Centre for Social Innovation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2004
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
Centre for Social Innovation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Centre for Social Innovation
- Legal name
- Centre for Social Innovation
- Website
- https://socialinnovation.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2004
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Centre for Social Innovation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Coworking and Shared Workspace Services
- NAICS
- Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers (THAHAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues (THAHAAAB)
Keywords
Where Centre for Social Innovation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Centre for Social Innovation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Subscriptions: CSI generates recurring revenue through various membership tiers including Community Membership ($49/month), Hot Desk packages, Dedicated Desks, Team Tables, and Private Offices. All workspace packages require a minimum 6-month commitment with month-to-month billing thereafter.
- Meeting Room Rentals: Hourly rental of meeting rooms across three locations (CSI Spadina, CSI Annex, and CSI Regent Park). Meeting rooms range from $33.78/hour to $101.35/hour depending on room size and amenities.
- Event Space Rentals: Rental of event spaces including the Spadina Lounge (capacity 220, $390/hr), The Spadina Atrium (capacity 100, $290/hr), Suite 101 (capacity 100, $390/hr), and Suite 201 (capacity 25, $190/hr). Three-hour minimum rental for event spaces.
- Program Fees: Revenue from accelerator and training programs including Climate Ventures, WOSEN, Agents of Change programs, and other social enterprise development initiatives. Many programs have been transitioned to Social Innovation Canada.
- Virtual Office Services: Mail service and mailbox rental at 192 Spadina Avenue for members who purchase Virtual Office, Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, Team Table, or Office packages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | CSI Community Membership - Online access without physical workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Hot Desk Unlimited - Flexible access to coworking space |
| Subscription | Monthly | Dedicated Desks - Permanent personal desk workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Team Tables - Shared team workspace |
| Subscription | Monthly | Private Offices - Fully equipped private office space |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Pop-up Office - Temporary workspace on demand |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Meeting Rooms - Hourly room rentals |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Event Spaces - Hourly venue rentals |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels12 records
Centre for Social Innovation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) operates shared coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues at its Toronto locations (CSI Spadina and CSI Annex) for nonprofits, social enterprises, and purpose-driven organizations. In addition to physical workspace, CSI runs curated community programming, accelerator and training programs (Climate Ventures, WOSEN, CSI Accelerates, Agents of Change), and a national virtual membership ($49/month) connecting over 2,500 social innovators.
Product overview
Centre for Social Innovation operates as a coworking community and social enterprise accelerator offering a portfolio of interconnected workspace and program products. Core offerings include: (1) Physical workspace products — coworking desks (hot desks, dedicated desks, team tables, private offices), meeting rooms (6-30 person capacity), and event venues (The Spadina Lounge, Suite 101, Suite 201, The Spadina Atrium, and spaces at CSI Annex); (2) Virtual membership — CSI Community Membership at $49/month providing network access, education, discounts, and expert consultations; (3) Pop-up Office for temporary on-demand workspace; (4) Accelerator programs including CSI Accelerates (Prove, Social Entrepreneurship 101, Impact Entrepreneurship 101), Climate Ventures (joint with Foresight Canada), WOSEN for women entrepreneurs, and Agents of Change cohorts; (5) Community programs like the Community Animator Program (work-exchange), Every One Every Day: TO, and Social Innovation Canada (national network). Locations include CSI Spadina (192 Spadina Ave, 64,000 sq.ft.) and CSI Annex (720 Bathurst St, 36,000 sq.ft.), plus partner amenities such as the Toronto Tool Library. The portfolio spans from individual memberships to enterprise event hosting, all unified by CSI's mission to support social innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Coworking Space Flexible coworking workspace options including Hot Desk Unlimited, Dedicated Desks, Team Tables, and Private Offices at CSI Spadina and CSI Annex locations in Toronto. Designed for individuals and teams from social mission organizations.
