The Startup Ecosystem of Canada

Canada’s startup scene is already impressive, but it has even more potential. Considering the active approach by its efficient public sector to develop startup ecosystems, and a relative abundance of resources, there is no reason Canada should not take an even more substantial role in producing massive global hubs. For this to happen, there will have to be more Canadian startups with global impact, like those built in the neighboring United States. The climate for entrepreneurship in Canada is promising, with attractive incentives like the Startup Visa Program, the ​​Global Skills Strategy, and the promise of one of the most educated workforce in the world.
Two examples tell a powerful story of Canada’s opportunities and challenges. The first is Slack. Originally a Vancouver based startup, Slack is now headquartered and operating in Canada’s neighbor and competitor, the US. The second is Shopify, an ecommerce platform behemoth founded in Ottawa and built by a German immigrant founder. The lessons to draw here are that Canada should continue to make sure its most talented entrepreneurs remain in the country while also working on attracting high quality foreign talent. The market-oriented economic system, high standard of living, native English language, and proximity to the US all make the country attractive.
Canada also boasts a strong network of stakeholders that work on developing and promoting its startup ecosystems. At the city and regional level, initiatives from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Kingston Economic Development, Calgary Economic Development, and Markham City have had great impact in mapping and attracting investment to their respective ecosystems. Generally speaking, on the provincial level, Onatrio’s public sector has been leading the race to develop ecosystems as a core economic development activity. Other provinces, although active, have yet to dedicate significant resources toward startup ecosystem development, which might explain the substantial and relatively recently created gap between Ontario startup ecosystems and those of other Canadian provinces. Other national initiatives, such as Startup Ecosystem Canada and Startup Canada, are also working to connect ecosystem stakeholders in the country.
With resounding success stories like Shopify and the global recognition provided by initiatives like the Collision Conference, Canada’s startup ecosystems are raising the bar.