OTTAWA, CANADA – MAY 30, 2023 – Today, Startup Canada has announced Calgary and Brampton as the final two stops of their Startup Canada Tour, a five-stop national in-person event series connecting early stage entrepreneurs with local support organizations and industry experts to drive their businesses forward. 

Startup Canada Tour kicked off in Whitehorse on April 25, then travelled to connect with entrepreneurs in Halifax and Vancouver. In addition to the regional events bringing together a diverse group of early stage entrepreneurs with ecosystem support organizations, industry experts, and tools to aid in their growth and development, each stop also featured a ‘Pop-up’ Pitch Competition – an opportunity for local founders to compete for a $3,000 cash prize and a position in the Startup Global Pitch Competition Grand Finale in Brampton.

“During our first three Startup Canada Tour stops, we could hear directly from entrepreneurs about both the successes they’ve had and challenges they’ve faced in running their businesses over the last three years,” said Kayla Isabelle, CEO of Startup Canada. “At our Calgary and Brampton stops, we will be able to bring some of these stories to the forefront, highlighting areas where increased advocacy is needed from both the private and public sector to increase support for Canadian founders.” 

The final legs of the Tour will take place in Calgary on Thursday, September 28, at the BMO Centre at Stampede Park, and in Brampton on Thursday, October 26, at The Rose Brampton. The Brampton stop will be hosted both in-person and virtually, allowing entrepreneurs nationwide to tune in to all workshops, panels, keynote presentations, and the Startup Global Pitch Competition presentations. 

During the 2023 Startup Global Pitch Competition Grand Finale in Brampton, 10 entrepreneurs from across the country will present their businesses live on stage and compete for a cash prize pool of $70,000, and export support for launching their business internationally. Wild Card ‘Pop-up’ Pitches will also be held at the Calgary and Brampton stops, offering a $3,000 cash prize and an automatic spot in the Grand Finale in October. 

“It was great to connect with the local ecosystems that support startups. UPS was busy sharing our experience on and off the stage with the future of business in Canada and around the world”, says Paul Gaspar, director for small business at UPS Canada. “Entrepreneurship is very much alive and thriving across Canada, we’re thrilled to be a part of the tour not only to provide our expertise, but to learn from business leaders across the country.”

Startup Canada Tour is presented in partnership with UPS, with Air Canada as the exclusive airline partner, and with program support from BDC. The Tour is also presented with the help of our ecosystem partners, including: Brampton Innovation District, Canada’s 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), Alberta Women Entrepreneurs, the Forum, Futurpreneur, Moneris, OWNR, Revolution HER, University of Waterloo, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), and the Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada (WEOC).

“It is an absolute honour for Air Canada to support Startup Canada’s remarkable mission, says Idir Benkadoum, manager, B2B customer lifecycle at Air Canada. “By serving as their official airline, we have the privilege of enabling the entire team to travel across the country, empowering and celebrating the brilliance of Canadian startups and entrepreneurs.”

Early bird passes for Startup Canada Tour’s Calgary and Brampton stops are available now until July 28. Visit www.startupcanadatour.ca to learn more and get a pass for a stop near you!

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Media Contact

Jocelyn Courneya, Startup Canada 

jocelyn.courneya@startupcan.ca

Startup Canada is Canada’s entrepreneurship organization. Startup Canada promotes and supports the success and growth of Canada’s 2.3 million entrepreneurs, with a mandate to foster economic growth, competitiveness, and prosperity through entrepreneurship. Since launching, Startup Canada’s programming has directly supported more than 300,000 entrepreneurs and 50 grassroots Startup Community organizations. Working with over 750 ecosystem partners, including accelerators, incubators, research parks, educational institutions, economic development agencies, associations, and government programs, Startup Canada serves entrepreneurs from all backgrounds, industries, and stages of development, with a network reflective of Canada’s diverse population. Learn more at startupcan.ca.