- CSI Community Membership Virtual community membership at $49/month providing access to a national network of social innovators, exclusive events, education, discounts on meeting rooms and event spaces, partner discounts, expert consultations, and funding opportunities. Aimed at remote workers and changemakers not in Toronto.
- Meeting Rooms Bookable meeting rooms with AV equipment at CSI Spadina and CSI Annex, ranging from 6 to 30 person capacity. Hourly rental rates from $33.78 to $101.35 per hour depending on room size.
- Event Space Large event venues including The Spadina Lounge (220 capacity, $390/hr), Suite 101 (100 capacity, $390/hr), The Spadina Atrium (100 capacity, $290/hr), and Suite 201 (25 capacity, $190/hr). Three-hour minimum rental.
- Pop-up Office On-demand workspace rental for teams of 5 to 50 people, available from one hour to one month, with no membership required. Includes concierge service and event staff support for setup and cleanup.
- Virtual Office Services Mail service and mailbox rental at 192 Spadina Avenue for members who purchase Virtual Office, Hot Desk, Dedicated Desk, Team Table, or Office packages.
- CSI Accelerates Programs Acceleration and incubation programs for social entrepreneurs including Prove, Accelerate from Anywhere, Impact Entrepreneurship 101, Social Entrepreneurship 101, and various Agents of Change cohorts (Youth, City Builders, Community Health). Many programs now delivered through Social Innovation Canada.
- Climate Ventures Joint initiative with Foresight Canada accelerating climate innovators through mentorship, training, and networks, including programs like Earth Tech and Agents of Change Climate Solutions. Targets entrepreneurs developing climate crisis solutions.
- WOSEN (Women of Ontario Social Enterprise Network) Training programs for women and gender non-binary entrepreneurs offering Start (9-week ideation program), Grow (20-week accelerator), and Investment Readiness Supports programs.
- Community Animator Program (CAP) Work-exchange opportunity providing unlimited coworking access in exchange for 8 hours per week of community support, open to social entrepreneurs and innovators.
- Every One Every Day: TO Community project in Regent Park connecting neighbors to improve the neighborhood through collaborative activities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2015 Agents of Change: City Builders cohort achieved 461% revenue increase and 214% staff increase over 12 months
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Centre for Social Innovation
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Centre for Social Innovation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Centre for Social Innovation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Radius SFUcoreRegional member of Social Innovation Canada, working to connect social innovation practitioners and build sector capacity across Canada.
- ABSCI ConnectcoreRegional member of Social Innovation Canada, collaborating on national social innovation ecosystem building.
- Social Enterprise CentrecoreRegional member of Social Innovation Canada, supporting social enterprise development and capacity building.
- Maison de l'innovation socialecoreQuebec regional member of Social Innovation Canada, contributing to national social innovation network.
- Inspiring CommunitiescoreRegional member of Social Innovation Canada, focused on community-based social innovation.
- Toronto Tool LibrarycoreLocated on the ground floor of CSI Spadina (192 Spadina). Provides tool lending library and community makerspace with digital fabrication, coding, craft, woodworking and electronics. Offers free monthly Community Night. Members receive discounts.
- Foresight CanadacoreJoint initiative partner in Climate Ventures, which fast-tracks the success of innovators developing solutions to the climate crisis. Collaborates with investors, industry, government and academia.
- Green Shield Canada FoundationcoreFunded the 2016 Agents of Change: Community Health program. Each participant received a $10,000 grant and acceleration supports.
- Canadian Community Economic Development Network (CCEDNet)minorPartner in the Adopting Common Measures national project supporting Social Purpose Organizations in measuring impact towards UN Sustainable Development Goals.
- Common Approach to Impact MeasurementminorPartner in Adopting Common Measures project, providing impact measurement framework for social purpose organizations.
- Ontario Trillium FoundationminorPartner in running Agents of Change Youth competition (formerly Project Wildfire), designed to help innovators turn ideas into real impact.
- Microsoft CanadaminorPartner in 3rd annual Agents of Change: Youth competition, helping youth innovators build stronger and more resilient communities.
