Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub

What Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub does

The Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub is a federally registered not-for-profit organization in Canada, established in 2014 as one of 502 local hubs comprising the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Community, a network of over 11,000 young leaders (aged 18-27) spanning 155 countries and territories. Based in Ottawa on the unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin Nation, the Hub is an independent legal entity that operates as a volunteer-driven community organization led by young professionals across finance, technology, law, management consulting, public policy, academia, and entrepreneurship. The Hub executes a portfolio of social impact programs rather than commercial products, including refugee support initiatives (Refugee Art Exhibits in partnership with Love Without Borders), financial literacy education (a 4-part webinar series with ZalaSmart), environmental cleanups (Sandy Hill Neighbourhood Cleanup), and inclusive youth programming (Discovery Crew pairing youth with intellectual disabilities with Shapers).

The organization's value proposition centers on providing members with access to the WEF's global policy platforms—including G7 ministerial consultations, Davos broadcasts, and One Young World summits—while delivering community-level projects. Revenue is generated through donations and event-based fundraising rather than commercial operations; the 2019 Refugee Art Exhibit alone raised over $3,000 in proceeds directed to refugee artists in Greece. The Hub has no proprietary technology, no software products, and no commercial SaaS or service offerings; its distribution is entirely organic via social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter), a Strikingly-hosted website, and in-person events. Notable initiatives include co-hosting the 2017 Shape North America Summit during Canada's 150th anniversary, leading the Shape 7 cross-G7-hub consultations on the future of work in 2018, and contributing to the Ottawa Peace Talks with Interpeace and the Global Centre for Pluralism in 2016.

The Hub's strategic positioning is anchored by its WEF affiliation, which confers brand credibility, policy access, and network reach, but it operates with a small operational footprint (approximately 5 personnel, likely in volunteer/leadership roles typical of registered non-profits). There are no disclosed paid employees, no executive team bios on record, no patents or proprietary IP, and no technology stack. The Hub explicitly disclaims any liability for views expressed and notes that its positions do not necessarily reflect those of the WEF.

Name

Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub

Legal name

Global Shapers Community Ottawa Hub

Website

https://ottawashapers.mystrikingly.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub is a federally registered not-for-profit, founded in 2014, that mobilizes young leaders aged 18-27 to run community impact projects including refugee support, financial literacy, and environmental initiatives as part of the World Economic Forum's global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Leadership Community

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Centers & Neighborhood Support Services (BPAGAEAL), International & Local Implementing NGOs (HLAJAKAD)

Keywords

• Youth leadership development
• Community engagement
• Social impact programs
• Civic participation
• Nonprofit community

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and fundraising: The organization raises funds through events such as art exhibits and tournaments, with proceeds supporting causes like refugee assistance and community projects. As a federally registered not-for-profit, revenue is derived from donations and fundraising activities rather than commercial operations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub is a federally registered not-for-profit community organization that recruits young leaders aged 18-27 and runs volunteer-led community projects and events. Its offerings include youth empowerment programs (e.g., Discovery Crew mentorship), refugee support initiatives (Refugee Art Exhibits), financial literacy education (Financial Literacy Series webinars), environmental cleanups, and participation in international summits (Shape North America, Shaping Davos).

Product overview

Global Shapers Ottawa Hub is a not-for-profit community organization and local hub of the Global Shapers Community (an initiative of the World Economic Forum). It does not offer commercial products or services. Rather, it operates a portfolio of community initiatives and programs including refugee support initiatives, financial literacy education (Financial Literacy Series), environmental cleanup projects (Neighbourhood Cleanup), youth empowerment programs (Discovery Crew), and various summits and events (Shape North America Summit, Shaping Davos). These are social impact programs, not commercial product offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Raised over $3,000 for refugee support through art exhibit
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ZalaSmartminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-presented a 4-part Financial Literacy Series webinar during November's Financial Literacy Month, covering Fundamentals of Financial Literacy, Budgeting 101, Investing 101, and Money Diaries.
• Love Without Borders for Refugees in NeedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration to organize Refugee Art Exhibits in Ottawa (2019 and 2021) to provide economic assistance to refugees in Greece. The 2019 event featured special guests including Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Representative Jean-Nicolas Beuze. 100% of art sale proceeds returned to refugee artists.
• Let's Talk ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Hosted dialogue sessions for the Canada 2067 initiative, bringing together millennial participants to offer perspectives on K-12 education within a pan-Canadian STEM learning framework.
• G7 Hubs (Toronto Hub and others)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnered with hubs across the G7 for consultative process on preparing for jobs of the future during Canada's G7 Presidency. Ottawa Hub led the initiative and presented findings at the G7 Ministerial in Montreal.
• World Economic ForumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Affiliated with the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers Community, an initiative that spans 502 hubs across 155 countries. The Ottawa Hub was selected as one of 40 cities globally to host a local Shaping Davos event with live broadcast to Davos-Klosters via satellite with CBC Power & Politics host Evan Solomon.
• Young Diplomats of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Partnered to host a breakout session titled 'The Power of Tri-Sector Leadership' at the One Young World Summit 2016, held at the Embassy of the United States to Canada, featuring US Ambassador Bruce Heyman.
• InterpeacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-organized Ottawa Peace Talks aimed at inspiring reflection and discussion about how respect for diversity can promote more peaceful societies through inclusion, both in Canada and globally.
• Global Centre for PluralismcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-organized Ottawa Peace Talks aimed at inspiring reflection and discussion about how respect for diversity can promote more peaceful societies through inclusion, both in Canada and globally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Peace Direct: NGO supporting local peacebuilders and convening peace dialogue initiatives; thematic overlap with the Hub's Ottawa Peace Talks work via Interpeace and Global Centre for Pluralism.
• Aga Khan Youth Network: International youth network under the Aga Khan Development Network focused on leadership and community service for young professionals; comparable age cohort and community impact orientation.

Direct peers

• Global Shapers Community – Toronto Hub: Sister Canadian hub of the same WEF Global Shapers network, operating an identical youth-leadership model in Canada and a natural comparison point for membership, programming, and partnership depth.
• One Young World: Global youth leadership summits and ambassador network for leaders aged 18-30; comparable mission, demographic, and summit-driven engagement model, and the Hub already co-hosts One Young World programming.
• Canada Service Corps (Katimavik): Canadian federally funded youth service program offering volunteer placements and leadership development for young Canadians; comparable youth-empowerment mandate and not-for-profit delivery model.
• Young Diplomats of Canada: Canadian nonprofit developing young leaders through diplomacy, policy, and tri-sector engagement; active collaboration partner of the Ottawa Hub and directly comparable on audience and programming.
• TakingITGlobal: Toronto-based social enterprise empowering youth (mainly under 30) for civic engagement, social entrepreneurship, and community projects; comparable mission and demographic in the Canadian context.
• Global Shapers Community – Vancouver Hub: Another Canadian Global Shapers hub running community impact projects with the same age cohort (18-27) and WEF affiliation; directly comparable on programs and member-driven operating model.

Broad incumbents

• Ashoka: Large global nonprofit supporting leading social entrepreneurs including young changemakers; broader portfolio than the Ottawa Hub but overlaps on youth social innovation and changemaker identification.
• AIESEC: Global youth-led organization running leadership programs, cross-cultural exchanges, and impact projects for students and recent graduates; comparable demographic and global youth-leadership mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ottawashapers
• Facebookfacebook.com/ottawashapers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/global-shapers-community-ottawa
• Instagraminstagram.com/ottawashapers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Global Shapers Community - Ottawa Hub