What Mashup Lab does

Mashup Lab is a Canadian privately held company founded in 2014 by Andrew Button, headquartered in Bridgewater (Wileville), Nova Scotia. The company designs and delivers virtual business incubation programming targeted at aspiring entrepreneurs in rural communities across North America who typically lack access to in-person startup support. Its core product is the Dream Business Program, a 6-week Virtual Business Incubator (VBI) conducted over Zoom in weekly 1.5-hour evening sessions with cohorts of up to 15 participants, producing a 90-day action plan, peer cohort support, and one-on-one coaching from facilitators who are themselves rural entrepreneurs.

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight: Zoom is the delivery platform, Tidycal handles booking, and the intellectual property is the curriculum, facilitator network, and partnership playbook rather than software. Mashup Lab operates a small core team of approximately four people plus contracted facilitators, and has built specialized program variants on top of the core VBI — the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) launched in 2021 with Community Futures Western Canada, the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program launched in 2021 with Cape Breton University and Unama'ki College, the Start Now Incubator for women launched in 2023 with ONSIDE and the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, and an NSCC-integrated cohort (EITM) running since 2019.

Revenue is generated primarily through government and foundation grants (Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, Community Futures, Nova Scotia economic development agencies) which fund free delivery to end participants, supplemented by fee-for-service speaking engagements and workshops at rates between $1,500 and $8,000 plus travel. The legal entity is Mashup Lab Limited, incorporated in Nova Scotia; founder Andrew Button also co-founded two adjacent community ventures, Awesome South Shore (a $1,000/month micro-fund) and WorkEvolved (a three-location co-working brand).

Name

Mashup Lab

Legal name

Mashup Lab Limited

Website

https://mashuplab.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Mashup Lab operates a virtual business incubator (the Dream Business Program) that helps aspiring entrepreneurs in rural North American communities launch small businesses through 6-week Zoom-based cohorts, delivered free to participants and funded by government and foundation grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Education & Incubation

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (61171)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC), Small Business & Entrepreneurship Community Education (EDAAAFAK)

Keywords

• Virtual business incubator
• Rural entrepreneurship
• Small business training
• Entrepreneurship education
• Business mentorship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Bridgewater

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government/Foundation Grants: Primary funding from government programs and foundations including Women Entrepreneurship Strategy, Community Futures, and economic development agencies. Programs are free for participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mashup Lab operates virtual business incubators that help rural entrepreneurs start and grow small businesses. Its flagship Dream Business Program is a 6-week virtual incubator delivered via Zoom with up to 15 participants per cohort, providing structured training, 1-on-1 coaching, peer support, and mentorship. The company also runs tailored variants for women, Indigenous youth, and entrepreneurs with disabilities, plus paid speaking and workshop services for organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dream Business Program: Mashup Lab's flagship Virtual Business Incubator program - a 6-week virtual incubator helping rural entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
• Virtual Business Incubator (VBI)
• Start Now Incubator
• Awesome South Shore
• WorkEvolved

