Canada Startup Association
Canada Startup Association is a Canadian nonprofit membership association founded in 2023 that supports underrepresented and immigrant founders through tiered memberships ($45/month to $750/year), mentorship programs, and international trade delegations to global tech hubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersMississauga, Canada
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Canada Startup Association does
Canada Startup Association (CSA) is a Canadian nonprofit membership association founded in November 2023 and headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. The organization supports underrepresented and immigrant founders, entrepreneurs, and scale-ups across Canada through a tiered membership model: Core Membership at $45/month or $450/year and Premium Membership at $750/year. Its offering is structured around four service pillars: a Founders Network for peer collaboration, Growth Programs & Mentoring (bootcamps, pitch training, branding), Global Exposure via international trade delegations, and Export Readiness & Market Access Programs covering ASEAN, MENA, Africa, and Europe.
CSA is not a technology company; it does not develop or sell software products. Its platform is event- and partnership-driven, anchored by the annual AGAZ Summit, roadshows in Toronto, Mississauga, Vancouver, and Montreal, and CSA's role as the official Canadian representative for GITEX Global/Expand North Star. The association has signed strategic MOUs with Singapore FinTech Festival, Vietnam Innovation Summit, Seoul Business Agency (Try Everything), Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, and ICTC, among others. CSA reports supporting over 350 startups cumulatively since 2023 and 500+ startups in 2025 alone, with 1,000+ members and 100+ ecosystem supporters.
The business model is subscription membership plus sponsorship and event monetization, operating without institutional or government funding. Notable member outcomes include Kiwi Charge securing $30,000 USD at the GITEX Asia SuperNova Pitch Competition and a $100,000 CAD fund deployed to support startup participation in global initiatives. Leadership consists of Founder President Tehmina A. Chaudhry and Co-Founder/Executive Director Hammad Siddiqui, with Danielle Brewin Graham (Co-Founder of The Firehood) serving as Investment Advisor.
Canada Startup Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Canada Startup Association
- Legal name
- Canada Startup Association
- Website
- https://canadastartups.co
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Canada Startup Association is a Canadian nonprofit membership association founded in 2023 that supports underrepresented and immigrant founders through tiered memberships ($45/month to $750/year), mentorship programs, and international trade delegations to global tech hubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Canada Startup Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Community & Entrepreneurship Support Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)
Keywords
Where Canada Startup Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mississauga
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Canada Startup Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: CSA generates revenue through annual and monthly membership fees. Core Membership is priced at $45/month or $450/year, while Premium Membership costs $750/year. These fees provide access to mentorship programs, events, investor connections, and international opportunities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Core Membership for early-stage founders |
| Subscription | Annual | Premium Membership for ambitious founders ready to scale |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Canada Startup Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Canada Startup Association (CSA) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides an inclusive community for underrepresented and immigrant founders across Canada. It sells paid memberships (Core at $45/month or $450/year, Premium at $750/year) bundled with mentorship programs, pitch competitions, roadshows, and access to international trade delegations to events such as GITEX Global, Singapore FinTech Festival, Vietnam Innovation Summit, and Seoul Try Everything.
Product overview
Canada Startup Association (CSA) is a membership-based startup community organization rather than a single software product. Its offering consists of a layered membership model (Core Membership at $45/month or $450/year, and Premium Membership at $750/year), supported by four interconnected service pillars: a Founders Network for peer collaboration; Growth Programs & Mentoring covering financial modeling, branding, networking, and business strategy; Global Exposure through international trade delegations and exhibitions; and Export Readiness & Market Access Programs. Core programs include CSA Roadshows & Pitch Competition (partnered with GITEX Global), the annual AGAZ Summit for underrepresented founders, International Trade Delegations to markets in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, and formal MOUs with Expand North Star/GITEX Global, Singapore FinTech Festival, Vietnam Innovation Summit, and Seoul Business Agency. CSA operates without institutional or government funding.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AGAZ Summit: Annual flagship event dedicated to Canadian startups, particularly underrepresented and immigrant founders, celebrating resilience, innovation, and founder stories.
- Global Pathways
Products and services
- CSA Membership Annual and monthly paid membership providing access to mentorship programs, events, investor connections, international trade delegations, and pitch competitions. Available in Core ($45/month or $450/year) and Premium ($750/year) tiers.
- Founders Network A vetted community circle connecting ambitious Canadian founders for peer support, innovation, and strategic collaboration.
- Growth Programs & Mentoring Expert mentoring, startup bootcamps, and business scaling support covering financial modeling, branding, networking, personal branding, negotiation, AI solutions, and personalized business strategy.
- International Trade Delegations & Global Exposure Canada-wide export delegations to high-growth global markets including Dubai (Expand North Star/GITEX Global), Singapore (Singapore FinTech Festival), Vietnam (Vietnam Innovation Summit), Morocco (GITEX Africa), Korea (Seoul Try Everything), Nigeria, and Pakistan, providing access to investors, accelerators, and markets.
