The startup picture in Toronto

Startups in Toronto - Funding, Founders & Investors

Everything startup in one place: who's building, how the landscape clusters, the people and investors behind it, and whether the capital is real.

Brookfield Asset Management

Global Asset Management with Renewable Energy Focus

est. 1899 · 200,000 staff · raised outside money

Josh Raffaelli — Managing Partner

Paul Lepage — Managing Director · Icd.D University of Toronto

Weston

Weston Retail & Real Estate Expansion

est. 1882 · 198,000 staff · raised outside money

Galen Weston — CEO

Scotiabank

Scotiabank Digital Banking Platform

est. 1832 · 88,645 staff · raised outside money

Brian Porter — CEO

John Medland — Managing Director · Bachelor of Commerce Queen’s University

Royal Bank of Canada

AI-driven personalized financial advisory service

est. 1864 · 79,308 staff · raised outside money

David I Mckay — CEO & President

Michael Detje — Managing Director

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation

Pharmacy Retailer with Online Presence

est. 1962 · 53,367 staff · raised outside money

Mike Motz — Ex-President

Fairfax Financial Holdings

Fairfax Financial Holdings: Property & Casualty Insurance

est. 1985 · 38,040 staff · raised outside money

Prem Watsa — Founder & Chairman · BEng IIT Madras

Manulife

Manulife: Improving Lives with Traditional Approach

est. 1887 · 34,000 staff · raised outside money

Roy Gori — CEO

Paul R Lorentz — CEO

Air Canada

Air Canada: Traditional Airline with Low-Cost Brand

est. 1937 · 30,000 staff · raised outside money

Calin Rovinescu — CEO

Amee Chande —

Brookfield Property Partners

Developer of infrastructure and commercial real estate projects

est. 2013 · 29,600 staff · raised outside money

Brian Kingston — CEO

Canadian Tire

Canadian Tire: Traditional Retail with Digital Expansion

est. 1922 · 29,170 staff · raised outside money

Stephanie Wetmore — Managing Director

Greg Hicks — CEO

FirstService

FirstService Residential and Brands Expansion

est. 1989 · 27,000 staff · raised outside money

Scott Patterson — CEO & President

Rogers

Leading provider of wireless, internet, TV, home monitoring, and home phone services.

est. 1935 · 24,500 staff · raised outside money

Tony Staffieri — CEO

Thomson Reuters

Legal & Tax AI SaaS Platform

est. 2008 · 24,400 staff · raised outside money

Richard Smith — Co-Founder

Kirk Koenigsbauer —

Sun Life Financial

WeHealth Preferred: Sustainable Insurance for a Financially Secured Future

est. 1865 · 21,495 staff · raised outside money

Dean Connor — Ex-CEO & President

Tarun Sareen — Managing Director

Sears Canada

Sears Canada Retail Operations

est. 1952 · 17,000 staff · raised outside money

Robert Simpson — Ex-Founder

Bank of Montreal

Global Retail Banking Services

est. 1817 · 16,217 staff · raised outside money

Richard B. Myers — Managing Director

Nandita Bakhshi — CEO

Constellation Software

Software solutions for the spacecraft industry

est. 1995 · 14,335 staff · raised outside money

Mark Leonard — President

Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods: A Traditional Food Company with Strong Values

est. 1991 · 14,000 staff · raised outside money

Michael McCain — CEO & President

Cbihealth

CBI Health is a community health care provider that offers rehabilitation and home health services.

est. 1974 · 13,000 staff · raised outside money

Chris Szybbo — CEO

Intact Ventures

Intact Investment Management (IIM) is a growing team of in-house investment professionals.

est. 1809 · 13,000 staff · raised outside money

Charles Brindamour — CEO

University Health Network

Advanced Multidisciplinary Research Hospital

est. 1998 · 12,322 staff · raised outside money

Kevin Smith — President & CEO

Bell Media

Digital Media Expansion Strategy

est. 2011 · 12,253 staff · raised outside money

Randy Lennox — CEO & President

Dayforce

Developer of human capital management software providing HR and talent solutions

est. 2008 · 9,427 staff · raised outside money

David — Founder & CEO

Unity Health Toronto

Chain of general clinics

est. 2017 · 9,116 staff · raised outside money

Tim Rutledge — CEO

cluster · 6680 companies

Business Services

1249 founded since 2018 · 232 funded

Sub-themes

marketing services · 1820it services · 1220hr services · 852management consulting services · 655legal services · 400event management services · 301

e.g. Constellation Software, US Tech Solutions, taxi

cluster · 3506 companies

Enterprise Applications

1161 founded since 2018 · 621 funded

Sub-themes

marketingtech · 741hrtech · 641enterprise software · 536saas · 521sales force automation · 252artificial intelligence · 196

