Kingston Economic Development Corporation

What Kingston Economic Development Corporation does

Kingston Economic Development Corporation is a private municipal economic development corporation headquartered at 366 King Street East in Kingston, Ontario, with a satellite office at Fractal Workspace. It operates as the quasi-governmental delivery arm for the City of Kingston's economic development mandate, administering provincial and federal programs (Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, Futurpreneur Canada, Digital Transformation Grant, Canada Digital Adoption Program, Helix Funding) and convening partnerships across Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre, FedDev Ontario, Invest Ontario, and Invest in Canada. Its core offerings are not commercial products but rather free services and grant programs covering the full business lifecycle—start (Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, Futurpreneur, Welcome Nights), grow (Helix Funding, Digital Transformation Grants, Ignition Café networking, coworking referrals), and transition (business succession support)—alongside site selection, talent programs, and major initiatives such as Health Innovation Kingston (HI YGK) and the Fuse Kingston and Eastern Ontario Regional Technology Development Site.

The organization is funded primarily through government grants and program delivery contracts rather than commercial revenue. It does not publish financial statements; revenue mechanics consist of municipal appropriations, provincial program funding (Government of Ontario), federal transfers (FedDev Ontario, Digital Main Street, Canada Digital Adoption Program), and program-specific grant administration. Pricing to end beneficiaries is free, with grant amounts set by the underlying program (e.g., up to $3,000 for Summer Company, $2,500 for Digital Transformation, $2,400 Canada Digital Adoption Micro-Grant). Customer segments span startups and entrepreneurs (primary), small and medium businesses, newcomer entrepreneurs, life sciences and health innovation companies, youth aged 15–29, and business sellers/transitioning owners, distributed across a regional service area covering Kingston and Eastern Ontario. Strategic positioning has yielded six consecutive years as StartupBlink's #1 small city in Canada for startup ecosystem, Top7 Intelligent Communities of 2026, #8 worldwide in Cleantech, and recognition as Canada's fastest-growing startup ecosystem.

Name

Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Legal name

Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Website

https://investkingston.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kingston Economic Development Corporation is a municipal economic development organization that delivers free business programs, grants, and ecosystem support services to startups, SMBs, newcomer entrepreneurs, and youth across Kingston and Eastern Ontario, in partnership with Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, and Kingston Health Sciences Centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261), Administration of General Economic Programs (92611), Administration of Economic Programs (926), Administration of General Economic Programs (926110)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

SME & Entrepreneurship Development (Trade-Linked) (BPADAMAE), Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Trade, Industry & Economic Development Administration (BPAIAAAL), Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Startup support programs
• Small business grants
• Site selection advisory
• Entrepreneurship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kingston

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding & Grants Administration: Kingston Economic Development Corporation operates as a non-profit organization funded primarily through government grants and program delivery contracts. They administer programs on behalf of the Government of Ontario (Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, Futurpreneur) and federal/provincial initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kingston Economic Development Corporation is a municipal economic development organization that delivers free business advisory services, government-funded grants and training programs (Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, Helix Funding, Futurpreneur Canada), site selection assistance, talent programs, digital transformation support, and coworking space referrals to entrepreneurs, startups, small businesses, and larger firms establishing or expanding operations in Kingston, Ontario.

Product overview

Kingston Economic Development Corporation offers a comprehensive suite of business support programs and services rather than a traditional product portfolio. The organization's offerings include youth entrepreneurship programs (Summer Company, Futurpreneur), business funding programs (Starter Company Plus, Helix Funding for life sciences), digital transformation grants, and various advisory services. The organization also facilitates site selection, talent programs, and coworking spaces, operating in partnership with academic institutions (Queen's University, St. Lawrence College) and healthcare partners (Kingston Health Sciences Centre) to support the Kingston region's economic development and innovation ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Summer Company

