I am beyond excited to share a milestone moment for the Canada Startup Association and for me personally. When I founded CSA, I had a vision—one that focused on taking Canadian startups beyond borders and amplifying their potential on the global stage, something I felt was overlooked in the Canadian Startup Ecosystem.
That vision came to life last week when we took seven exceptional startups on their first-ever trade mission to participate in the world’s largest startup event, Expand North Star in Dubai! This wasn’t just a trip; it was the beginning of a new chapter where Canadian innovation meets global opportunity.
Our delegation of seven amazing founders, is representing Canada at this global stage.
While Danielle Brewin Graham showcasing Canada’s innovation on the Spotlight Stage and at the main stage , these startups are ready to connect, grow, and thrive like never before. CSA has always been about more than supporting startups—it’s about creating a pathway to global growth, collaboration and success, and this trade mission is a testament to that vision.
We are thrilled to highlight some key moments from the journey. As Brooke Finlay from Navio Platform shared:
“It was exciting to meet fellow Canadians doing business in UAE at the Canada Business Council Dubai Sector Briefing breakfast! I was inspired by the ecosystem eager to support Canadian startups expand into Dubai and the region. Discussions included the challenges of navigating immigration and business legal processes, which confirmed the opportunity to apply Navio Platform’s workflow automation solution to different jurisdictions. Today, I’m envisioning how Navio Platform can be expanded and adapted to the UAE and beyond!”
Additionally, Masood Zeeshan Masood, Founder of Innovashift Technologies , expressed his excitement:
“Expand North Star has opened doors to new opportunities. I am delighted to share that Innovashit Technology is now in the Supernova GITEX Nigeria Pitch Finals.”
We also had the pleasure of partnering with HUB47 for an event that brought together Canadian startups, mentors, and industry experts. The HUB47 & CSA Partnership Event, was a resounding success. The event offered invaluable networking opportunities, insightful mentorship sessions, and deep discussions on global growth strategies. As HUB47 shared:
“It was a pleasure hosting the wonderful delegates from Canada. Very brilliant ideas, extremely smart minds. We look forward to greater collaboration in the days to come!”
With stories like these, the excitement is real! Our startups are engaging with industry leaders, building powerful connections, and taking their ventures to new heights. Among the stars of our delegation, we are proud to highlight Diagen AI , which has reached the Semi-Finals of the SuperNova Pitch Competition!
This achievement is a testament to the incredible talent we nurture in Canada.
With over 6,500 exhibiting companies, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors from more than 180 countries, this blockbuster event is shaping the future of AI-driven technologies. We’re proud to be a part of this and to support our Canadian entrepreneurs as they expand on the global platform.
