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 Toronto Tech Week, with dozens of startup events to choose from, including many affiliated with U of T. I've included them below, tagged with #TorontoTechWeek.

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.

June 30 - EllisDon ConTech Accelerator

The Ellis Don Accelerator is a leading innovation program bringing construction technology startups, industry experts, and decision-makers together to advance the future of the built environment. This initiative focuses on accelerating high-potential solutions that address key challenges across the construction industry, providing startups with an opportunity to showcase their technologies, connect with EllisDon’s leadership and project teams, and gain valuable insights through mentorship and real-world collaboration. With a focus on productivity, sustainability, safety, and quality, this accelerator fosters partnerships that help transform innovative ideas into practical, scalable solutions.

July 10 - DMZ Caledon

DMZ Caledon is helping shape the next chapter of entrepreneurship and innovation in Caledon by connecting local founders and businesses to world-class mentorship, programming, and growth opportunities. Delivered through a partnership between the Town of Caledon and DMZ, Toronto Metropolitan University’s globally recognized startup incubator, the program supports entrepreneurs at every stage of growth while strengthening Caledon’s broader innovation ecosystem. Qualifying startups will have access to one-on-one mentorship and coaching, founder development programming, workshops and expert-led learning sessions, networking and ecosystem connections, business growth and scaling support, and access to industry experts and startup resources. As the program enters its second year, there will be an increased focus on supporting businesses and founders developing solutions related to housing, construction, planning, design, and related industries.

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.

08:30-12:30 ◦ TiEQuest Summit 2026

Join us at TiEQuest Summit, where founders, investors, and industry leaders connect. Global ambition rooted in Canadian innovation. Founders, operators, investors, builders connect here. Practical insights for scaling beyond borders. Honest conversations spark momentum and impact. #TorontoTechWeek

09:00-11:00 ◦ New World Order: Scaling Globally in an Era of “Middle Power” Ties

​Tariffs and market uncertainty have had detrimental effects on Canadian startups. Amid the upheaval, however, new opportunities are emerging. This panel will explore how Canadian startups can scale internationally amid trade friction and shifting geopolitical alliances. #TorontoTechWeek

10:30-12:00 ◦ What Kills Startups (Every Time)

Success is overhyped; failure is patterned — and preventable. Startups don’t die randomly. ​Most failures follow the same patterns, long before the market, product, or team gets blamed. This session breaks down what actually kills startups, and how to avoid it. ​Hear from Albert Lin, Managing Partner, and a US venture capital GP, share lessons from the trenches on what separates companies that survive from those that don’t. You'll walk away with the most common (and preventable) startup failure patterns, how capital structure quietly determines outcomes, where governance breaks, how to fix it early, and what experienced investors look for beyond upside. #​TorontoTechWeek

12:00-13:30 ◦ Toronto Takes on the World: Winning Strategies for Global Growth

Going global sounds exciting, until you are faced with choosing the right markets, managing risk, and getting it right the first time. This event brings together founders who have done exactly that. In this candid, in-person session, you will hear how Toronto-based ventures approached international expansion, what worked, what did not, and what they would do differently. From leveraging the city’s diverse talent and globally connected ecosystem to identifying the right first markets, this conversation focuses on the real decisions behind scaling beyond Canada. You will also gain perspective on today’s shifting economic and political landscape, and learn how Export Development Canada and the Trade Commissioner Service can support your growth. #TorontoTechWeek

17:00-19:00 ◦ The Founder Signal: Stories & Content for Growth | Panel & Studio Sessions

Most content gets ignored. Yet raw stories, strong perspectives, and real signal can help founders and startups break through. Join a candid panel on founder-led marketing, plus sessions to record your own story. We'll discuss what actually makes founder-led marketing work now — not more content for content’s sake, but sharper stories, stronger perspective, and a clearer signal in a noisy market. ​Join us for a panel discussion on founder stories, content, and growth, plus the opportunity to step in front of the camera yourself. #TorontoTechWeek

18:00-21:00 ◦ The Growth Table

Join us for an invite-only dinner for $3M+ or venture-backed founders in small, candid room with no panels, no pitches, and no fluff — ​just honest conversation over dinner with peers in the same chapter of growth. ​Scaling beyond the early stage changes the game. The decisions get bigger, the tradeoffs get murkier, and fewer people really understand the weight of the role. #TorontoTechWeek

