Locally curated opportunities, talks, workshops, and other events for those interested in creating a startup, growing one, or who want to connect with startups in the Greater Toronto Area.

Hello Toronto startups and entrepreneurs! It's a short week for many, but it still holds opportunities to grow your startup idea into something real, or grow your startup into something more. Scroll down for this weeks events.

Have a great week!

Ian Stevens ◦ ianstevens.ca ◦ @istevens

Here are some upcoming deadlines for applying to accelerators, grants and funding, or other competitions and programs. Don’t miss out! If you know of others, please submit any application deadlines and I’ll post them if they’re relevant.

July 10 - Humber River Centre Business Incubator Program

Powered by DMZ, this program offers a twelve-week, hands-on curriculum tailored to the specific needs of participating entrepreneurs. The hybrid delivery model blends in-person programming at the state-of-the-art Humber River Centre in downtown Bolton with virtual components. Founders selected for the program will gain access to workshops, training sessions and one-on-one mentorship from industry experts in areas like business strategy, sales support, business development, marketing and more, as well as opportunities to connect and network at industry events with investors, business leaders and government stakeholders, access to 40+ specialized experts-in-residence from DMZ’s network, and a free coworking membership at the Humber River Centre.

July 25 - Creative Destruction Lab Toronto

Creative Destruction Lab's (CDL) Toronto programs provide startups with access to business development support from top business students at the Rotman School of Management, funding from leading VC firms, and resources to scale. In addition to its Quantum and Web3 programs, CDL Toronto includes programming geared towards founders pursuing applications surrounding AI and machine learning, advanced therapies solving biological, medical, and healthcare problems, space travel and research, and brain science. Participating startups attend five objective-setting sessions between October and June. CDL is a non-profit organization. There are no fees for participation and CDL does not take any equity.

Apply now - YSpace Tech Incubator

This YSpace incubator membership aims to support early-stage entrepreneurs developing innovative technology-based startups with a unique network and support system of mentors, subject-matter expertise, and workshops designed to elevate their entrepreneurial journey. Participants will develop and strengthen their knowledge through virtual webinars and educational workshops, and engage with program advisors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and industry experts to build strategic direction and drive tactical execution of their company goals. Come join a network of like-minded individuals and discuss business challenges in peer-to-peer circles. This program has an open intake throughout the year

Apply now - YSpace Women in Tech JumpSTART Incubator

The Women in Tech JumpSTART Incubator program is a bespoke and flexible membership program supporting Ontario-based women-led tech ventures to scale and grow. This program is offered in partnership with YSpace, Schulich School of Business and Treefrog Accelerator and was created with generous funding through the York Region Innovation Fund. With a network of industry experts, entrepreneurs, and advisors, the membership is designed to help founders to navigate the growth journey beyond the launch. Participants will develop and strengthen their knowledge through virtual webinars and educational workshops, and engage with program advisors and industry experts to build the strategic direction and drive the tactical execution of their company goals. Come join a network of like-minded women tech founders and discuss business challenges in peer-to-peer sessions. Applications are open year round, with selected ventures incubated for six months.

Apply now - Parkdale Centre for Innovation Fall 2024 Programs

Parkdale Centre is an incubator and accelerator that supports entrepreneurs, with a focus on equity, accessibility, and inclusion for underrepresented people, namely women, Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and newcomers to Canada. The Centre is accepting applications for both its Women Founders stream, and Early Stage Startup stream. Both programs are intended for those looking to set and meet revenue and growth goals for their business over the next three to nine months, and willing to execute on the program’s short-term milestones, stay on track with consistent webinars and mentorship. The Women Founders stream focuses on providing accessible and inclusive leadership, business training and entrepreneurship skills to self-identifying woman and/or non-binary founders, while the Early Stage stream supports entrepreneurs with a focus on preparing for user growth, team growth, revenue growth, and fundraising.

Apply now - DMZ Pre-Incubator Program

The DMZ’s Pre-Incubator program helps turn your vision into reality, validate your business idea, establish a minimum viable product, and secure customers for your venture. Participants receive over twelve hours of curated on-demand content, hands-on support, including regular 1:1s with in-house experts, relevant workshops, and progress check-ins, and are eligible for over $470K in perks from 80+ partners, exclusive invites, and the opportunity to proceed to DMZ Incubator's program, with up to $10K in grant funding, and over 18 months of additional support, office space, and more. Applications and program intake occurs on a rolling basis, with new startups joining the program at the beginning of each month.

