InvestorEmpowering early-stage innovation in Canada.
The startup scene in Canada
Ottawa is associated with a regional technology ecosystem that the Government of Canada reported included 1,800 technology companies and more than 88,000 technology workers in the Ottawa region as of its March 3, 2025 announcement; these figures describe the region, not necessarily the city proper. The same announcement reported more than $270 million in federal support for nearly 250 Ottawa-region projects since 2015. [29363]
About
Ottawa is associated with a regional technology ecosystem that the Government of Canada reported included 1,800 technology companies and more than 88,000 technology workers in the Ottawa region as of its March 3, 2025 announcement; these figures describe the region, not necessarily the city proper. The same announcement reported more than $270 million in federal support for nearly 250 Ottawa-region projects since 2015. [29363]
Kinaxis identifies Ottawa as its founding and headquarters location and describes its business as supply-chain technology; its company history dates its founding to 1984 and its Toronto Stock Exchange listing to 2014. [29359] Shopify announced in October 2014 that it had moved its headquarters to 150 Elgin Street in Ottawa; this is a historical headquarters move and does not establish its current headquarters or founding location. [29360]
The Government of Canada reported that Ottawa-region semiconductor company InPho received $3 million to commercialize fiber-optic chips; the announcement does not establish a city-proper location for the company. [29364]
Startup ecosystem standing
Where Ottawa ranks
| Ranking | Edition | Position | Since last edition | Trust | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Global Startup Ecosystem Index (cities) | 2025 | #86 | No prior edition | B | Ecosystem, Activity, Finance, Business Climate |
 Global Innovation Index: Innovation Cluster Ranking (formerly Science and Technology Clusters) | 2023 | #95 | No prior edition | B | Innovation, Research, Activity |
 Emerging Ecosystems Ranking (GSER Top 100) | 2026 | 61 to 70 | No prior edition | C | Ecosystem, Performance, Finance, Talent |
38 organizations with a profile
Who's based in Ottawa
Investors 24
Investor
InvestorEmpowering founders in enterprise AI.
InvestorInvesting in cleantech solutions for a cleaner natural gas future.
The 3 most prominent of 24. Browse all investors
Incubators 8
IncubatorA hub for entrepreneurship and innovation in Ottawa.
IncubatorEmpowering visionaries in the Internet Computer ecosystem.
IncubatorFostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Canada.
The 3 most prominent of 8. Browse all incubators
Accelerators 6
AcceleratorAccelerating B2B SaaS startups in Canada.
AcceleratorEmpowering women tech founders to secure investment.
AcceleratorEmpowering brokers for business success.
The 3 most prominent of 6. Browse all accelerators
Based here, most-ranked first
Universities in Ottawa
UniversityListed in 1 ranking
Pick what describes you
Your way in
Raising in Ottawa
Investors based here, and the programs that take teams at your stage.
Get investor introsFinding startups in Ottawa
Accelerators and incubators here see the earliest teams first.
Get startups that fitScouting in Ottawa
Campuses and communities are where teams form before anyone funds them.
Start scoutingFrom public sources
What the sources say about Ottawa
The federal government's March 2025 announcement says Ottawa-region semiconductor company InPho received $3 million to commercialize fiber-optic chips.
Source: Government of Canada investments to support Ottawa region AI and tech businessesThe federal agency reports more than $270 million in support for nearly 250 Ottawa-region projects since 2015.
Source: Government of Canada investments to support Ottawa region AI and tech businessesThe federal agency's March 2025 announcement reports 1,800 tech companies and over 88,000 tech workers across the Ottawa region.
Source: Government of Canada investments to support Ottawa region AI and tech businessesShopify announced in October 2014 that it moved its headquarters to 150 Elgin Street in Ottawa.
Source: Shopify Moves Ottawa Headquarters to 150 Elgin StreetKinaxis's company history dates its founding to 1984 and its Toronto Stock Exchange IPO to 2014.
Source: About KinaxisKinaxis identifies Ottawa as its founding and headquarters location.
Source: About Kinaxis
Questions about Ottawa
How does Ottawa rank as a startup ecosystem?
Ottawa is #86 of 1,473 in StartupBlink Index (cities) (2025). It appears in 3 published rankings; the table above lists each one.
How many startup investors are based in Ottawa?
24 investors based in Ottawa have a profile here, including Capital Angel Network, Mistral and NGIF Capital. The real number is higher.
Are there accelerators or incubators in Ottawa?
Yes. Ottawa has 6 accelerators and 8 incubators on record, including L-SPARK Startup Accelerator 🇨🇦 and Cours Bayview Yards.
Which universities are in Ottawa?
One university has a profile: University of Ottawa.
Geographic proximity
Nearby cities to Ottawa
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