour (a national touring event series reaching 10+ cities and 4,481 attendees since 2023), Startup Women (year-long program for women-identifying entrepreneurs with advisory circles and 1:1 meetings), Startup Global (export-readiness program with pitch competitions and a $70,000 prize pool), Startup Gov (government engagement and policy advocacy), Startup AI (AI adoption program launched February 2026 with Mastercard), the Equal Slice Program (underserved entrepreneur support with $100,000 in annual grants from Pizza Hut), and the Business Owner's Toolbox (free online resource hub). The organization is supported by a network of 200+ partners including major Canadian financial institutions (BDC, EDC, Scotiabank, CIBC), large corporates (Mastercard, UPS, Pizza Hut), and regional ecosystem players, with Kayla Isabelle serving as CEO and founder and Victoria Lennox as President Emeritus.
The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model with no direct monetization from entrepreneurs — all core programs are offered free of charge. Revenue is generated through corporate partnerships and sponsorships, in-kind contributions, and co-programming arrangements with institutional and corporate partners. The Business Owner's Toolbox and webinars serve as always-on distribution channels, while the Startup Canada Tour and regional events (Halifax, Victoria, Mississauga in 2026) provide physical touchpoints. The org has 11-50 employees and reaches a national audience across Canada, with no disclosed revenue, funding rounds, or financials. Its competitive position rests on being the de facto national entrepreneurship brand in Canada, backed by 14 years of operating history, a multi-program portfolio, and visible co-branding with Tier-1 financial and corporate partners.
Startup Canada firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Startup Canada
- Legal name
- Startup Canada
- Website
- https://startupcan.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Startup Canada is a national non-profit founded in 2012 that delivers free entrepreneurship programs, events, podcasts, and research to Canadian founders, supported by 200+ corporate and institutional partners including Mastercard, CIBC, Scotiabank, BDC, and Pizza Hut.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Startup Canada industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Entrepreneurship Support Services
- NAICS
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Professional Organizations (81392), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)
Keywords
Where Startup Canada is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ottawa
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Startup Canada business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Partnership and Sponsorship Revenue: Startup Canada generates revenue and operational support through partnerships with corporations including UPS, Pizza Hut, BDC, EDC, Mastercard, Scotiabank, and CIBC Business Banking. These partners provide financial support, in-kind contributions, and co-programming to sustain the organization's activities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | — | Free Programs for Entrepreneurs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Startup Canada product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Startup Canada is a not-for-profit entrepreneurship support organization that delivers free programs, events, and resources to Canadian entrepreneurs. Its core offerings include national touring events (Startup Canada Tour), topic-focused programs for women founders (Startup Women), export-ready founders (Startup Global), government engagement (Startup Gov), AI adoption (Startup AI), and underserved entrepreneurs (Equal Slice Program), complemented by an online resource hub (Business Owner's Toolbox) and podcasts.
Product overview
Startup Canada is an entrepreneurship support organization that offers a portfolio of programs and resources designed to help Canadian entrepreneurs succeed. The organization operates a platform-plus-programs model consisting of flagship programs including the Startup Canada Tour (national touring events), Startup Women (women's entrepreneurship support), Startup Global (export/ international support), Startup Gov (government engagement), Startup AI (AI navigation), and the Equal Slice Program (underserved entrepreneur support). These programs are complemented by the Business Owner's Toolbox (free online resource hub) and two podcasts (Startup Canada Podcast and Startup Women Podcast). The organization connects entrepreneurs coast to coast through over 200 support partners and has reached 4,481 attendees across 10 cities since 2023.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Startup Canada Tour: National tour connecting early stage entrepreneurs with local ecosystem partners, traveling coast to coast to coast
- Startup Women
- Startup Global
- Startup Gov
- Startup AI
- Startup Canada Equal Slice Program
- Business Owner's Toolbox
- Startup Canada Podcast
- Startup Women Podcast
- THRIVE Podcast
Products and services
- Startup Canada Tour A national touring program that connects early stage entrepreneurs with local ecosystem partners through in-person events in cities across Canada. The tour features keynote presentations, panel discussions, workshops, and pitch competitions in major cities such as Halifax, Victoria, and Mississauga, and has connected 4,481 attendees across 10 cities since 2023.
