While Canada has seen incredible growth over the last decade, scale alone does not ensure cohesion. The core challenge we face is not a lack of talent, but rather our structure. Currently, many founders, investors, and policymakers operate in parallel, leading to inconsistent information sharing and missed opportunities.
At CSA, we believe in “startup integrity” the idea that innovation must be aligned with fairness, transparency, and inclusion so that growth is durable and widely shared.
“To build a stronger Canadian startup ecosystem, founders must play an active role in shaping solutions that reduce barriers and enable global growth. At the Canada Startup Association (CSA), our aim is to overhaul the landscape to make it more resilient, inclusive, and cohesive. By better aligning government support, private investment, and international partnerships, we can create a globally connected innovation ecosystem that truly reflects our national potential.” – Tehmina Chaudhry, President.
Four Pathways for Collaborative Progress:
Drawing from our recent brief prepared in collaboration with Blackwood Consulting, we have identified four critical areas for strategic action:
- Convene the Endpoints: We are establishing regular forums for regional leaders and policymakers to share priorities.
- Simplify the Path: We aim to reduce the friction founders face when navigating complex programs and jurisdictions.
- Pilot and Learn: We support small-scale “sandboxes” where startups and public institutions can test solutions together.
- Broaden Access to Capital: We are advancing the dialogue to improve capital access across all regions and diverse founder profiles.
A Call to Dialogue
This is an invitation to policymakers, investors, and founders to engage in a sustained conversation. Progress begins with dialogue, but sustained growth requires connection.
This brief, serves as a foundation for our continued engagement with ecosystem stakeholders. Let’s work together to move Canada’s startup ecosystem from mere momentum to a unified movement.
Read this paper here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7407814947839184898