Startup Funding in Ontario: Directory of Funding & Support Sources

This page is a directory of sources of funding that support startup entrepreneurs in Ontario. The page will be regularly updated to ensure that funding sources are current. 

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🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting All Entrepreneurs

Organization	What They Do
Chambers of Commerce	Offer networking events, educational opportunities, and a platform for members to access resources and support.
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)	Business owners work with the municipality to jointly organize and fund initiatives, such as beautification projects, community events, and marketing campaigns to attract businesses, shoppers, and tourists to their area.
Small Business Enterprise Centres (SBECs)	Provincial network of 54 offices in Ontario towns and cities offering one-stop startup help.
Community Futures (CFs) offices	Provincial network of 60 offices in Ontario rural areas offering advice and growth financing.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Black Entrepreneurs

Organization	What They Do
Afro-Caribbean Business Network (ACBN)	Network that builds capacity and funding access for Black business owners.
BKR Capital	Early-stage VC investing in Black founders; Toronto & Montréal offices with national reach.
Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA)	National Black-led charity advancing economic prosperity for Black Canadians.
Black Business Initiative	Atlantic Canada’s Black-led business development org offering counselling, training, mentorship and capital access.
Black Entrepreneurship Alliance	Partnership supporting Black founders with programming and community.
Black Founders Network	U of T community for Black founders to access capital, community, and capacity-building.
Black Opportunity Fund	Charity mobilizing capital and capacity for Black communities.
Black Women Professional Coop (BWP Coop)	Ontario-based, provincially registered multi-stakeholder co-op empowering Black women through community, training, and finance literacy.
BlackTech Capital	Toronto-based pre-seed/seed fund backing underrepresented founders in climate/cleantech.
Canadian Black Chamber Of Commerce (Cbcc)	Black-led chamber supporting Black-owned businesses across Canada.
DMZ – Black Innovation Programs (Toronto Metropolitan University)	University incubator’s dedicated streams for Black founders.
Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE)	National nonprofit administering the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund.
Futurpreneur	National non-profit organization providing young Canadian entrepreneurs with loan financing, mentorship, and resources to start or buy a business. For young black entrepreneurs, Futurpreneur offers startup financing plus up to two years of mentorship tailored for Black founders.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Farmers

Organization	What They Do
Agricultural Information Contact Centre, OMAFRA	Staffed provincial helpline/email that answers farmer questions and provides referrals.
Beef Farmers of Ontario (BFO)	Producer organization providing direct assistance and staff contacts.
Bioenterprise Canada	National agri-food innovation hub (HQ in Guelph) offering advisory & connections.
Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO)	Accredited farm organization with staff available for member inquiries.
Ecological Farmers Association of Ontario (EFAO)	Peer-to-peer farmer network with staff and mentors providing direct support.
Farm & Food Care Ontario	Non-profit that assists farmers with public outreach & training (Speak Up, resources); staff available.
Farm Credit Canada (FCC)	Federal Crown lender with local Relationship Managers and a complimentary Advisory Services team for farm transition planning. (Farm Credit Canada)
Farmers’ Markets Ontario (FMO)	Provincial resource that supports market managers & vendors; answers vendor questions directly.
Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO)	Commodity organization with staff who assist members and answer inquiries.
National Farmers Union – Ontario (NFU-O)	Accredited farm organization offering member support and direct assistance by phone/email.
Ontario Agri-Food Venture Centre (OAFVC)	Shared-use food manufacturing centre with staff who coach clients through production scale-up.
Ontario Beekeepers’ Association	Extension & advisory program for beekeepers with field and workshop support.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA)	Accredited general farm organization with Member Service Representatives (MSRs) who help farmers directly.
Ontario Sheep Farmers (OSF)	Producer-run organization with staff available to assist producers.
Ontario Soil & Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA)	Non-profit delivering on-farm stewardship programs (e.g., Environmental Farm Plan) with staff support.
Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens (UCFO)	Francophone accredited organization offering assistance and referrals in French.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Indigenous Entrepreneurs

Organization	What They Do
Canadian Council for Indigenous Business (CCIB)	National Indigenous business org offering tools, procurement programs, and member support with direct staff contacts.
First Nations Agriculture & Finance Ontario (FNAFO)	Ontario Indigenous non-profit providing farm/agribusiness financing, training, and extension services.
Futurpreneur	National non-profit organization providing young Canadian entrepreneurs with loan financing, mentorship, and resources to start or buy a business. For young Indigenous entrepreneurs, Futurpreneur offers startup financing plus up to two years of mentorship tailored for Indigenous founders.
Indian Agricultural Program of Ontario (IAPO)	Direct farm business financing and advisory for Status First Nations in Ontario.
Indigenous Services Canada – Indigenous Business Navigator	Federal one-window concierge that connects Indigenous businesses to funding, procurement and advisory programs.
Indigenous Tourism Ontario (ITO)	Provincial industry org providing one-on-one business advisory (IBA), training, and referrals.
Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO)	Central “Navigator” line plus regional offices; self-employment programming and entrepreneurship supports.
Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (NADF)	IFI serving Northern Ontario entrepreneurs and communities.
Tecumseh Community Development Corporation (TCDC)	IFI serving 10 First Nations in Southwestern Ontario.
Two Rivers Community Development Centre	Indigenous-controlled lender/advisor for entrepreneurs in southern/central ON.
Wakenagun Community Futures Development Corporation	Indigenous CFDC providing financing and one-on-one advisory in the Mushkegowuk/James Bay region.
Waubetek Business Development Corporation	Indigenous Financial Institution (IFI) offering financing and advisory supports.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Tech Entrepreneurs

