A look back at 2019's milestones in building one Canada for entrepreneurs, from coast to coast to coast.
December 2019
STARTUP CANADA
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW
Dear Startup Canadians,
Canadian entrepreneurship is set to scale to new heights in 2020. Before we launch into a new year for building one Canada for entrepreneurs, we want to wholeheartedly thank each and every one of you for your support of Canada's entrepreneurship community in 2019.
From new partners and team members to new programs and communities, 2019 was a year of achievement, reflection, and growth for Startup Canada and the Canadian entrepreneurial ecosystem.
In the highlights and memories below, we celebrate the very best in Canadian entrepreneurship and display the achievements of everyone in the entrepreneurial community on the pedestals they deserve. A commitment to advancing an inclusive entrepreneurial economy is the foundation for our future, and for our competitiveness as a nation on the global stage.
With gratitude this holiday season, everyone at Startup Canada wishes you a safe and happy holiday, and a joyous New Year!
International Women’s Month in March 2019 was a time to not only reflect on the incredible contributions women entrepreneurs have made to Canada, but to also celebrate the increasing trend of women entrepreneurs founding, leading, and growing their businesses.
10 Startup Canada Communities connected and inspired women entrepreneurs, through local, high-impact entrepreneurship events engaging government and industry for International Women’s Month.
Startup Canada and OnDeck Canada® also announced the recipients of the 2019 Startup Canada Women Founders Fund, which provides micro-grants to women-led STEM companies in Canada to help them start and grow their businesses while accelerating gender parity.
With seven regional winners of $2,500 from across the country and one national winner of $25,000, there were tens of thousands of reasons to smile about going global! Just ask Jalisa Luces-Mendes, the Founder and Owner of Toni Marlow Clothing and winner of the 2019 Canadian Export Challenge Final Showdown!
Meet the winners here, and click the links below to watch and see photos from each of the
1-Day Accelerators!
Each week in 2019, we dove into the top issues and trends for entrepreneurs starting and scaling new businesses, and learned from expert advisors while plugging into Canada’s most extensive entrepreneur network, reaching over 2.2B.
In 2019, The Startup Canada Podcast celebrated Canada’s entrepreneurship community and grew to over 170,000 listeners, giving a glimpse into the future of business, work, social innovation, investing, and going global.
In 2019, The THRIVE Podcast for Women Entrepreneurs grew to over 30,000 listeners and shared insights from experts, entrepreneurs, and organizations to help women entrepreneurs build thriving businesses.
In November, nearly 100 Startup Canada Ecosystem Leaders convened in Calgary to attend the Startup Calgary Launch Party, and participated in a three-day summit presented with the support of Sovereign Insurance and Ceridian, along with the Business Development Bank of Canada. Click here to view the photos of this event uniting Canada as a nation for entrepreneurs and as a beacon for inclusive progress globally.
Startup Canada released the findings of the 2018 Canadian Entrepreneurship Census Survey to its network of 250,000 entrepreneurs to provide a snapshot of what Canada’s 3.5 million entrepreneurs need to create an environment that supports their growth and impact.
Startup Canada, in partnership with the TruShield Insurance Entrepreneur Success Advisory Council , released Framing, Avoiding, and Overcoming Failure, a report that uncovers how Canadian entrepreneurs view failure while sharing how organizations can help entrepreneurs overcome business challenges as they start and scale.
In partnership with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), Startup Canada launched the second edition of Resources for Women Entrepreneurs, a must-read guide to support the growth of women-owned companies.
In the lead up to the 2019 federal election, Startup Canada partnered with Intuit Canada to give entrepreneurs a voice and to support entrepreneurs to make informed decisions.
Entrepreneurs, startups and small business owners across Canada met local candidates, learned their plans for supporting small business success, and made informed decisions during the 2019 Federal Election.