Products and services

• Dream Business Program A 6-week virtual business incubator that provides rural entrepreneurs with knowledge, resources, personalized coaching, mentorship, peer support, and a celebratory finale. Delivered virtually via Zoom with up to 15 participants per cohort in 1.5-hour weekly evening sessions. Program is free for participants, funded through government and foundation grants.
• Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program (EDP) A specialized variant of the Dream Business Program for entrepreneurs with disabilities and ongoing health conditions, delivered in partnership with Community Futures Associations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC. Offers adjusted facilitation with accommodations such as ASL interpreters and personalized support.
• Start Now Incubator A women-focused business incubator program tailored to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs in Canada, part of the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. Provides online workshops, peer-to-peer mentoring, guidance, and resources without financial barriers. Delivered in partnership with ONSIDE.
• Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program A youth entrepreneurship training program developed with Cape Breton University and Unama'ki College for Indigenous youth ages 15-30. Consists of four weeks of skills development followed by an eight-week work placement. Launched first cohort in Potlotek with additional cohorts planned in We'koqma'q and Wagmatcook.
• Speaking and Workshop Services Keynote speeches, half-day or full-day workshops, multi-day workshops, and MC/host services delivered by Founder & CEO Andrew Button at events focused on rural communities and entrepreneurship. Pricing: $2,000 + travel for in-person speeches, $1,500 for digital; Half Day $3,000 + travel, Full Day $5,000 + travel, Multi-Day $8,000 + travel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80% of participants had never signed up for a business program before despite having access to dozens of other supports
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Eastern Ontario CFDCs (Frontenac, Grenville, Renfrew)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Three Community Futures Development Corporations (Frontenac Business Services, Grenville CFDC, Renfrew County CFDC) partnered to bring the Virtual Business Incubator to rural Eastern Ontario communities. The program was offered free to up to 15 entrepreneurs from Grenville, Frontenac, and Renfrew Counties.
• Community Futures Western Canada (Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Through Community Futures Associations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and BC, the EDP provides entrepreneurs with disabilities business information, training, development, mentoring, and one-on-one services. Since March 2021, nine EDP cohorts have run with over 100 entrepreneurs completing the program. ASL interpreters and personalized accommodations provided.
• The GRID & Nicolet College (Wisconsin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021The GRID (Guiding Rural Innovation & Development) collaborated with Nicolet College in Wisconsin to deliver the Dream Business Program to aspiring entrepreneurs in the Northwoods region. This was Mashup Lab's first US partnership, facilitating a 6-week Virtual Business Incubator for rural Wisconsin entrepreneurs.
• Cape Breton University & Unama'ki CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Mashup Lab developed and executed an Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program in partnership with Cape Breton University and Unama'ki College. The program includes 4 weeks of training followed by 8-week work placements. Launched cohort in Potlotek, with plans for additional cohorts in We'koqma'q and Wagmatcook.
• Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Through the Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program (EITM), NSCC provides up to $3,000 each to entrepreneurial students and recent alumni from equity-deserving groups. EITM recipients gain access to Mashup Lab's Dream Business Program. Since 2019, students have received $160,000 from EITM funding. The collaboration helps accelerate students on the path to entrepreneurial success.
• Cape Breton PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed research study on barriers to entrepreneurship for females and First Nations communities, informing the Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program. Partnered on launching new cohorts in 2021.
• ONSIDE & Women Entrepreneurship StrategycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWith support from ONSIDE and the Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (Government of Canada), Mashup Lab delivers the Start Now Incubator - a tailored Dream Business Program for women entrepreneurs across Canada. The program provides guidance and resources without financial barriers.
• Chamber of Commerce for CumberlandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReferral partner that introduced the Dream Business Program to potential participants in the Cumberland region of Nova Scotia.
• WorkEvolvedminorOthersAndrew Button co-founded WorkEvolved - a community of 3 co-working spaces for freelancers, entrepreneurs, and independents on Nova Scotia's south shore.
• Awesome South ShoreminorOthersAndrew Button co-founded Awesome South Shore - a community-backed micro-fund that gives away $1000/month to people with innovative ideas, no strings attached.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Futurpreneur Canada: Canadian nonprofit providing mentoring, resources, and financing to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18-39. Highly comparable to Mashup Lab in mission (activating sidelined founders), nonprofit funding model, and focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs in Canada.
• SCORE: US-based nonprofit providing free business mentoring and education to entrepreneurs, with strong rural presence. Comparable in nonprofit model, free-to-participant delivery, mentor-driven curriculum, and focus on activating first-time founders.
• Youth Business International (YBI): Global network supporting young entrepreneurs aged 18-35 in underserved communities through training, mentoring, and access to finance. Directly comparable to Mashup Lab's youth-focused variants (Indigenous Youth Entrepreneurship Program for ages 15-30).
• Community Futures Network of Canada: Network of 269+ non-profit Community Futures Development Corporations delivering business services, loans, and training to rural Canadians. Mashup Lab's VBI is literally delivered through CFDCs, making CFNC both a peer (similar rural entrepreneurship mandate) and a key distribution channel.
• Startup Canada: Canadian entrepreneurship advocacy and support organization connecting founders with resources, mentors, and community. Comparable in national nonprofit mission to support Canadian entrepreneurs, especially underrepresented founders, through partnerships and programming.
• Women's Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC): National network of women's enterprise support centres across Canada. Directly comparable to Mashup Lab's Start Now Incubator (women-focused, Government of Canada Women Entrepreneurship Strategy-supported) and the 75%+ women participant base.

Emerging players

• Empowered Startups: Canadian accelerator supporting immigrant and newcomer entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and landing programs. Comparable to Mashup Lab's 25% newcomer participant base and the equity-deserving entrepreneurship support model.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Small Business Development Center (SBDC): US-wide network of university and college-affiliated centers providing free business advising and training to entrepreneurs. Comparable in free public-good delivery model and rural reach, but operates at much larger scale and as a federal program rather than a private social enterprise.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mashupLAB.ca
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mashup-lab
• TikToktiktok.com/@mashuplab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Mashup Lab