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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! Read on for events and opportunities to bring your ideas to life.


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.



May 12 - National Virtual Pitch Competition | Startup Global 2026


​​As part of the Startup Global 2026 program, Startup Canada will facilitate a national pitch competition for early stage entrepreneurs looking to win cash to help with their exporting aspirations. This virtual pitch competition is to accommodate entrepreneurs across Canada that aren’t able to pitch in-person at a National Pitch Competition at a Startup Canada Tour stop. Pitches will be assessed with the following guidelines: Target market, objective, solution, leadership, traction (if any), competition and ability to go global.


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

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 startups (pre-Series A) in the B2B landscape, especially those who are under-represented in tech, which can include (but are not limited to): Black, Brown, Latinx, LGBTQ+, female and non-binary founders, and funders.


12:30-17:00 ◦ Women Driving Health Innovation: Celebrating Excellence in Entrepreneurship


Health Innovation Hub (H2i) at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus Ecosystem team invite you to an engaging afternoon celebrating incredible women leaders in health innovation. Hear from the next generation of women health entrepreneurs through H2i’s annual FemSTEM Pitch Competition, as well as from a panel made up of founders. ​This event is open to all. Are you working within or are simply curious about health innovation? Passionate about women's health? Hoping to hear about emerging health technologies and interventions? This event is for you!


13:30-20:30 ◦ Everything Government Can Do for Your Business


Did you know that there are hundreds of government programs and services to help you innovate and grow your Canadian business? Incorporated businesses who are ready to scale may qualify to work with an expert advisor to help them connect to programs and services and provide advice. In this free session, you will see how to get a tailored list of supports, personalized to meet your business' needs, including funding, loans, wage subsidies, tax credits and more, with the Business Benefits Finder. You'll also learn to navigate the regulatory environment of permits and licenses using BizPaL.


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


An impending economic slowdown may appear daunting for young, aspiring entrepreneurs. With the right approach one can create space for innovative ideas and find opportunities to fill gaps in the market with niche products and services. Are you an aspiring Indigenous entrepreneur looking to transform your idea into a thriving business or grow your newly launched small business? Register today for the free, virtual, three-part Indigenous Founders workshop series, presented by Futurpreneur. The series provides you with the tools to develop your idea, formalize your business plan and create a viable cashflow, all while connecting you with aspiring and fellow Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada.


18:30-19:30 ◦ How to Apply to Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program


Are you ready to launch your business? Join our business development manager's webinar that will guide you through our application process. During this webinar you'll learn about the eligibility criteria for Futurpreneur's Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program and the next steps to move your application forward, connect with the business development manager in your region, and discover the free resources available to you.

Thursday

14:00-16:00 ◦ U of T Centre for Entrepreneurship Startup Brainstorming Sessions


Need a sounding board for your startup idea? Drop by for this brainstorming session! Whether you're just starting out with an idea or exploring early-stage development, these sessions provide a valuable space for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to brainstorm ideas, discuss challenges, and prioritize their next steps. All U of T arts and science students, alumni, post-docs, faculty, staff and Centre for Entrepreneurship co-workers are welcome! Advance registration is encouraged to secure your 45-minute slot.


17:30-21:00 ◦ From Lab to Launch: Commercializing AI Research with Samsung Next, Inovia Capital, Radical Ventures, and Golden Ventures


​Join us and the Ecosystem team at the University of Toronto’s Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus for an evening focused on AI research and entrepreneurship, bringing together researchers, students, founders, and local investors for a conversation on how breakthrough technical work becomes real companies. You'll hear from researchers and investors shaping the Toronto AI ecosystem, learn what makes AI research commercially viable, and explore emerging opportunities in research-driven spinouts.


18:00-22:00 ◦ AI, Tech and Startups Toronto | Networking Mixer for Professionals


Meet cool people in AI, tech, and startups while grabbing drinks and swapping ideas at this laid-back mixer, a high-level networking mixer designed for professionals, founders, developers, and innovators shaping the future of technology. Following the success and strong demand from our previous events, we are bringing back an elevated experience with a more curated audience, stronger industry presence, and a room filled with individuals who are actively building, investing, and scaling within AI and tech. If you are building in AI, launching a startup, scaling a product, or looking to connect with serious professionals in Toronto’s tech scene, this event is designed for you.


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


Join our focused pitch night with live startup pitches, direct investor feedback, and time to meet relevant founders and peers. We design these sessions to help founders sharpen their thinking through direct, candid feedback, and to give strong investors access to serious teams. Pitch to the audience with your project and receive feedback from angels and VC partners focussed on real decisions and next steps. We also invite angel investors and VC partners to participate as judges and contributors. Join the discussion, meet other investors, and see what teams are building early.

Friday

14:00-16:00 ◦ U of T Centre for Entrepreneurship Startup Brainstorming Sessions


Need a sounding board for your startup idea? Drop by for this brainstorming session! Whether you're just starting out with an idea or exploring early-stage development, these sessions provide a valuable space for aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to brainstorm ideas, discuss challenges, and prioritize their next steps. All U of T arts and science students, alumni, post-docs, faculty, staff and Centre for Entrepreneurship co-workers are welcome! Advance registration is encouraged to secure your 45-minute slot.

Saturday