Apply now - Brampton BHive Startup Incubator

BHive is an initiative powered by the City of Brampton with a goal to empower the next generation of innovators, accelerate their journey, and create a positive impact for the entrepreneur, economy, and community as a whole. The program has been strategically designed to ensure startups have everything they need to scale and grow. Successful applicants will have access to an unrivaled ecosystem and expertise to support exceptional founders in building successful companies. Our integrated approach involves thoughtfully designed programs, one-to-one mentorships, and access to our entire portfolio of service.

Apply now - Futurpreneur Canada Black Entrepreneur Startup Program

This program, delivered by Futurpreneur, will provide young, Black entrepreneurs age 18-39 across Canada with a comprehensive offering of $5,000–$60,000 in startup loan financing, as well as up to two years of mentorship, opportunities to engage with a national network of Black entrepreneurs, leaders and community organizations at a range of entrepreneurship events, and a variety of relevant tools and resources. Participants who are keen to scale their businesses even further will also be eligible for up to $40,000 in follow-on financing funded by RBC, based on the first two years of successful business performance.

Join - Science Discovery Zone at TMU

At the Science Discovery Zone (SDZ) we help people take evidence-based approaches to test big ideas and discover new ventures. We aim to serve as a model for strong collaboration across all disciplines (not just the science ones) that fuels innovation and entrepreneurial discovery. What makes the SDZ stand out amongst other incubators are the unique services and opportunities we create for our community, which are geared towards fostering your goals and success!

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I write this newsletter each week to encourage those with an idea for a tech product or service to take it to the next level, with the help of the many startup resources Toronto has to offer. If you know someone who could use a nudge towards that first step on their startup journey, get them to subscribe. They might thank you for it.

19:00-20:30 ◦ Startup Help - Apex Program

The Startup Help Apex Program is a dynamic, hands-on initiative designed to empower aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to build and scale successful businesses. This comprehensive seminar and workshop series combines expert-led sessions, interactive workshops, and personalized mentorship to provide a structured pathway for business success.

09:30-11:30 ◦ T2 - Corporation Tax Literacy Seminar

Presented by the Canada Revenue Agency’s Liaison Officer Service Program, this presentation is geared towards small incorporated businesses and will provide participants with the basic principles and resources needed to navigate the tax system. During the seminar, the liaison officers will explain common tax errors, demonstrate how to use financial benchmarks for relevant industries, provide information on various tools and services offered by the CRA, and explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices.

19:00-22:00 ◦ Startup Pitch and Networking Toronto

Meet and get acquainted with startup founders, business professionals and investors. Pitch to the audience with your project and seize your chance to dive into the world of business, technology, and venture capital. Engage with leading experts and founders in tech and dusiness, and top investors to gain deep insights and valuable networking. This event is a must-attend for those looking to gain ideas, experience, and valuable connections. We also invite investors to our event to expand their network, get acquainted with new startups, evaluate them, provide their feedback, participate in discussions, and gain access to a database of new and promising startups from around the world.

12:00-14:00 ◦ Enterprise Ready: How to Sell to Corporations

Selling to corporations can unlock major revenue and credibility for startups, but getting your foot in the door (and across the procurement finish line) can be daunting. Long sales cycles, complex decision-making structures, and risk-averse buyers often stand in the way. ​Join YSpace and RBCx for a panel discussion with founders and experts who’ve successfully sold into large enterprises. We’ll unpack real-world tactics, pitfalls to avoid, and strategies to help you navigate the corporate sales process with confidence. ​Whether you’re preparing for your first enterprise pitch or trying to scale within a large customer, this session will give you actionable insights to land — and expand — corporate deals.

18:30-22:30 ◦ Toronto Tech, AI Startups and Investor Networking Event

This event is designed to bring together a diverse group of professionals, innovators, and decision-makers from various industries, along with ethical and value-driven investors who prioritize sustainable growth, innovation, and long-term partnerships over short-term gains. Watch innovative startups pitch their ideas to an engaged audience. This event is designed for founders and entrepreneurs looking to grow, network, and find potential partners or investors, early-stage companies seeking exposure, funding, and strategic connections, as well as angel investors and VCs scouting high-potential startups and founders.