Burlington Economic Development and Tourism

What Burlington Economic Development and Tourism does

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism is a municipal government agency of the City of Burlington, Ontario, Canada, operating under the unified "Discover Burlington" brand following the recent amalgamation of the municipality's previously separate economic development and tourism functions. The agency employs approximately 21 staff and is responsible for promoting Burlington as a destination for investment, business growth, and tourism; its services include business advisory, investment attraction, tourism marketing, and operation of the TechPlace innovation hub that supports local entrepreneurs and technology firms.

The organization's core deliverables are free-of-charge advisory and promotional services delivered to the Burlington business community — spanning 1,254 tourism businesses and more than 300 businesses supported through economic development programming in 2024 — together with curated programming through TechPlace and a recently launched tariff resource hub to help local firms respond to U.S. trade-policy disruption. The agency is funded entirely through the City of Burlington municipal budget rather than commercial revenue, which means its "pricing model" is effectively a tax-funded public-good model with no direct billing to users. External recognition includes the IEDC Silver Award in 2025 and Smart21 Communities of 2026 designation from the Intelligent Community Forum, alongside Burlington's standing as the #1 ranked mid-sized city in Canada.

Name

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism

Legal name

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism

Website

https://investburlington.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism is a City of Burlington municipal agency that provides free economic development and tourism promotion services to local businesses, investors, and visitors under the "Discover Burlington" brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Development Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Housing, Urban/Regional Planning & Community Development (BPAIABAM)

Keywords

• Economic development services
• Tourism marketing
• Investment attraction
• Site selection assistance
• Business incubation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Municipal Government Funding: As an agency of the City of Burlington, the organization is funded through municipal government budgets and allocations. Revenue comes from public funding to support economic development and tourism promotion activities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism is a municipal agency that delivers free business attraction, expansion, and startup support services alongside tourism promotion for the City of Burlington, Ontario. Its core offerings include TechPlace innovation hub programs (LaunchPad and Soft Landing), an interactive site selection tool (BurlingtonSites), a Business Location & Development Concierge, market intelligence and data services, talent and workforce referral, and tourism marketing including a Tourism Data Hub.