- Toronto Climate WeekcoreCSI is the Official Hub of Toronto Climate Week, hosting The AfterGlow event and related programming.
- Changemaker ClubcoreCSI is becoming part of Toronto's Changemaker Club ecosystem, evolving beyond physical workspace to become collaborative infrastructure for co-creation and collective action.
- MaRSminorPartner in CSI Institute's social innovation lab on Financialization of Housing with CMHC to understand housing affordability impacts.
- Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)minorPartner with CSI Institute on social innovation lab to understand Financialization of Housing and support affordable housing goals.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Centre for Social Innovation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DMZ: Toronto Metropolitan University's startup incubator and coworking hub. Comparable as a Toronto-based community coworking/accelerator serving early-stage ventures, though DMZ is more tech/general-startup focused.
- MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting entrepreneurs with workspace, programming, and capital connections. Highly comparable geography and audience (impact-oriented startups), though more tech/health-focused than CSI's broader social-mission scope.
- Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC): Large innovation-focused coworking operator combining flexible workspace with venture and institutional programming. Comparable to CSI as a curated, community-driven coworking ecosystem serving mission-oriented tenants.
- Betahaus: Berlin-based community coworking operator with curated membership, event programming, and accelerator partnerships. Closely aligned with CSI's community-first, values-based coworking approach.
- 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit innovation hub combining coworking, accelerators, and corporate partnerships for tech and impact-driven startups. Comparable hybrid coworking + accelerator + community programming model.
- Impact Hub: Global network of social-impact coworking and innovation spaces with member-driven community and accelerator programming. Closest functional peer to CSI's mission-aligned coworking + accelerator model.
- Talent Garden: European coworking and education network targeting innovators and digital/creative professionals. Comparable mission-driven coworking + learning model, though operating primarily across Italy and the EU.
Regional players
- Workhaus: Toronto-focused premium coworking operator. Same city, similar flexible-desk-to-private-office model, but commercial (not mission-vetted) and lacks CSI's event/venue scale and community programming.
Broad incumbents
- WeWork: Global coworking incumbent offering flexible offices, meeting rooms, and event space. Overlaps CSI on the physical-space product layer, but CSI's curated social-mission model and accelerator programming are absent.
- Industrious: Premium flexible-office operator serving enterprise and SMB tenants with hospitality-grade workspace. Comparable on premium event space and meeting room rentals, but commercially focused without social-impact curation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Centre for Social Innovation social profiles
Digital presenceCentre for Social Innovation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Centre for Social Innovation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Centre for Social Innovation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Centre for Social Innovation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Centre for Social Innovation
What does Centre for Social Innovation do?
Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) operates shared coworking spaces, meeting rooms, and event venues at its Toronto locations (CSI Spadina and CSI Annex) for nonprofits, social enterprises, and purpose-driven organizations. In addition to physical workspace, CSI runs curated community programming, accelerator and training programs (Climate Ventures, WOSEN, CSI Accelerates, Agents of Change), and a national virtual membership ($49/month) connecting over 2,500 social innovators.
Is Centre for Social Innovation a public or private company?
Centre for Social Innovation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Centre for Social Innovation founded?
Centre for Social Innovation was founded in 2004. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Centre for Social Innovation based?
Centre for Social Innovation is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Centre for Social Innovation make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Membership Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are meeting Room Rentals, event Space Rentals, program Fees and virtual Office Services.
Who are Centre for Social Innovation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DMZ, MaRS Discovery District, Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), Betahaus, 1871, Impact Hub and Talent Garden. Workhaus is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are WeWork and Industrious.
Does Centre for Social Innovation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Centre for Social Innovation.
What industry is Centre for Social Innovation in?
Centre for Social Innovation's product category is Coworking and Shared Workspace Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHAAAI, Multi-Purpose Event Halls & Community Centers, with a secondary code of THAHAAAB, Conference Centers & Dedicated Meeting Venues. Its NAICS code is 71 and its SIC code is 8300.