- AGAZ Summit Annual flagship event of CSA dedicated to Canadian startups, particularly underrepresented and immigrant founders. Features fireside chats, VC and government funding sessions, workshops, panel discussions, and networking.
- CSA Roadshows & Pitch Competition Pitch competitions across Canadian cities (Toronto, Mississauga, Vancouver, Montreal) organized in partnership with GITEX Global, offering startups the chance to win fully funded trips to exhibit at Expand North Star / GITEX Global.
- Export Readiness & Market Access Programs
Companies that use Canada Startup Association
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Canada Startup Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Canada Startup Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.
- Toronto Metropolitan University Fashion ZonesecondaryHosted 'The Future of Fashion & Defence' event in partnership with CSA and Toronto Metropolitan University's Fashion Zone. Fashion Zone has long served as an incubator for fashion-inspired startups.
- Vertex HealthsecondaryCo-hosted 'Capital & Community in Health Tech' event with CSA during Toronto Tech Week 2026. Event gathered founders, investors, and community builders for conversations about early-stage VC funding in Canadian health tech.
- Seoul Business Agency (Try Everything)coreCSA partnered with Seoul Business Agency and is recognized as a overseas partner for Try Everything, Seoul's annual international startup festival. SBA connects high-growth companies from around the world with capital, markets, and strategic partnerships across Asia.
- Saudi Arabia Ministry of Investment (MISA)secondarySession hosted by CSA where MISA Business Development Manager unveiled Saudi Arabia's innovation ecosystem to 20 Canadian startups. MISA presented Entrepreneur License with 100% foreign ownership and Premium Residency Program.
- GITEX Global / Expand North StarcoreMulti-year partnership making CSA the official representative for GITEX Global in Canada. CSA organizes pitch competitions and roadshows leading to global events. As Canadian Partner for GITEX Global x Expand North Star, CSA provides unparalleled opportunities for Canadian startups to participate in the world's largest tech event in Dubai, with access to over 1,000 investors.
- Singapore FinTech FestivalcoreCSA is a Community partner for Singapore FinTech Festival, the world's largest and most impactful FinTech event. Partnership facilitates access to ASEAN's financial and digital economy for Canadian innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors in the FinTech sector.
- Vietnam Innovation Summit (VIS)corePartnership agreement supporting Canadian CleanTech, AgriTech, HealthTech, and SaaS companies entering the Vietnamese market. CSA leads an exclusive delegation to VIS 2026, Southeast Asia's premier platform for Open Innovation where policy meets capital.
- GITEX AsiacoreCSA is a partner for GITEX AI Asia 2026, Asia's largest tech, startup, and digital investments event. Partnership facilitates Canadian startup participation in Singapore event with 23,000+ tech leaders and 250+ investors.
- Foresight CanadasecondaryCSA collaborated with Foresight Canada as ecosystem partner supporting innovation and growth within the Canadian startup ecosystem. Foresight Canada is a leading organization for climate and cleantech innovation.
- Firehood AngelssecondaryCSA partnered with Firehood Angels, an early-stage angel investment fund focused on women entrepreneurs. Danielle Brewin Graham serves as Investment Advisor at CSA and Co-Founder of The Firehood.
- OneElevensecondaryPartnered with OneEleven for Toronto Roadshow to help startups take their businesses to the next level. OneEleven is a tech hub supporting scaleup companies.
- IDEA MississaugasecondarySupported Mississauga Roadshow where game-changing ideas meet funding and mentorship. IDEA Mississauga is an innovation and entrepreneurship organization.
- Argon Launchpad AcademysecondaryCollaborated with Aragon Launchpad Academy for Vancouver Roadshow offering startups the chance to unlock global opportunities.
- CanadianSME Business MagazinesecondaryOfficial Media Partner for Expand North Star and GITEX Global Canadian Roadshows. Magazine amplifies voices of startups and provides insights to help them succeed on the global stage.
- Export Development Canada (EDC)secondaryCollaboration for workshops on export readiness, funding and investment preparedness, global market entry, innovation strategy, and sustainable scaling. EDC National Lead for Inclusive Trade participates in CSA programming.
- DeloittesecondaryPartner for high-impact workshops and knowledge sessions focusing on export readiness, funding, global market entry, and sustainable scaling.
- InnoLab AsiasecondaryPartnership through Vietnam Innovation Summit. InnoLab Asia hosts Southeast Asia's premier platform for Open Innovation where CSA leads Canadian delegations.
- Blackwood ConsultingsecondaryCollaboration with Blackwood Consulting to prepare brief identifying four critical areas for strategic action: convening endpoints, simplifying paths, piloting and learning, broadening access to capital.
