Copy of YC to invest in Canadian startups — again
Curated opportunities, talks, workshops, and events for those interested in creating a startup, growing one, or who want to connect with GTA startups.

Techstars Startup Digest Toronto

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! Scroll down for ongoing opportunities and startup events for this week.


Have a great week!



Ian Stevens ◦ ianstevens.ca@istevens

Community Opportunities

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.


Feb 26 - Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition


The Accelerating Cleantech Innovation Competition is an initiative led by the Clean Resource Innovation Network and coordinated by MaRS. The intent is to advance cleantech deployment in Canada’s oil and gas industry to improve environmental performance, support economic growth and create high-value jobs, with a goal of broad adoption across Canada’s industrial sector. With a total of $12M available, this nationwide initiative will allocate up to $2M for selected late-stage technologies (TRL 6 to 9) that deliver measurable environmental and economic benefits within carbon capture, methane emissions reduction, land and wellsite reclamation, novel hydrocarbon extraction, cleaner fuels and products, water technology development, and digital oil and gas data and automation.


Apply now - MaRS Adaptech Accelerator


As climate shocks intensify, Canada must harness new tools and processes to better prepare for and respond to a changing world. With a comprehensive suite of services, MaRS’s Adaptech Accelerator is designed to help ventures speed up the development of climate change adaptation and resilience solutions. This accelerator aims to help build climate resilience in three key ways: attract and support eight to ten ventures helping Canadians prepare, prevent, recover or respond to the impacts of climate change; increase capital flows going toward adaptation and resilience solutions; and advance the adoption of Adaptech solutions across Canada. The Adaptech Accelerator will provide up to ten Canadian startups with tailored programming, market research, PR, advisory support, network building, as well as connections to capital, world-class labs, and industry partners and governments seeking resilience solutions. Through this program, we aim to bring adaptation technologies to the forefront of Canada’s climate economy, scale up solutions and accelerate the adoption of adaptech across the nation.


Apply now - Parkdale Centre for Innovation 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 Incubator Program


DMZ formally onboards Incubator startups twice a year (fall and spring), with applications open year-round. Be one of the ten to fourteen companies — never one of hundreds — to scale alongside driven, battle-tested founders who know what it takes. Unlike traditional accelerators, DMZ’s Incubator is designed to meet you where you are, so you can scale faster on your terms. You'll get a custom growth plan, unlimited meetings with our experts for strategic guidance, fractional support and mentoring, as well as fundraising and investor access, global exposure and media opportunities, exclusive perks and partner benefits (including $1M+ in tech credits, discounts, and resources), and a top-tier workspace with a vibrant founder community.


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 - 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.


Events this week

Tuesday

10:00-12:00 ◦ Learn your Obligations - CRA Tax Session for Corporations


This is a free seminar for individuals and students thinking of starting their own business or who are already in business. During this seminar, a Canada Revenue Association (CRA) Liaison Officer will answer questions and address general tax-related concerns, explain common tax errors and demonstrate how to use financial benchmarking, provide information on various tools and services offered by the CRA, and explain general bookkeeping concepts and best practices.


13:00-15:00 ◦ Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive webinar


This webinar will provide a general overview of the SR&ED program. We will guide you through the eligibility criteria, qualifying expenditures, and the free tools and services offered by the CRA.

Wednesday

10:00-11:30 ◦ Toronto Coffee Club: B2B Tech Founders and Funders


​Calling all early-stage B2B founders and funders! Join us for Coffee Club, a casual, no-pressure meetup designed to bring together early-stage founders and investors. Whether you're based in Toronto or just visiting, it’s an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow B2B AI enthusiasts and VCs in a relaxed and welcoming setting.​ This event is ideal for founders and investors focused on early-stage B2B products and services, especially those who are under-represented in tech, which can include (but are not limited to): Black, Brown, Latinx, LGBTQ+, female + non-binary founders and funders.


12:00-13:00 ◦ Cooperathon Powered by Desjardins: Info Session and Fireside Chat


Curious about turning your ideas into real-world social impact? ​Join our virtual info session to learn more about Coopérathon, powered by Desjardins, bringing together citizens, entrepreneurs, researchers and institutions to imagine and build a more sustainable future. Over an intensive six to eight week program, participants gain access to expert training, mentorship and practical resources designed to help transform early-stage ideas into meaningful, impact-focused projects aligned with global challenges. ​In this session, you’ll learn what Coopérathon is and how it works, who should apply and what participants can expect, the benefits of joining a national ecosystem focused on social innovation, how to get involved and take your next steps. Whether you’re at the idea stage or looking to scale an impact initiative, this info session is a great opportunity to explore how Coopérathon can support your journey.


16:00-17:00 ◦ Fireside at FemSTEM: Catherine Chan


Fireside at FemSTEM is an interactive conversation series held each winter as part of H2i’s broader FemSTEM programming, where we sit down and chat with one incredible speaker. Speakers are distinguished women within the health entrepreneurship space and are joined by members of the H2i and UTE community as moderators. This session features Catherine Chan, builder, operator, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Honeybee, a digital health company, who now works with startups at the earliest stages to help them build great products, find early traction, and build a repeatable growth engine.


18:00-19:30 ◦ Indigenous Founders Circle: Plan It


Equip yourself with comprehensive business planning that aligns with your goals, values, and community responsibilities. In this second workshop of the three-part series, you'll be guided by an entrepreneurship expert to equip a comprehensive business planning toolkit that aligns with your goals, values, and community responsibility. Participants will learn how to create a basic business plan or lean canvas, develop marketing and operations strategies, understand registration, IP, and legal structures, and learn how to prepare and present a plan for funding.


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.

Thursday

12:00-13:00 ◦ Company and Competitor Research Online


This session is for participants of all disciplines interested in learning more about researching companies and finding competitor information, and includes an overview of subscription databases and publicly available resources for company research. You’ll learn how to evaluate different types of company information and understand the differences between public and private companies, find both direct and indirect competitor information, and practice finding company documents and reports. This workshop is part of an Entrepreneurship Research Skills Co-Curricular Record (CCR) as recognized by the University of Toronto. They are open to all U of T students, faculty, and staff, but only current students are eligible to enroll in the CCR. A valid UTORid is required to access library databases.


13:00-14:00 ◦ ventureLAB Info Session


Welcome to the ventureLAB community! At this info session, we’ll cover who ventureLAB is, our partners and ecosystem, and programs and opportunities to support entrepreneurs at each stage of business. You'll also have an opportunity to meet with one of our dedicated advisors one-on-one for fifteen minutes to assess your eligibility for our programs and your best next steps! Be prepared to do a sixty-second introduction on your company to give us an opportunity to familiarize ourselves with your business and see how we can better leverage our resources to help you.