e.g. Thomson Reuters, Bell Media, harris computer systems

cluster · 3393 companies

Consumer

883 founded since 2018 · 355 funded

Sub-themes

b2c e-commerce · 513professional consumer services · 509fashion tech · 455local services · 279social platforms · 277logistics tech · 194

e.g. cineplex entertainment, Wattpad, Arbor Memorial

cluster · 2119 companies

Retail

714 founded since 2018 · 282 funded

Sub-themes

fashion tech · 460b2c e-commerce · 227internet first brands · 195e-commerce enablers · 193beauty tech · 182horizontal e-commerce · 129

e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation, Canadian Tire, Sears Canada

cluster · 1867 companies

Real Estate And Construction

337 founded since 2018 · 71 funded

Sub-themes

real estate brokers · 516real estate & infrastructure developers · 305architects · 174building materials · 167facility management services · 147interior designers · 112

e.g. Brookfield Property Partners, FirstService, Avison Young

cluster · 1845 companies

Fintech

862 founded since 2018 · 453 funded

Sub-themes

investment tech · 547cryptocurrencies · 331payments · 253alternative lending · 201finance & accounting tech · 198banking tech · 130

e.g. harris computer systems, wsib, PolicyMe

cluster · 1801 companies

Media & Entertainment

375 founded since 2018 · 193 funded

Sub-themes

internet first media · 453film & tv studios · 428social platforms · 215internet first news publishers · 96online event ticketing · 92ott video · 91

e.g. Rogers, shaw media, cineplex entertainment

cluster · 1555 companies

Financial Services

268 founded since 2018 · 157 funded

Sub-themes

asset management · 513services for investment industry · 263finance & accounting services · 148consumer and sme loans · 108service providers to banks · 100insurance carriers · 93

e.g. Brookfield Asset Management, Weston, Scotiabank

cluster · 1555 companies

Healthcare

364 founded since 2018 · 180 funded

Sub-themes

clinics · 237services for healthcare providers · 167rehabilitation and long-term care · 160clinic chains · 137cannabis brands and retailers · 111biopharma outsourcing · 100

e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation, Cbihealth, University Health Network

cluster · 1429 companies

Healthtech

611 founded since 2018 · 350 funded

Sub-themes

healthcare it · 512fitness & wellness tech · 253healthcare booking platforms · 250disease self management · 158life sciences tech · 103cannabis healthtech · 95

e.g. morneau shepell, GSC, Benchsci

Founder & Background	Role	Company
Paul Lepage Ex-CEO Intelerad Medical Systems, Bluestreak Technologies, MediSolution, LocusDialog. Polytechnique Montréal, Concordia University	Managing Director	Brookfield Asset Management
Adrian Letts Brookfield Asset Management, ex-Ovo Energy, ex-Tesco, University of Sydney, 1995	Managing Director	Brookfield Asset Management
Richard Ingram CEO RJ Advisory, Modulaire Group, ex-CEO Diploma. The University of Manchester BSc, University of Warwick - Warwick Business Schoo	Managing Director	Brookfield Asset Management
Craig Noble Ex-BMO Financial Group. Mount Allison University BCom 1996, Schulich School of Business - York University MBA 1999	Managing Partner	Brookfield Asset Management
Anish Jain Scientific Games, ex-Greenergy, ex-Cardone Industries, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania	Managing Director	Brookfield Asset Management
Alex Yang Ex-TPG Capital, Olympus Capital, Morgan Stanley, Kirkland & Ellis. Peking University LLB, University of Minnesota Law School JD, U	Managing Director	Brookfield Asset Management
Natalie Adomait Brookfield Asset Management, ex-Grand M, ex-Student Roost, Carleton University	Managing Partner	Brookfield Asset Management
Ron Bloom Cleveland Cliffs, ex-Westinghouse Electric, ex-Brandsafway, Harvard Business School, 1985	Vice Chairman & Managing Partner	Brookfield Asset Management
John Medland Head of Advisory - Paradigm Capital	Managing Director	Scotiabank
Prem Watsa IIT Madras BEng, University of Western Ontario MBA	Founder & Chairman	Fairfax Financial Holdings
Amee Chande The University Of British Columbia, ex-Thumbtack, ex-Livingbridge, Harvard Business School		Air Canada
Brian Kingston Ex-E&Y. Queen's University B.comm 1998	CEO	Brookfield Property Partners
Dean Connor Ex-Mercer. The University of Western Ontario 1978	Ex-CEO & President	Sun Life Financial
Kevin Smith University Health Network, ex-Canada Foundation For Innovation, ex-The Wellcome Trust London, University of Sussex, 1998	President & CEO	University Health Network
Randy Lennox Universal Musicc	CEO & President	Bell Media
David Ex-Founder Workbrain, LifeWorks, Ceridian Dayforce. University of Toronto BA 1988, Harvard Business School MBA 1992	Founder & CEO	Dayforce
Graham Rosenberg Ex-Northview Apartment REIT, MDC Partners, Clairvest Group, PWC. Schulich School of Business MBA 1986	Founder & CEO	Dentalcorp
Shehzad Janmohamed Ex-Credit Suisse, RBS Markets and International Banking. The London School of Economics and Political Science BSc 2006	CEO	Soul Foods Group
Charles Brown Lifelabs Medical Laboratory Services, ex-Bell, ex-The Source, University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management	President and CEO	LifeLabs
Jeff Lyash Ex-CB&I, Owner Navitas Consulting Group, Duke Energy Corporation, Progress Energy. Drexel University BS 1984, Duke University 199	CEO & President	Ontario Power Generation

