Incubators and Accelerators in Canada

Incubators and accelerators offer programming to support the development of startups and other early-stage companies. Through these organizations, early entrepreneurs can gain access to valuable resources, including office space, hiring assistance, mentorship opportunities, peer networking, workshops and training, and access to early-stage capital. While incubators tend to focus on companies still in a pre-development or early development stage, accelerators work to facilitate business growth in more established early-stage companies. Both incubators and accelerators are often part of larger organizations with additional programming available including events, development opportunities, networking, support for larger companies, and more. Read on to learn more about some of the incubator and accelerator program offerings across Canada.

Alberta

Edmonton Unlimited

Edmonton Unlimited provides programming dedicated to scaling up, connecting with mentors, and bringing technologies to market. Collaborations with Edmonton’s post-secondary institutions as well as Alberta Innovates offer unique opportunities for startups, with $21 million invested in the past three years.

Platform Calgary

Platform Calgary provides services for startups, including a year-long incubator and a pre-accelerator catalyzer program, as well as continued support for tech companies scaling up. The community includes over 120 partner organizations with 400+ startups.

BC

VentureLabs

Delivered through Simon Fraser University, VentureLabs focuses on commercializing and scaling up science, cleantech, and deep tech companies through mentorship, IP support, marketing assistance, talent acquisition, and access to physical resources.  

Foresight Canada

Based in Port Coquitlam, Foresight offers support to startups, scaleups, and later stage companies in both technology acceleration and adoption. Specifically focused on clean technologies, the organization has supported over 1280 companies through several different programs, in sectors including transportation, power, forestry, agriculture, bioeconomy, and more.

HATCH Venture Builder

As UBC’s late-stage accelerator, HATCH provides a 12–18-month residency with mentorship opportunities, commercial expertise, financing, and physical resources including equipment and office space. Ventures participating in the program gain access to workshops, feedback, marketing support, and testing space.

Manitoba

North Forge Technology Exchange

Based in Winnipeg, North Forge support science, technology, and advanced manufacturing startups through incubator and accelerator programs which offer product development, market strategizing, hiring assistance, commercialization support, mentorship and training, connections to other business owners.  

New Brunswick

Planet Hatch

Planet Hatch offers co-working space as well as startup support in Fredericton, with a focus on innovative companies from all sectors. Programs offered through the program include Start-up Support, which facilitates funding, mentorship and coaching, and other resources, and MERGE, connects startups with municipalities to validate products, mitigate risk, and accelerate growth.

Newfoundland and Labrador

techNL

Based in St.John’s, techNL’s Innovation Centre was recently established to support Newfoundland and Labrador-based entrepreneurs in accessing resources through programs which include Digitalization in Oil and Gas and Bounce Health Innovation, as well as programming for younger entrepreneurs.

Nova Scotia

CEED

The Center for Entrepreneurship Education and Development was established in Halifax in 1993. For the past three decades, the centre has provided support for entrepreneurs across the province in establishing and growing businesses through skills training, strategic planning, financing opportunities, and more.

Ontario

Communitech

The Kitchener-based innovation hub Communitech supports founders across Canada in establishing and scaling tech companies. With over 25 years of experience supporting founders, and over 1200 current members, Communitech provides access to capital and talent, IP supports, customer connections, mentorship, and 80,000+ sqft of co-working and office space, with regular events throughout the year.

NEXT Canada

NEXT is a network of over 500 academics, entrepreneurs, investors, and founders based in Toronto providing new entrepreneurs with access to education, mentorship, and funding. Founded in 2010, the organization has supported over 1000 entrepreneurs with over $2 billion in capital raised, through programs which include Next 36, Next AI, and Next Founders.

Velocity

Founded by the University of Waterloo in 2008, Velocity provides founders with the knowledge required to build and scale successful businesses, with over 400 companies supported so far. Notable alumni include the encrypted chat service Signal, and FluidAI, an implantable biochip platform which is also a NorthSpring Capital portfolio company.

DMZ

Established in 2014, the DMZ is affiliated with Toronto Metropolitan University and has supported the creation of over 5000 jobs through $2.69 billion in funding. The incubator focuses on encouraging collaboration in the tech industry.

Accelerator Centre

The Waterloo-based Accelerator Centre has supported over 300 startups in the past year through their incubator and accelerator programs, with an estimated portfolio valuation of over $5 billion. The Centre also offers an accelerator program targeted towards medtech and healthtech companies in collaboration with the Grand River Hospital in Kitchener.

PEI

LaunchPad PEI

Charlottetown’s LaunchPad provides incubator services to support new technology companies based in PEI. Operating through several locations, including the University of PEI, the organization assigns Business Development Officers to each company and provides networking opportunities, while facilitating funding access at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.

Quebec

FounderFuel

As a Montreal-based venture accelerator, FounderFuel has assisted over 100 companies in raising over $600 million in capital through its 4-month intensive program.

ProMontreal Entrepreneurs

ProMontreal Entrepreneurs offers $75,000 in funding per startup through their PME Fund, along with additional support including mentorship, business plan development, and resources for entrepreneurs.

Ecofuel

Through several investors which include BDC Capital, Desjardins Capital, CRIBQ, and Investissement Quebec, the Ecofuel Fund invests in startups and seed companies involved in the development of clean technologies. The Montreal-based Fund currently manages a $40.6 million portfolio.

Saskatchewan

Co.Labs

Saskatoon-based Co.Labs has incubated 206 startups, with over 850 jobs created and $73.6 million in revenue generated through programs which include Co.Learn, which focuses on idea development, a coaching intensive called Co.Launch, the marketing-focused Co.Link, and Co.Lead, an accelerator designed for high-growth startups.

Cultivator

Located in Regina, tech startups can access support to start and grow their companies through Cultivator’s incubator and accelerator programs. Also available through the organization is the Agtech Accelerator program, which allows pre-seed, seed, and series A agtech startups to access industry-specific mentorship, programming, advice, networking, and other resources.

Learn more

If your startup or scaleup is looking for funding, mentorship, peer support, or other resources, incubators and accelerators are a way to receive comprehensive support and guidance in a low-risk, collaborative environment. If you’re unsure where to begin, contact us to learn more about how you can get involved in the incubator and accelerator network in Canada.