Copy of Don't wait until 2026 to apply for these opportunities ending in January
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!, and welcome to 2026! To open the year, why not apply to U of T's Hult Prize 2026 to join student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts as they work to earn a spot in the Hult Prize global finals and $1M in funding. Applications end this Sunday, so don't delay!


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.



SUNDAY - U of T Hult Prize 2026


Each year, the Hult Prize empowers students all around the world to create innovative startups that can create real impact. Participants join an exclusive global community of student entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry experts as they work to earn a spot in the global finals where finalists compete for $1M in funding to bring their big ideas to life. Whether you’re looking to take your existing startup to the next level or are inspired to build a brand new business, we invite you to participate.


Apply now - Parkdale Centre for Innovation Fall 2025 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 Incubator Program


DMZ formally onboards Incubator startups twice a year (fall and spring), with applications open year-round. Be one of the ten to fourteen companies — never one of hundreds — to scale alongside driven, battle-tested founders who know what it takes. Unlike traditional accelerators, DMZ’s Incubator is designed to meet you where you are, so you can scale faster on your terms. You'll get a custom growth plan, unlimited meetings with our experts for strategic guidance, fractional support and mentoring, as well as fundraising and investor access, global exposure and media opportunities, exclusive perks and partner benefits (including $1M+ in tech credits, discounts, and resources), and a top-tier workspace with a vibrant founder community.


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 - 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!

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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

Monday

18:00-21:00 ◦ TechTO Together Toronto


Join TechTO for in-depth conversations with tech leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Learn how top leaders overcome obstacles and why success isn’t linear. Discover strategies for turning setbacks into growth opportunities. Get inspired by powerful stories of resilience and perseverance. Unlock exclusive access to speakers and the tech community. Network and connect over great food and unique event perks.

Tuesday

15:30-17:00 ◦ FemSTEM 2026 Kickoff Event and Panel


Join U of T's Health Innovation Hub as we kickoff the FemSTEM 2026 event series! This year’s kickoff will feature both a panel, and an interactive discussion and networking session. The panel will feature three incredible healthtech entrepreneurs: Mary Aglipay, Ibukun Elebute and Dr. Alexia Kirby. We invite you to join us and hear about their journeys and experiences commercializing in the health care sector. We’ll dive into their entrepreneurial beginnings and answer questions from the audience! All are welcome to join: students, faculty, alumni, founders, aspiring innovators and members of the H2i community!


18:00-20:00 ◦ Built in Canada: U of T’s hottest startups at the bleeding edge of health and AI


Come join fellow U of T alumni founders, investors and operators for an evening celebrating U of T's leadership at the intersection of health and AI innovation. Across U of T, new ventures in health and AI are accelerating discoveries, transforming care and redefining what’s possible. But who are the bold thinkers behind these breakthroughs and what are they building next? Join us for a dynamic evening of startup spotlights, fast-pitch demos and idea exchange with the entrepreneurs, researchers and investors pushing the boundaries of AI today. A networking mixer will follow. Reserve your spot now to hear the insights and frontline perspectives you won’t find anywhere else.

Wednesday

18:30-19:30 ◦ How to Apply to Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program


Are you ready to launch your business? Join our business development manager's webinar that will guide you through our application process. During this webinar you'll learn about the eligibility criteria for Futurpreneur's Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program and the next steps to move your application forward, connect with the business development manager in your region, and discover the free resources available to you.

Thursday

16:00-18:00 ◦ Women Founders Night


Meet and share your experiences with other women founders! 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.

Saturday

09:30-11:00 ◦ Founders Running Club: Easy 5–10K Run and Talks


Founders Running Club brings founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking. We like to be comfortable when we run and finish with coffee and conversations. Choose your pace or follow a pacer. Pets, friends, family, are welcome.

This Techsta