backgrounds shown where available

121 investors are on record backing Toronto companies. The most committed:

Most active — backed 2+ companies

Canadian Space Agency

TD Bank

HSBC

Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec

CPP Investments

Bain Capital Private Equity

JPMorgan Chase

Argo Partners

Deutsche Bank

BMO Capital Markets

Scotiabank

National Bank of Canada

Institutional

Durable Capital Partners · VC fund195 Capital Partners · VC fundBridgescale · VC fundAccelerator Centre · accelerator / incubatorRGAX · VC fundOneEleven · accelerator / incubatorNeapeg · VC fund

Private & corporate backers

Canadian Space AgencyTD BankHSBCCaisse de depot et placement du QuebecCPP InvestmentsBain Capital Private EquityJPMorgan ChaseArgo PartnersDeutsche BankBMO Capital Markets+ 104 more

hover a name to see who they backed

Funded startups — peer cities

Toronto

3,984

Vancouver

2,977

1,263Montreal

1,201Calgary

532Ottawa

Companies that have raised

Company	Industry	Rounds	Latest Round	Founded
Mattamy Homes	construction	1	2016-12	1978
Avison Young	real estate	7	2024-04	1978
ECN Capital	financial services	1	2017-05	2007
Equitable Bank	financial services	6	2019-09	1970
iLobby	business/productivity software	1	2021-01	2015
Intact Ventures	insurance	5	2023-09	1809
Enablence	telecommunications	27	2025-04	2003
Tim Hortons	food & beverages	2	2020-05	1964
Timbercreek Financial	financial services	3	2018-11	2016
Whiterockreit	real estate	2	2010-09	2005
ViXS	semiconductors	5	2016-11	2000
Syndesis	telecommunications	1	1999-06	1987
Dream Payments	financial software	7	2020-06	2014
Strikingly	internet	6	2018-09	2009
Paradigm	consumer electronics	2	2005-09	1982
MaxSold	retail	4	2022-03	1956
Shakudo	business/productivity software	3	2023-07	2021
Layer2 Financial	financial software	1	2024-03	2021
Flash Forest	environmental services (b2b)	5	2023-04	2019
NewStep Networks	computer software	1	2008-01	2003
Axela	biotechnology	5	2017-10	2001
Loop Financial	computer software	2	2024-09
Edesa Biotech	biotechnology	3	2025-02	2015
Medifocus	biotechnology	3	2014-08	2005
Abaxx Technologies	financial services	1	2025-10	2018

round amounts sparse for tier-3 cities — counts shown, dollar totals withheld

Company	Industry	Founded	Employees
Tartan App	computer & network security	2026	—
Namkart	retail	2026	—
CGX AI	computer software	2026	—
Bloor AI	computer software	2026	—
Vertica	computer software	2026	—
Emergency Plumber	construction	2026	—
All Hubs	internet	2026	—
Archetypal Images	graphic design	2026	—
Bondwithhealth	health, wellness and fitness	2026	—
Burlapp Car	automotive	2026	—
Calligrascape	e-learning	2026	—
Cashierloan	financial services	2026	—
Finding Frenzy	online media	2026	—
Funnel Whiz Studio	marketing and advertising	2026	—
Signature Nine	online media	2026	—
Data With Baraa	e-learning	2026	—
You Know I Got Soul	music	2026	—
Elevate	marketing and advertising	2026	—
Jacknife Design	design	2026	—
LabCloud	computer software	2026	—

The startup picture in Toronto

Brookfield Asset Management

Weston

Scotiabank

Royal Bank of Canada

Shoppers Drug Mart Corporation

Fairfax Financial Holdings

Manulife

Air Canada

Brookfield Property Partners

Canadian Tire

FirstService

Rogers

Thomson Reuters

Sun Life Financial

Sears Canada

Bank of Montreal

Constellation Software

Maple Leaf Foods

Cbihealth

Intact Ventures

University Health Network

Bell Media

Dayforce

Unity Health Toronto

Business Services

Enterprise Applications

Consumer

Retail

Real Estate And Construction

Fintech

Media & Entertainment

Financial Services

Healthcare

Healthtech

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