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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! Scroll down for this week's events and opportunities.


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

Monday

18:00-21:00 ◦ Together Toronto and YC S26 Application Session


Join TechTO for in-depth conversations with Toronto's top tech leaders, plus a YCombinator S26 applicant session. Hear honest founder stories: pivots, hard calls, and lessons learned. Walk away with frameworks you can actually use. Connect with founders, investors, and operators in the room.`

Tuesday

19:00-22:00 ◦ Understanding Funding, Grants, and Preparing to Pitch


Many founders wonder how to fund their ideas. Knowing different funding paths helps them make smarter growth decisions.

In this session, we’ll explore common funding options for early-stage businesses, including grants and other financial opportunities available to entrepreneurs. Participants will also learn how to clearly communicate their business idea through a concise and compelling pitch. The session will feature a guest speaker with expertise in grants and funding opportunities, offering practical insights into how entrepreneurs can prepare when seeking financial support.

Wednesday

16:00-18:00 ◦ YSpace Accelerator Kick-Off Social


YSpace at York University is thrilled to invite you to our Accelerator Kick-Off Social, celebrating the launch of both our Technology and Food Accelerator 2026 cohorts. ​Join us as we officially welcome two incredible groups of founders into the ever-growing YSpace community — innovators building the future of technology and shaping the next wave of food and agri-food ventures. ​This is your chance to connect, celebrate, and inspire the cohort as they scale groundbreaking innovations! Come ready to mix, mingle, and kick off the journey ahead. We can’t wait to see you there!


18:00-22:00 ◦ YC Canada Spring Social


The best thing about YCombinator (YC) is the other founders, the ones who are your sounding board, your late-night text thread, your honest mirror when you need it most. The ones who celebrate the wins that only they understand and talk you through the hard parts without needing the backstory. The YC Canada Spring Social is an invite-only evening for past and present YC founders. It's a chance to slow down and spend a spring night with the people who make this community what it is. Catch up with batchmate, meet founders from other cohorts, and share what's working, what you're learning, and where you're headed next. Also open to those not part of YC.


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

18:00-21:00 ◦ Girls Into VC Toronto Meet-Up


Curious about venture capital but not sure where to start? This evening is for you. ​Girls Into VC is hosting a curated night for young women exploring careers in venture capital (VC). Join us for an honest conversation with VC professionals who will share how they broke into the industry, what skills actually matter, and what they wish they knew earlier. This is the official launch of the University of Toronto Girls Into VC chapter, followed by a moderated panel discussion and open Q&A. After that, stick around for networking with panelists, founders, and ecosystem partners who are invested in opening doors for the next generation of investors.


20:30-23:00 ◦ NEXT Canada Venture Reveal 2026


Join us to meet the 2026 cohorts of NEXT 36, NEXT AI and NEXT Founders. Members of each will present their venture pitches and receive feedback from expert panelists.

Friday

12:30-13:30 ◦ Indigenous Innovation and Knowledge Exchange


Join us for an intimate fireside chat featuring Indigenous entrepreneurs, innovators, and trailblazers sharing their stories, insights, and lessons from building community-rooted businesses.

This relaxed, welcoming conversation explores the spirit of Indigenous entrepreneurship, where culture, community, and creativity shape business journeys and impact. We'll also tell you about Futurpreneur's Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Funding, offering up to $75k to young, aspiring entrepreneurs to take their small business ideas to the next level! Open to Indigenous entrepreneurs, artisans, creatives, innovators, and allies who want to learn from and support Indigenous-led businesses.


14:15-18:00 ◦ Toronto Capital Access Lab: Founder Track


​If you're building something real and preparing to raise, this room was made for you. ​Join us for a curated, half-day experience for women founders at the pre-seed and seed stage who are getting ready to raise early-stage capital. ​You'll spend the afternoon learning how investors actually evaluate startups, then move into structured 1:1 matchmaking sessions with investors whose thesis areas align with your sector and stage. ​This track is designed to make capital more accessible, especially for founders from equity-deserving communities who are navigating fundraising for the first time.

Saturday

09:30-11:00 ◦ Founders Running Club: Easy 5–10K Run and Talks


Founders Running Club brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer. Pets, friends, family, are welcome.

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