- Dubai Chamber of Digital EconomysecondaryPartnership with Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy as part of GITEX Global collaboration. Chamber supports CSA's mission to bring Canadian startups to global stage.
- Toronto Region Board of TradesecondaryCSA launch event CSA Connect 2023 organized in collaboration with Toronto Region Board of Trade. CSA is a proud member, providing access to 11,000 TRBOT members.
- HUB47secondaryPartnered for exclusive networking event during Expand North Star delegation, offering invaluable mentorship and discussions on global growth strategies.
- Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC)coreCSA partnered with ICTC to strengthen the digital economy by empowering Canadians with skills and opportunities. Mentorship program delivered to over 400 women entrepreneurs across Canada. Topics include personal branding, financial modeling, team building, negotiation, AI solutions, pitching, and product-market fit.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Canada Startup Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Startup Canada: Startup Canada is a national nonprofit entrepreneur community and advocacy organization supporting Canadian founders through programs, awards, and policy work. It is the closest direct peer to CSA in mission (national startup support), structure (nonprofit membership), and target audience (Canadian entrepreneurs at all stages).
- Futurpreneur: Futurpreneur is a Canadian nonprofit providing financing, mentorship, and resources to young entrepreneurs (typically under 40). It is comparable to CSA in its nonprofit membership-driven model, mentorship focus, and support for early-stage Canadian founders, though it skews younger and offers loan products.
- TiE Toronto: TiE Toronto is the local chapter of TiE Global, a nonprofit fostering entrepreneurship through mentorship, networking, and capital access for founders, with strong immigrant-founder representation. It directly parallels CSA in mission, immigrant-founder focus, and chapter-based association model.
Broad incumbents
- MaRS Discovery District: MaRS is one of North America's largest urban innovation hubs, supporting high-impact Canadian startups through mentorship, programs, and capital connections. It is comparable to CSA as a Toronto-based founder-support platform but operates at significantly larger scale with broader sector and stage coverage.
- C100: C100 is a nonprofit association of Canadian tech leaders and investors supporting high-growth Canadian startups, particularly those with ties to Silicon Valley. It is comparable to CSA as a Canadian nonprofit founder-investor community but skews toward later-stage, venture-backed companies.
- DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University): DMZ is a leading Canadian startup accelerator and incubator based in Toronto, providing programming, mentorship, and investor access. It overlaps with CSA in serving Canadian founders seeking growth and international exposure but operates with institutional university backing and larger cohorts.
- Communitech: Communitech is a Waterloo Region-based innovation hub supporting Canadian tech founders and scale-ups with programs, talent, and corporate partnerships. It shares CSA's nonprofit association structure and Canadian focus, though it concentrates in the Waterloo tech ecosystem.
Regional players
- Innovation Factory: Innovation Factory is a Hamilton, Ontario-based nonprofit innovation and entrepreneurship support organization. It is comparable to CSA as a regional Canadian startup support organization with mentorship and programming, though it operates at smaller geographic scale and lacks CSA's international delegation focus.
Emerging players
- Founder Institute: Founder Institute is a global pre-seed accelerator and founder development program with a Canadian presence. It overlaps with CSA in serving early-stage founders through structured programming and mentorship, though it operates a more formalized accelerator cohort model.
- Black Innovation Alliance: Black Innovation Alliance is a US-headquartered coalition supporting Black and underrepresented founders and innovation hubs. It is comparable to CSA in its mission focus on underrepresented founders and ecosystem-building, though it operates primarily in the US with a coalition rather than membership-driven model.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Customer concentration
Canada Startup Association social profiles
Digital presenceCanada Startup Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Canada Startup Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Canada Startup Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Canada Startup Association 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 Canada Startup Association
What does Canada Startup Association do?
Canada Startup Association (CSA) is a nonprofit membership organization that provides an inclusive community for underrepresented and immigrant founders across Canada. It sells paid memberships (Core at $45/month or $450/year, Premium at $750/year) bundled with mentorship programs, pitch competitions, roadshows, and access to international trade delegations to events such as GITEX Global, Singapore FinTech Festival, Vietnam Innovation Summit, and Seoul Try Everything.
Is Canada Startup Association a public or private company?
Canada Startup Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Canada Startup Association founded?
Canada Startup Association was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Canada Startup Association based?
Canada Startup Association is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Canada Startup Association make money?
One revenue line is on record: membership Fees.
Who are Canada Startup Association's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Startup Canada, Futurpreneur and TiE Toronto. Broad incumbents are MaRS Discovery District, C100, DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Communitech. Innovation Factory is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Founder Institute and Black Innovation Alliance.
Does Canada Startup Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Canada Startup Association.
What industry is Canada Startup Association in?
Canada Startup Association's product category is Startup Community & Entrepreneurship Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHACAA, Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies), with a secondary code of THAHAMAH, Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits. Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.