07:00-09:00 ◦ Toronto Tech Week Founder Jog, Cortado Social and Creator Meetup

​LOI, Boast and North House are teaming up with local celebrity founder, Presh Dineshkumar, and crazy talented Toronto photographer, Sarah Holman, for a Toronto Tech Week 5km jog and coffee social. #TorontoTechWeek

08:00-10:00 ◦ Founder Walk and Talk by Mantle

Start another action-packed day of Toronto Tech Week with the Mantle team as we invite founders for a casual meetup to bump shoulders with other founders, drop the script, and chat about what you're building, what you're stuck on, and what's next. #TorontoTechWeek

08:30-11:00 ◦ Boast Funding Stage

Are you a tech startup CEO, COO, or CFO thinking about how to fund the next stage of growth? ​This session is designed to help you understand the full funding journey, from bootstrapping and early traction to growth capital, international expansion, and the road to IPO. ​We’ll break down the financing options available at each stage, explore the tradeoffs between dilutive and non-dilutive capital, and share practical insight on how to match the right funding strategy to the business you’re actually building, not just the one sitting in your spreadsheet. ​If you’re trying to make smarter capital decisions, avoid common funding mistakes, and understand what options are really on the table, this session is for you. #TorontoTechWeek

09:00-11:00 ◦ MaRS Mornings | Pitch Session: AI, Quantum and Emerging Tech Ventures

​This MaRS session showcases several exciting Canadian ventures leveraging AI, quantum and emerging technologies to build solutions that quantify energy loss in buildings, support scientists with drug discovery, provide plant-based crop protection, enable next-generation nuclear fusion reactors and more. #TorontoTechWeek

09:30-11:30 ◦ Early-Stage B2B Founders and Funders Breakfast

​In collaboration with YSpace and Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, and sponsored by Deel, Forum Ventures is hosting the Early-Stage B2B Founders and Funders Breakfast as part of Toronto TechWeek 2026. This is a curated, inclusive event specifically for entrepreneurs and VCs across B2B startup space to connect, get inspired, and have a great time! Kick off day two and ​engage with a community of peers and industry leaders who recognize the importance of diversity in tech and have shared interests that unlock opportunities. ​Gain insights and knowledge that could shape the trajectory of your startup or investment journey, and benefit from a balanced ratio of founders and funders—ensuring every conversation is mutual, engaging, and ripe with opportunity. #TorontoTechWeek

12:30-13:30 ◦ Unlocking Government Resources With Corporation Canada and Innovation Canada

Join Futurpreneur for an engaging and informative webinar designed for entrepreneurs and individuals thinking about incorporating their business. Looking for support for your business, but not sure where to start? Navigating the government support landscape can be a challenge, but Innovation Canada is here to make it easy. With a comprehensive suite of tools, Indigenous entrepreneurs can access funding programs, expert advice, tailored support, and more. Whether you’re launching a new business or nurturing growth in an existing one, this workshop will provide insights and guidance to help you leverage the right government support to fuel your success.

11:30-14:00 ◦ Interactive Viewing Party: Desjardins Speaker Series: How to Build a $100B Company, Brick by Brick

Join your fellow innovators, founders, and curious minds for our interactive viewing party at the Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus! Come for the live viewing of the Desjardins Speaker Series: How to Build a $100B Company, Brick by Brick, featuring Databricks co-founder Reynold Xin. Joining Reynold on stage will be Mike Murchison, CEO of Ada, the agentic customer experience company. These U of T alumni will share the evolution of data and AI, lessons from founders, and what Canada needs to do to seize the AI moment. The celebration will continue after with the University of Toronto Lawn Party. Meet Toronto’s community of tech innovators, discover startups at the edge of innovation, and enjoy snacks offered by U of T’s startup community. #TorontoTechWeek

18:00-20:00 ◦ Queer Founders Night

Join us for the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre’s first-ever Queer Founders Night! Whether you’re building something of your own, dreaming up your next move, or just want to be in a room full of inspiring people, this night is for you.​ Hear directly from Queer founders as they share their journeys: the wins, the challenges, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Expect honest insights, fresh perspectives, and stories that stick with you. Explore resources, meet organizations, and discover opportunities designed to support and uplift Queer entrepreneurs, business owners and creatives.

