There are plenty of good reasons to start a company in Canada<\/a>, including:<\/p>\n To date, Canada\u2019s top 20 accelerators and incubators have attracted more than $1.7 billion in follow-on investments and contributed to the creation of over 10,000 new jobs. A number of large firms in Canada<\/a> (including OMERS Ventures and BDC Capital) have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Canadian startups, and the Canadian venture capital market and incubator and accelerator scenes will only continue to grow<\/a>.<\/p>\n Bottom line? It\u2019s a great time to be a startup in Canada, and one of the best ways to ensure your success is by joining a startup incubator or accelerator program. Let\u2019s take a deep dive into what these programs are all about, and how to find the right one for your startup.<\/p>\n Before pursuing support from a startup incubator or accelerator, it\u2019s important to be clear about what exactly these programs can do for you.<\/p>\n In its most general terms, an incubator is<\/a> a program designed to increase early-stage companies\u2019 chances of success via mentorship, financial investment, and perhaps additional forms of support such as office space, access to technical resources, and so on.<\/p>\n Companies that are qualified to sign on with incubators are generally looking for guidance and support around developing their business models and other foundational elements of running a company. They may remain in the incubator program for anywhere from a few months to a few years. The ultimate goal is for companies to \u201cgraduate\u201d from the program fully equipped to run successfully on their own.<\/p>\n Incubators take different forms or organize themselves around different themes. For instance, some incubators function much like non-profits, while others offer investments in exchange for partial equity in participating startups. Some incubators cater generally to any startups in their region, while others focus on startups in a particular industry, such as software or technology.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, companies that have moved beyond the earliest stages of development can seek support from a startup accelerator<\/a>. Like startup incubators, these programs typically offer mentorship, financial investment, and other resources to startups with the goal of ensuring these companies\u2019 long-term sustainability and success.<\/p>\n To that end, business accelerators usually take one of two primary forms.<\/p>\n Seed programs<\/b> assist startups that are barely past the incubator stage in refining their business plans and developing their fundraising pitches for investors. These programs typically run for two to four months.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Second-stage programs<\/b> target companies that are beyond the seed program stage and offer them support in the form of networking and other growth opportunities. These programs may last for up to six months.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n As you can see, while incubator programs can run for anywhere from several months to a few years, accelerators tend to move more quickly, with an average program length of two to six months. Like incubators, accelerators are often organized around a particular region or sector.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019re clear on what startup incubators and accelerators are all about, it\u2019ll be easier to narrow down your search for the right program for your company. Here\u2019s how to go about it.<\/p>\n Start by clarifying whether you should target incubators or accelerators. <\/b><\/p>\n Consider which type of program is right for your company. For the most part, it comes down to the stage your startup is currently in. Early-stage startups should probably focus on getting into an incubator program, while more mature startups will want to set their sights on accelerators. Once you\u2019ve clarified which type is right for you, you\u2019ll be able to refine your search for the right program.<\/p>\n If you have a university affiliation, investigate your school\u2019s resources. <\/b><\/p>\n Many Canadian universities have developed or are in the process of developing incubator programs to support their students\u2019 startup aspirations. If you\u2019re affiliated with a university that has its own, this may be a great place to pursue personalized support and enjoy substantial networking opportunities.<\/p>\n For instance, Ryerson University is home to the Digital Media Zone (DMZ)<\/a>, which offers a combined incubator\/accelerator program and has supported over 130 companies to date. Other colleges and universities with dedicated startup programs include<\/a> Brock University, Canadore College, Carlton University, Centennial College, Georgian College, McMaster University, Queen\u2019s University, the Universities of Toronto and Waterloo, and many more.