Toronto has one of the largest startup ecosystem in Canada and North America.
Toronto saw CA$3.7 billion (US$2.7 billion) in investments in 2022, more than double the CA$1.5 billion (US$1.1 billion) raised in 2019. PointClickCare Technologies, one of the largest private Canadian software vendors, was valued at over $5 billion in July 2022, making it the ecosystem’s highest valued unicorn. Combining Canada’s immigration-friendly policies, leading innovation hubs and world-class post-secondary institutions, Toronto is a great city to start and grow any business idea you may have.
The Toronto region is home to many enablers of innovation and a network of innovation hubs that offer programs designed to advance entrepreneurial ambition and generate globally competitive enterprises. With over 2,000 technology startups spread across the region, Toronto is a magnet for entrepreneurs and has a growing ecosystem of networks that support R&D and commercialization.
Explore the City’s map of Accelerators, Incubators and Coworking Spaces that offer a range of services and strategic partnerships to support sectors from technology and life sciences to food and beverage manufacturing, fashion, design and music. These organizations have helped some of North America’s leading start-ups grow by connecting them with capital, talent and professional development.
Toronto is one of the most livable and competitive cities in the world as demonstrated by various international rankings and reports. For example:
Toronto is also consistently ranked as one of the most diverse cities in the world. More than half of Toronto’s population is made up of residents born outside of Canada, with more than 230 nationalities and more than 190 languages spoken in the city. This intersection of people and talent has made Toronto a preeminent place for startups to develop, prosper and grow.
In the last decade, the number of accelerators and incubators has greatly increased, with 17 arriving since 2015 alone. The 2021 report A City of Entrepreneurs: Building a City of Innovation, which surveyed 36 of these hubs, reveals a thriving community. Collectively, the surveyed hubs support more than 5,000 ventures in software and creative industries as well as in burgeoning fields, like cleantech, green construction and advanced manufacturing.
Discover competitions and funding options including investment, debt and grants.
Browse and attend events and workshops on in-demand small business and startup topics, learn from a wealth of experienced subject matter expertise that are hosted by the City of Toronto and ecosystem partners.