Product overview

Burlington Economic Development and Tourism operates as a unified economic development and tourism organization offering a portfolio of advisory services and platforms rather than a single unified product. The core service offerings include TechPlace (innovation hub with LaunchPad and Soft Landing programs for startups and international expansion), BurlingtonSites (interactive site selection tool with property data), Business Location & Development Concierge (development advisory), Market Intelligence & Insights (data and analytics), Talent & Workforce Solutions (Global Skills Strategy referral), and the Tourism Data Hub (tourism analytics dashboard). These services work together to support businesses at all stages—from startup through expansion—providing site selection, workforce development, market intelligence, and connection to the broader Burlington business ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TechPlace Innovation Centre Burlington's innovation centre supporting new and developing technology companies through mentorship, networking opportunities, collaborative workspace, and support services. Operates the LaunchPad Resident Program and Soft Landing Program for international companies expanding into the Canadian marketplace. TechPlace launchpad companies have collectively raised $3.5M and generated $14M in revenue.
• BurlingtonSites Site Selection Tool Interactive site selection tool providing real estate options for buying or leasing property in Burlington, with search filters for property type, size, and assets. Each property report includes value-added data such as demographics, labour force, consumer expenditures, and industry clusters to support site decisions for businesses evaluating Burlington.
• Business Location & Development Concierge Hands-on advisory service that guides businesses through the development process, from concept development and pre-consultation to permits and approvals for industrial, commercial, and institutional (ICI) development goals in Burlington.
• Market Intelligence & Insights Research and data services providing economic, industry, workforce, and community data to support business decisions. Includes an extensive data centre with dashboards and downloadable reports covering economic indicators, demographics, labour markets, and business costs.
• Talent & Workforce Solutions Services connecting businesses with hiring and training resources, post-secondary institutions, and immigration support through the Global Skills Strategy as a designated referral partner.
• Soft Landing Program A TechPlace program providing subsidized office space and services for international companies looking to expand into the Canadian marketplace, including branded private office spaces, hot desks, meeting rooms, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
• Tourism Data Hub Interactive dashboard providing data-driven insights on Burlington's tourism sector, including visitor spending, tourism employment, hotel occupancy, and sector trends for tourism industry stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of residents rate their quality of life as 'Good' or 'Excellent'
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McMaster UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor educational partner with DeGroote School of Business located in Burlington. McMaster provides talent pipeline, research partnerships, and industry collaboration including Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI), Advanced Control Consortium (MACC), and robotics laboratories. Brock University also announcing relocation of Hamilton campus to Burlington.
• Mohawk CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor educational partner with IDEAWORKS hub for startups, Centre for Skills Development for workforce training, and City School programs. Located within 100km with technology programs in software development, robotics, cybersecurity, and digital health.
• Sheridan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing technology talent through programs in engineering sciences, chemical and environmental studies, technology, applied computing, information systems security, web and database development, and software engineering. Three nearby campuses.
• TechPlacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBurlington's innovation centre led by Burlington Economic Development. Provides LaunchPad Resident program, Soft Landing program, mentorship, networking, and flexible workspace for technology companies. Has helped launchpad companies raise $3.5M and generate $14M revenue.
• Innovation Factory (Haltech)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNot-for-profit business accelerator that helps businesses scale through advanced technology-based solutions. Co-located at TechPlace, fosters business development and economic growth in the region.
• Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial ministry providing tools and resources for starting farms or food processing businesses, and making changes to existing operations.
• Ontario Agri-Food Technologies (OAFT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgriculture technology accelerator providing Ontario businesses with industry expertise and access to funding programs.
• Food and Beverage Ontario (FBO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial professional leadership organization for food and beverage processors across Ontario.
• Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated in Burlington, provides innovative and entrepreneurial leadership to the chicken supply management system, ensuring safe, healthy, high quality Ontario-grown chicken.
• Canada Centre for Inland Waters (CCIW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the world's leading water-research complexes located near Burlington, supporting clean technology companies.
• Ontario Water Consortium (OWC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvancing commercialization of innovative water technologies in Ontario, supporting clean tech sector companies.
• Halton Region Small Business CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive resource centre providing one-on-one client consultations, digital skills training, and business management programs for small businesses.
• Magnet Student Work Placement ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-funded program bringing together employers and students to create work-integrated learning opportunities through wage subsidies.
• Canadian Water NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelping decision-makers in water sector address complex challenges, supporting clean technology innovation.
• Greenbelt FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGetting more locally grown food onto plates of Ontarians through grants, education, policy and networking initiatives.
• Canadian Food and Wine Institute at Niagara CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports industry innovation and commercialization of new products and processes, pairs industry partners with recent graduates.
• University of Guelph Department of Food ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHub for local, national and international collaborations with one of the world's premier food science departments. Guelph Food Innovation Centre provides research services.
• Global StartupsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit accelerator working exclusively with financially stable startups from around the world to help them scale globally from Burlington.
• Taiwan Startup Stadium (TSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTaiwan's leading ecosystem builder, using TechPlace Soft-Landing Program to help global businesses expand into Canadian marketplace.
• Federation of Canadian-Brazilian Businesses (FCBB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFostering commerce within Canada and Brazil by exploring innovation, investment and trade opportunities.
• Toronto GlobalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFull service not-for-profit agency supplying customized transition solutions for international businesses looking to locate to the region.
• YWCA HamiltonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's entrepreneurship programs supporting new and existing businesses with one-on-one coaching, business plan training, mentoring and digital support services.
• Burlington GreenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered charity working with all sectors to protect nature, mitigate climate change, and create environmentally responsible Burlington.
• Sustainable Hamilton BurlingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit social enterprise inspiring sustainability leadership and action in area businesses for healthier environment and thriving community.
• Bay Area Climate Change Council (BACCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial impact initiative with 14 community leaders from Burlington and Hamilton, working towards zero carbon community by 2050. Hosted at Mohawk College Centre for Climate Change Management.
• Burlington Downtown BIAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRevitalizing and promoting downtown business community through special events, advertising, and beautification efforts.
• Aldershot Village BIAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCultivating dynamic business community in Aldershot through strategic collaborations and local events.
• Burlington Chamber of CommercecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProviding value to members through active advocacy, leadership connections, and growth opportunities for businesses in Burlington.
• Centre for Skills DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit offering skilled trades training, employment assistance, language instruction, and settlement support for newcomers.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Calgary Economic Development: One of Canada's largest municipal economic development corporations, offering site selection, market intelligence, and sector-focused investment attraction across energy, technology, and agri-food. Comparable Canadian municipal EDO at a larger scale.
• Destination Toronto: Toronto's destination marketing organization promoting the city to leisure and business visitors through marketing, conventions, and event services. Direct peer for the tourism promotion side of Burlington ED&T's mandate.
• Invest Mississauga: City of Mississauga's municipal economic development office providing site selection, market intelligence, and investment attraction services. Direct GTA-region peer competing for the same investment attraction pool with comparable service portfolio.
• Vancouver Economic Commission: Vancouver's municipal economic development agency focused on business attraction, sector development, and economic policy. Directly comparable Canadian municipal EDO with a similar advisory and partnership model.
• Oakville Economic Development: Town of Oakville's economic development office serving a Halton Region neighbour of Burlington. Directly comparable scope of municipal business attraction, retention, and small business support within the same regional labour market.
• Toronto Global: A full-service not-for-profit FDI agency for the Toronto Region that supplies customized transition solutions for international businesses looking to locate to the region. Directly comparable as a Canadian municipal EDO with a similar investment-attraction mandate and Soft Landing-style services; explicitly listed as a Burlington channel partner.
• Hamilton Economic Development: City of Hamilton's municipal economic development division offering business attraction, retention, and expansion services. Closest geographic peer in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area competing for similar advanced manufacturing and life sciences investments.

Emerging players

• Communitech: Waterloo Region innovation hub offering startup programming, corporate innovation services, and a tech talent network. Comparable to TechPlace as a regional innovation centre, though operating at a larger scale in a different corridor.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting science and tech ventures through programming, capital, and customer connections. Comparable to TechPlace as a regional innovation centre with a comparable LaunchPad-style program, at materially larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Invest Alberta: Alberta's provincial investment attraction agency covering energy, agri-food, technology, and logistics sectors. Comparable investment attraction mandate but at a provincial scale with a broader portfolio than Burlington's municipal focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xlinkedin.com/company/burlington-economic-development-corporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/burlington-economic-development-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Burlington Economic Development and Tourism