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Canada
Become a Startup Scout
in
at
Toronto

Join the ranks of VC Startup scouts in Toronto. Seize the chance to contribute to the growth of innovative businesses, while simultaneously expanding your network and gaining unique industry insights.

About

Toronto is Canada's largest city and the hub of its startup ecosystem. The city is home to many innovative startups, venture capitalists, accelerators, and incubators that are making waves globally. Toronto's startup ecosystem is regarded as one of the fastest growing in the world.

A few examples of successful startups that originated in Toronto include Wattpad, a social storytelling platform that was recently sold for over $600 million to Naver, a South Korean Internet Conglomerate. Another prominent example is Kik, a messaging app that raised $120 million in its 2015 financing round.

Toronto is also the birthplace of Code for Canada, a national nonprofit that enables governments to deliver better digital public services. The initiative brings together developers, designers, and product managers to address social and civic issues through technology.

The city's Venture Capital (VC) scene is also thriving. In 2020, Toronto-based startups raised over $1.7 billion in venture capital funding, accounting for more than half of all VC investment in Canadian startups that year. Noteworthy VC firms in Toronto include Georgian Partners, Inovia Capital, and Relay Ventures.

There are numerous initiatives to support startups in Toronto. For instance, the city's Startup Here Toronto program provides entrepreneurs with resources to start, grow or scale their businesses. The DMZ at Ryerson University, which has been ranked the number one university-based business incubator in the world, is another key player nurturing startups in Toronto.

Notable individuals from Toronto's startup and VC ecosystem include Daniel Debow, co-founder of Rypple and Helpful.com, and Mike Serbinis, a serial entrepreneur who founded Kobo, a digital reading company that was sold to Rakuten for $315 million. Both have made significant contributions to the city's entrepreneurial landscape.

In terms of particular characteristics, Toronto's startup ecosystem stands out for its diversity and inclusivity, with initiatives such as #MoveTheDial and Women in Tech Fund acting to increase the representation and success of diverse founders and professionals in the tech sector.

As a Scout, You Can...

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Kickstart Your Venture Capital Career

Showing your skills in picking successful startups and advising founders is the surest way to build your reputation and secure a venture capital role.

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Help Your Ecosystem Thrive

Your community, region, or group thrives when its founders are given the chance to succeed before going back and reinvesting in their comunities.

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Earn a Share in Startups Without Investing in Them

Earn a share in startups you scout without the funds to invest directly just like a VC partner.

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Monetise Your Content & Community

As a podcaster, community manager, or event organiser you have a front-row seat to interesting startups which you can monetise by helping them fundraise.

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Create a Fairer Society

By identifying under-represented founders you're level the playing field for anyone to success based on merit independent from their social or ethnic background.

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Help Friends Get Funded

Help your friends who are neck-deep in their startups get the funding they need to succeed.

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Grow Your Personal Brand

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Join as a Scout at Your University

Available Programs

Startup Investor?

Connect with the Toronto startup and innovation scene! Get exclusive access to dealflow opportunities from individuals, startups, and innovations coming out of the city.

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Scout Programs in Other Global Startup Hubs

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Podcaster

Do you interview founders &ย startups? Take your conversation insights to the next level by scouting your favourite podcast guests.

Scout founders you interview โ†’

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Co-Working Space Organiser

Do you help run a co-working space as an organiser or a greeter? Do you come across interesting entrepreneurs and startups?

Scout startups you sit next toโ†’

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Event Organiser

Do you organise an event, conference, or trade show? Help your founder attendees get discovered.

Scout startups at your event โ†’

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Student

Are you active in the entrepreneurship club at your college? Doing an MBA? Or are you a PHDย student at a technical university? Help your fellow students get funded.

Scout startups at your university โ†’

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