Quantifiable outcome

• Kingston ranked #1 small city in Canada for startup ecosystem for 6 consecutive years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dunin-Deshpande Queen's Innovation Centre (DDQIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2023Collaborates on the Health Innovation Kingston (HI YGK) initiative, jointly hosting Ignition Café events for health innovation networking, entrepreneurship, and ecosystem development.
• Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2023Healthcare partner in the Health Innovation Kingston (HI YGK) initiative, providing clinical expertise and research infrastructure for health technology commercialization.
• St. Lawrence CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2023Academic partner in the Health Innovation Kingston (HI YGK) initiative and co-host of workforce development and training programs.
• Queen's UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2023Key academic partner providing research capabilities, student talent, and innovation infrastructure through various collaborative initiatives.
• City of KingstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal government partner providing strategic alignment, funding support, and policy framework for economic development initiatives.
• Employment & Career Services at St. Lawrence CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Workforce Resources and Support Program Breakfast, providing career services and workforce development programming.
• KEYS (Kingston Employment & Youth Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosts the annual KEYS Job Fair, the largest recruitment event in Kingston connecting job seekers with employers.
• Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Entrepreneur Stream, helping prospective immigrant entrepreneurs navigate immigration and business establishment.
• Josey & AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSales training partner delivering workshop series on sales process, closing deals, and media planning for small business owners.
• Train LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare innovation training partner hosting the Biodesign Healthcare Hackathon with mentorship from Mayo Clinic and Stanford University.
• Providence Care HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare facility hosting the Biodesign Healthcare Hackathon for interdisciplinary healthcare innovation teams.
• UNDOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarbon removal company partnering on the Wollastonite Trucking Rebate program for sustainable agriculture and enhanced rock weathering.
• Canadian WollastoniteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal supplier of wollastonite mineral for the Kingston Wollastonite Rebate program supporting sustainable farming practices.
• City of Kingston EnvironmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCity department providing environmental leadership on the Wollastonite Trucking Rebate program for local farmers.
• Invest OntariocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial investment attraction agency and visible partner logo on Kingston Economic Development's website.
• Invest in CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal investment attraction organization and visible partner logo supporting foreign direct investment promotion.
• Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial innovation agency; President and CEO Dr. Claudia Krywiak provided remarks at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
• Kingston Immigration PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the Newcomer Entrepreneur Awards recognizing exceptional newcomer entrepreneurs in Kingston.
• Toronto Metropolitan UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with Fenix Alma Solutions Inc. (Kingston company) for medical school education technology platform VidaNovaVLE.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Invest Alberta: Provincial investment attraction agency with a wider geographic mandate but directly comparable FDI promotion, sector targeting, and government-aligned economic development mission.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting startups, health innovation, and cleantech. Significantly larger scale but with comparable mission around ecosystem support, sector specialization (including health and cleantech), and partnership-driven programming.
• Invest Ontario: Provincial investment attraction agency already listed as a KEDCO website partner. Operates one tier up but performs overlapping FDI attraction and sector development functions.
• Vancouver Economic Commission: City-level economic development agency with a broader scope (sustainability, climate, digital economy) but an analogous municipal-led economic development mission and grant administration role.
• Calgary Economic Development (Calgary Economic Development Ltd.): Municipal economic development corporation for Calgary with a wider geographic and sector mandate, but structurally and functionally a close analogue to KEDCO in terms of programs, partnerships, and government alignment.

Direct peers

• Communitech: Waterloo Region innovation hub supporting startups and scale-ups through programming, mentorship, and capital connections. Directly comparable mission (ecosystem builder) with strong academic-partner (University of Waterloo) DNA similar to KEDCO/Queen's.
• Invest Ottawa: Regional economic development organization serving the Ottawa area, operating very similar startup support, talent, and FDI attraction programs. Both are mid-sized-city Canadian EDCs with comparable mandates, programs, and government funding structures.
• Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC): Toronto-based business development organization offering entrepreneur advisory, immigrant entrepreneur support, and program delivery, and is already a named KEDCO partner on the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Highly comparable mandate and program mix.
• Innovation Factory (Hamilton): Hamilton, Ontario-based regional innovation centre delivering startup advisory, programs, and commercialization support. Operates with overlapping municipal/academic partner structure and similar program mix.
• Halifax Partnership: Regional economic development organization for Halifax, delivering business retention, expansion, attraction, and immigration-related entrepreneur support, with comparable municipal and federal funding structures.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/investkingston
• Facebookfacebook.com/InvestKingston
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/investkingston

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Kingston Economic Development Corporation