09:00-11:00 ◦ MaRS Mornings | Hype Versus Reality: Valuation in the Age of AI

​The investment decisions VCs make today are influencing the technologies of tomorrow. But how are investors assessing early-stage AI companies and their solutions? Hear from several seasoned AI investors as they share their decision-making strategies and how AI is changing the concept of risk in the venture capital space. #TorontoTechWeek

09:00-12:00 ◦ The Silicon Valley Playbook for Canadian Founders

What would change about how you're building if you knew your competitors were playing by a completely different set of rules? Silicon Valley's best founders are reshaping how the game is played, not just by moving faster but by skipping steps that everyone else treats as mandatory and creating a new baseline. ​Chris Neumann, 4X founder and early-stage investor, opens the session with a practical look at what that means for Canadian founders, and what lessons are worth bringing home. Hear from a panel of Canadian founders who recently participated in Game On's San Francisco experience, then a panel of US-based VCs, who will share their insights on how Canadian founders can start playing a different game. #TorontoTechWeek

09:30-11:00 ◦ From Clinician to Founder: The Unfiltered Truth about Getting Health Tech actually Adopted

Join this ECHO Lessons from Leaders webinar, featuring Dr. Joshua Liu, physician turned CEO and co-founder of SeamlessMD, who will share an overview of SeamlessMD, its technologies, and the story behind its success. SeamlessMD is a health tech company that enables hospitals and health systems to digitize patient care journeys (e.g., pre/post surgery) with automated reminders, education, and symptom monitoring, leading to lower length of stay, readmissions, and costs.

10:30-12:00 ◦ Unscripted: How Bias Shapes Investor Decisions — and How We Change It

Women and gender-diverse founders are asked different questions — and it costs them millions in lost investment. ​Join the Canadian Women's Chamber of Commerce for an unfiltered and deeply needed conversation during Toronto Tech Week as we bring together investors, founders, and ecosystem leaders to examine one of the most persistent barriers in entrepreneurship: bias in investment decision‑making. #TorontoTechWeek

16:00-18:00 ◦ Beyond the Bubble: An Intimate Chat with Will Hsu and Alex Norman

The biggest seed-stage wins of the last decade didn't come from Sand Hill Road. ​Honey — sold for $4B — was built in LA, ServiceTitan — a $9B Nasdaq IPO — was built in Glendale, CA, and AuditBoard — acquired $3B - was built in Cerritos, CA. ​All three companies were backed in their first institutional rounds by William Hsu of Mucker Capital. Join us as ​Alex Norman leads the conversation on what Will looks for in founders, why geography is a feature not a limitation, and where he thinks the next breakout companies are coming from. #TorontoTechWeek

17:00-20:00 ◦ May Start Up Huddle

At Startup Huddle Toronto, we empower local founders and startups to share their innovative ideas and the challenges they face on their entrepreneurial journey. This is not just a presentation; it’s an opportunity for valuable feedback from a supportive audience eager to help you find solutions and enhance your skills for growth. ​Each event features one or two founders who will captivate us with six-minute presentations about their businesses, inviting collaboration and insight into their unique challenges or ideas. The purpose is to elevate the entrepreneurial journey.

17:30-20:00 ◦ OneEleven Pitch Showcase: Toronto Tech Week Edition

As part of Toronto Tech Week, join us at OneEleven for a special edition of our Pitch Showcase, bringing together some of the city’s most exciting startups and the people shaping Canada’s innovation ecosystem. ​This curated evening will feature four high-potential companies presenting to a room of founders, investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders. Set against the backdrop of a week dedicated to celebrating Canadian tech, this event is designed to spark connection, surface opportunity, and highlight what’s next. #TorontoTechWeek

18:00-22:00 ◦ TechTO Summer Social

Join the Toronto tech community for a patio gathering. Come meet other community members and expand your professional tech network in an exclusive outdoor evening of networking, drinks, and great conversations with top investors, founders and tech leaders This gathering brings together the best minds in Canadian tech, so don't miss your chance to forge valuable connections. Meet people who can accelerate your career, learn information that can advance your company, and celebrate the achievements. Enjoy some delicious food and drinks, on us.

09:30-11:00 ◦