<\/p>\n Consider government support. <\/b><\/p>\n The Canadian government is heavily invested in nurturing startups, and it\u2019s putting its money where its mouth is: There are currently a large number of government grants and loans<\/a> available to small businesses. While not all of these take the form of a traditional startup incubator, if you\u2019re primarily interested in seed capital, it may be worth investigating government funding. It\u2019s also a good idea to research and take advantage of other ways in which the government supports startups, from tax credits to wage subsidies and startup visas<\/a>.<\/p>\n Go where there\u2019s support for your sector.<\/b><\/p>\n It may be a smart idea to pursue support in regions that are known for investing in your niche. For instance, Waterloo<\/a> has a reputation for supporting tech companies (think of it as the Silicon Valley of Canada). Vancouver is another tech hub, Montreal nurtures artificial intelligence startups, SaaS companies tend to congregate in Ottawa, and Labrador and Newfoundland are known for supporting grassroots startups.<\/p>\n Bottom line? If companies of a certain type are congregating in a given city or region, that\u2019s a good sign that the area supports that sector via incubators, accelerators, and other programs.<\/p>\n Network at startup events. <\/b><\/p>\n If you want to learn about the best incubator programs for your company, there\u2019s no better resource than founders who have been where you are. Connecting with founders in your sector who have researched or been through different programs is a great way to get some valuable intel. Find other founders at events that are expressly targeted toward Canadian startups. Great networking opportunities across Canada include Edmonton\u2019s Startup Week, Montreal\u2019s Startupfest and numerous Startup Weekends, and Vancouver\u2019s Traction Conference.<\/p>\n When in doubt, look to the big cities.<\/b><\/p>\n No surprise here: Major cities<\/a> tend to offer the most resources for up-and-coming startups \u2014 which is not to say it\u2019s impossible to find incubators beyond these urban hubs.<\/p>\n Edmonton<\/b> is home to Business Link, which offers free resources and support for startups, and TEC Edmonton, an incubator that\u2019s earned international acclaim.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Montreal<\/b> boasts a VC-backed accelerator in the form of FounderFuel, which offers mentorship and funding over the course of a four-month residency, as well as a peer-to-peer support group for startup founders dubbed Entrepreneurs Anonymous.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ontario<\/b> is host to the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE), a government program that supports startups<\/a> at all stages by nurturing a network of 49 incubators and accelerators.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Ottawa<\/b> features the economic development group Invest Ottawa, which offers skill-building programs for entrepreneurs. There\u2019s also The Natural Resources Canada Innovation Acceleration Centre, a seed accelerator for early-stage companies across a number of industries.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Toronto<\/b> is home to Maple Leaf Angels, which invests in early-stage startups; the MaRS Discovery District, which boasts a network of 1,000-plus startups and skills training for entrepreneurs; OMERS Ventures, a VC firm that backs the likes of Shopify; and more than 4,000 startups.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Vancouver<\/b> boasts a $100 million government fund for early-stage startups and the BC Tech Association, which offers a number of opportunities for regional tech companies.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n To further refine your search, check out the incubator and accelerator roundups at Fundica<\/a>, F6S<\/a>, Mentornity<\/a>, Crunchbase<\/a>, and Salesforce\u2019s list of Canadian startup programs<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are hundreds of startup incubators and accelerators across Canada, and that means startups enjoy plenty of choice when it comes to finding the program that will best set them up for success. If you\u2019re turned away from an incubator or you\u2019re struggling to find one that meshes with your business, don\u2019t give up hope. Keep digging until you find a program that seems well suited to your startup and its aims, because the odds are good that it does exist.<\/p>\n Learn How to Find, Win, and Keep Customers, with our A Tale Of Growth ebook<\/b> Get the ebook<\/span><\/a> <\/p>\n\n
Why is Canada a Popular Place for Startups?<\/h3>\n
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<\/img> <\/p>\nWhat is a startup incubator or startup accelerator?<\/h2>\n
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Programs Startups Can Use in Canada to Help Them Succeed<\/h3>\n
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<\/img> <\/p>\nHow to find startup incubators and accelerators in Canada<\/h2>\n
The Canadian Government Helps Startups<\/h3>\n
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