Live north of Toronto? This opportunity could hit close to home!
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! Startup founders to the north-west of the city now have some support closer to home. DMZ last week announced its newest partnership, this time with the Town of Caledon to create a new program designed to reflect that region’s unique economic landscape and fuel local business growth.


DMZ and Caledon's new Humber River Centre Business Incubator Program is investing in local entrepreneurs by bringing world-class support and opportunity directly to them. Participants will be connected with customers, capital, experts, and a community of entrepreneurs and influencers to help create an environment where they can focus on scaling their business. Applications close July 10. Read on for more information.


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.


June 30 - Access to Success Labs Accelerator


Running from August to November, this program is for startups building solutions to help people with disabilities, including hardware, software or service-based innovations. To be eligible, you must have a minimal viable product, must have validated the problem, and must demonstrate co-creation with the disability community. In addition to programming, participants will receive cash grants totalling over $50K, pro-bono support from scientists, lawyers and experts totalling over $100K, as well as access to a global network of disability organizations, healthcare ecosystems, corporate partners, and advisors.


July 10 - Humber River Centre Business Incubator Program


Powered by DMZ, this program offers a twelve-week, hands-on curriculum tailored to the specific needs of participating entrepreneurs. The hybrid delivery model blends in-person programming at the state-of-the-art Humber River Centre in downtown Bolton with virtual components. Founders selected for the program will gain access to workshops, training sessions and one-on-one mentorship from industry experts in areas like business strategy, sales support, business development, marketing and more, as well as opportunities to connect and network at industry events with investors, business leaders and government stakeholders, access to 40+ specialized experts-in-residence from DMZ’s network, and a free coworking membership at the Humber River Centre.


July 25 - Creative Destruction Lab Toronto


Creative Destruction Lab's (CDL) Toronto programs provide startups with access to business development support from top business students at the Rotman School of Management, funding from leading VC firms, and resources to scale. In addition to its Quantum and Web3 programs, CDL Toronto includes programming geared towards founders pursuing applications surrounding AI and machine learning, advanced therapies solving biological, medical, and healthcare problems, space travel and research, and brain science. Participating startups attend five objective-setting sessions between October and June. CDL is a non-profit organization. There are no fees for participation and CDL does not take any equity.


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 - Parkdale Centre for Innovation Fall 2024 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 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!

Would a friend like this newsletter?

Like this newsletter? Share it!


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

Tuesday

13:00-15:00 ◦ My Canadian Startup by Futurepreneur


New to Canada? This virtual workshop will help you understand the fundamentals of starting, owning, and operating a small business, as well as the challenges and opportunities you may encounter on your entrepreneurial journey in Canada. During this workshop, you'll learn how to navigate cultural barriers, manage credit score and financing options, understand legal structures for businesses, and utilize Futurpreneur services.

Wednesday

08:30-15:30 ◦ Women's Entrepreneurship Forum 2025: Technology, Talent and Transformation


This event is designed to inspire, educate, and connect women entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey, offering a unique opportunity to enhance entrepreneurial skills, share valuable experiences, and build meaningful connections in a supportive and empowering environment. This year’s forum will explore how women entrepreneurs can leverage emerging technologies, tap into high-growth sectors, and refine their digital capabilities to drive business success. Key areas of focus include adopting new technologies such as AI to streamline operations and unlock new opportunities, exploring innovative industries with significant growth potential, and enhancing digital skills to stay competitive in an evolving business landscape, regardless of industry.


16:00-18:00 ◦ Women Founders Night


Join us for an empowering evening celebrating the innovation, resilience, and leadership of women entrepreneurs! This event brings together trailblazing women from diverse industries to share their stories, strategies, and insights. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, an aspiring founder, or simply passionate about supporting women in business, this event is the perfect opportunity to be inspired, network, and learn. Don’t miss out on this chance to celebrate and connect with some of the brightest minds in the entrepreneurial world. We look forward to seeing you there!​


17:30-20:30 ◦ Entrepreneur's Circle: Mini Dragon's Den Challenge


​Join us for an exciting evening of creative pitching and entrepreneurial thinking with our Mini Dragon's Den Challenge! You'll be placed in small teams and given a unique and unexpected product or service concept to develop and then deliver a compelling pitch to our panel of "dragons". ​This event is designed to spark creativity, build your impromptu pitching skills and, most importantly, have fun while connecting with fellow entrepreneurs. No real investment money is at stake, just bragging rights and prizes for the most compelling, creative, or entertaining pitches! ​This event is a gathering of our Entrepreneur's Circle, a community where you can be yourself, share your experiences, and build friendships with people who truly "get it".


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


Meet and get acquainted with startup founders, business professionals and investors. Pitch to the audience with your project and seize your chance to dive into the world of business, technology, and venture capital. Engage with leading experts and founders in tech and dusiness, and top investors to gain deep insights and valuable networking. This event is a must-attend for those looking to gain ideas, experience, and valuable connections. We also invite investors to our event to expand their network, get acquainted with new startups, evaluate them, provide their feedback, participate in discussions, and gain access to a database of new and promising startups from around the world.


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