- Startup Women A year-long program providing ongoing support to women-identifying entrepreneurs across Canada, offering topic-focused webinars, industry advisory circles, and interactive 1:1 meetings with Startup Women leaders.
- Startup Global
- Startup Gov
- Startup AI An AI-focused program launched in partnership with Mastercard that helps entrepreneurs navigate artificial intelligence with confidence, clarity, and care, providing guidance, resources, and support for AI adoption in their businesses.
- Startup Canada Equal Slice Program
- Business Owner's Toolbox
- Startup Canada Podcast
- Startup Women Podcast
Quantifiable outcome
- 4,481 attendees connected through Tour events
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Startup Canada
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Startup Canada technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Startup Canada partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.
- Mastercard (Startup AI Launch)corePartnership announced February 2026 to launch Startup AI, helping entrepreneurs navigate AI adoption with confidence, clarity, and care through dedicated programming.
- UPScoreUPS is listed as a partner supporting Startup Canada's mission to support Canadian entrepreneurs. The partnership contributes to the foundation of the organization's work.
- Pizza Hut CanadacorePizza Hut partners with Startup Canada on the Equal Slice Program, which supports underserved Canadian entrepreneurs through pitch competitions, webinars, and business resources. The program offers $100,000 annually in grants.
- BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada)coreBDC is a key partner presenting the THRIVE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs, providing capital and support resources for women entrepreneurs in Canada.
- EDC (Export Development Canada)coreEDC partners with Startup Canada to support the Startup Global program which helps Canadian entrepreneurs go global and navigate export challenges.
- MastercardcoreMastercard partnered with Startup Canada to launch Startup AI, a program helping entrepreneurs navigate AI with confidence, clarity, and care. Mastercard sponsors the Startup Canada Podcast.
- ScotiabankcoreScotiabank is a partner supporting the THRIVE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs and broader Startup Canada programming. They sponsor podcast episodes and support women entrepreneurs.
- CIBC Business BankingcoreCIBC Business Banking partners with Startup Canada, particularly on initiatives for women entrepreneurs. CIBC powers the Startup Women Podcast series.
- IDEA MississaugaregionalIDEA Mississauga is a local host partner for the Startup Canada Tour Mississauga event at the Living Arts Centre.
- Visit MississaugaregionalVisit Mississauga co-hosts the Startup Canada Tour Mississauga event, positioning the city as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Startup Canada competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Startup Canada social profiles
Digital presenceStartup Canada financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Startup Canada leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Startup Canada funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Startup Canada M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments11 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Startup Canada
What does Startup Canada do?
Startup Canada is a not-for-profit entrepreneurship support organization that delivers free programs, events, and resources to Canadian entrepreneurs. Its core offerings include national touring events (Startup Canada Tour), topic-focused programs for women founders (Startup Women), export-ready founders (Startup Global), government engagement (Startup Gov), AI adoption (Startup AI), and underserved entrepreneurs (Equal Slice Program), complemented by an online resource hub (Business Owner's Toolbox) and podcasts.
Is Startup Canada a public or private company?
Startup Canada is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Startup Canada founded?
Startup Canada was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Startup Canada based?
Startup Canada is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Startup Canada make money?
One revenue line is on record: partnership and Sponsorship Revenue.
Does Startup Canada have an API?
No public API is recorded for Startup Canada.
What industry is Startup Canada in?
Startup Canada's product category is Entrepreneurship Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAMAHAA, Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics, with a secondary code of EDAAAOAM, Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs. Its NAICS code is 8139 and its SIC code is 8200.