Brampton Venture Zone by TMU	City-backed incubator delivering founder programs in Brampton.
Spark Centre	Durham Region’s tech incubator for scalable startups.
Launch Lab	Eastern Ontario RIC: “entrepreneurs helping entrepreneurs.”
NORCAT Innovation	Sudbury’s RIC supporting early-stage tech startups.
Boundless Accelerator (formerly Innovation Guelph)	Guelph/Wellington accelerator offering direct advisory & programs.
Haltech Regional Innovation Centre	Halton Region hub supporting new and growing tech startups.
Innovation Factory	Hamilton’s RIC helping innovators commercialize & grow.
The Forge (McMaster)	Hamilton-based university incubator open to the community.
TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario	London-region innovation hub supporting founders to start & scale.
Innovate Niagara	Niagara’s RIC offering advisory, programs, and networks.
IION – Innovation Initiatives Ontario North	North Bay-based RIC serving Nipissing, Timiskaming, Parry Sound & Muskoka.
Invest Ottawa	Capital city’s lead venture support org and accelerator at Bayview Yards.
L-SPARK (Ottawa/Kanata)	B2B SaaS-focused accelerator connecting founders to mentors & capital.
CENGN (Centre of Excellence in Next-Gen Networks)	Helps Canadian tech SMEs commercialize via infrastructure & expertise.
Altitude Accelerator (Peel Region)	Peel Region accelerator (formerly RIC Centre).
Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre	Direct advisory and programs for innovators in Algoma District.
Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre	Hands-on business support for innovators in Northwestern Ontario.
DMZ (Toronto Metropolitan University)	Global top-ranked tech incubator providing intensive founder support.
MaRS Discovery District	Canada’s largest urban innovation hub supporting high-growth tech ventures.
Communitech	Waterloo Region ecosystem hub helping founders start, grow, and succeed.
Velocity (University of Waterloo)	Incubator for early-stage tech startups with hands-on mentorship.
Accelerator Centre (Waterloo)	Award-winning private accelerator focused on long-term venture success.
WEtech Alliance	Windsor–Essex & Chatham–Kent RIC for tech-based companies.
ventureLAB	York Region’s RIC with deep hardware & medtech expertise.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Women Entrepreneurs

Organization	What They Do
Canadian Women’s Chamber of Commerce (CanWCC)	National chamber advancing women entrepreneurs with direct support, community and advocacy.
Communitech – Fierce Founders	Waterloo Region programs supporting women-led tech companies through bootcamps and community.
Futurpreneur	National non-profit organization providing young Canadian entrepreneurs with loan financing, mentorship, and resources to start or buy a business. For young women entrepreneurs, Futurpreneur offers networking events, peer communities and tailored workshops designed to help women start and grow businesses with confidence.
PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise	Ontario non-profit helping women start and grow businesses with advising, training, networks and financing.
SheBoot (Invest Ottawa & Capital Angel Network)	Ottawa-based investment-readiness bootcamp for women founders with hands-on coaching and investor prep.
Startup Women (Startup Canada)	National program providing year-round support with advisory circles, webinars, and interactive 1:1 meetings.
The Forum (formerly Forum for Women Entrepreneurs)	National charity offering mentorship and education for women entrepreneurs at every stage.
WBEC Canada (Women Business Enterprises Canada Council)	Certifies women-owned businesses and connects them with corporate/government buyers; offers advisory support.
WEConnect International – Canada	Global nonprofit connecting certified women-owned suppliers to buyers; Canada program includes advising and events.
WEOC – Women’s Enterprise Organizations of Canada	National umbrella with loan program and advisory delivered through partners; direct intake and support available.
Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH)	National knowledge hub hosted by TMU that connects women entrepreneurs to resources, data, events and support organizations.
YSpace ELLA (York University)	University-backed women-focused accelerators (Express, Ascend, Altitude) offering structured mentorship and training.
YW Kitchener-Waterloo – Integrated Holistic Career Services (formerly “In Her Shoes”)	Employment and entrepreneurship training pathway hosted at YW’s social-enterprise hub.
YWCA Hamilton – PowerUp (Milli Gould Entrepreneurial Centre)	Regional program offering training and coaching for women starting or growing businesses.
YWCA Muskoka – Women in Business / Enterprising Women	Community-based YWCA offering an entrepreneurship course and networking events for women in Muskoka.
YWCA Toronto – “Let’s Start Up” (Women Entrepreneurship Hub)	Free entrepreneurship training and coaching pathway for women and gender-diverse entrepreneurs.

🇨🇦 Startup Organizations Supporting Student & Youth Entrepreneurs

Organization	What They Do
Futurpreneur	National non-profit organization providing young Canadian entrepreneurs with loan financing, mentorship, and resources to start or buy a business. They offer specific program for black, Indigenous, and women entrepreneurs, as well as Core Startup and Side Hustle programs open to all Canadian youth (18-39)
Youth Employment Services (YES) – BizStart	Intensive entrepreneurship training and coaching for Toronto youth.