In Canada, women entrepreneurs can face significant challenges in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape. According to The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2023 report produced by The Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH), only 18 per cent of businesses in Canada are majority-owned by women. This has wide-ranging implications on Canadian women, whether they are entrepreneurs or not, because small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for almost 90 per cent of private sector employment in Canada.  The WEKH report told a story of challenges and opportuniti ..read more

A mentor can transform the course of a young entrepreneur’s business and life.  Corinne Lau, Vice-President of Client and Mentoring Experience at Futurpreneur, has witnessed it play out time and time again through her more than 20+ years with the organization. Lau says mentoring can have a transformative power on young startup founders, and it is a critical part of the services Futurpreneur offers.   “Entrepreneurs recognize Futurpreneur as an organization that offers financing and mentoring and often they’ll tell us a mentor ultimately provides them more value than the dollars ..read more

Shopping locally is gaining popularity with many Canadians. According to a recent opinion poll, a majority of consumers said they’d rather shop local than purchase from large online retailers — and there’s never been a better time to invest in your community while practising conscious consumerism.  This holiday season, your local small business owners and entrepreneurs — including many Futurpreneurs — will appreciate your efforts. Let’s dive into the benefits of shopping locally this holiday season, along with some tips and ideas for supporting small businesses across Canada. 1. Keep your ..read more

During Small Business Week 2023, Shing and Bhaskar served as panelists for a virtual event co-hosted by Futurpreneur and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)  Small Business Week in Canada brings together entrepreneurs and business leaders, from across the country, for insightful, candid conversations on entrepreneurship.   Futurpreneur Debbie Shing (pictured) shared her remarkable entrepreneurial journey at one of these events entitled “Elevate Your Entrepreneurship Skills: A Fireside Chat.” Shing is founder of Quvé Group, a progressive-minded Canadian wine agency serv ..read more

On September 18, we brought together an extraordinary group of diverse young entrepreneurs from across the country to spend the day with us at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. We did this to celebrate the resilience and success of Futurpreneur-supported entrepreneurs across Canada amid Parliament’s return for the fall session. Our Hill Day culminated with the ‘Welcome Back to Ottawa’ Reception where members of Parliament (MPs), government representatives, partners and staff connected with our Futurpreneurs. The evening was a testament to the vibrancy of Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit and the impact ..read more

We take great pride in being the only national non-profit organization in Canada that provides financing, mentorship, and resources to entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 39. What’s equally important to us is our commitment to supporting young entrepreneurs from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as they embark on their journey in the business world. Our utmost priority is to create a safe and inclusive environment for all aspiring entrepreneurs. We want you to feel comfortable and free to express yourself as you launch or acquire your small business while working with us. This commitment extends t ..read more

Launching a successful business is a major milestone for any aspiring entrepreneur. However, the true measure of accomplishment lies in nurturing that startup and taking it to new heights. That is precisely why Futurpreneur and Spin Master have collaborated to deliver the Growth Accelerator. It is an exclusive opportunity for Futurpreneur-supported entrepreneurs to broaden their horizons and give their businesses an edge.   This extraordinary initiative is tailored for diverse young entrepreneurs who have already launched their businesses and are growth-focused. The program provides ..read more

On April 19, 2023, the Arcadian Court in Toronto was buzzing with energy as over 200 in-person attendees and 280 virtual guests gathered to hear from two trailblazing women founders, Joanna Griffiths and Noura Sakkijha.   The fireside chat hosted by Canadian Club Toronto was moderated by our CEO, Karen Greve Young and we were treated to candid insights behind the success of the two Canadian entrepreneurs.  Meet the Trailblazing Futurpreneur-supported Founders Joanna Griffiths, Knix & KT by Knix Photo by Mike Hagarty Joanna Griffiths is the founder and CEO of Knix and KT b ..read more

Did you know that the Futurpreneur team includes 62% employees identifying as women, including half of our senior leadership? That’s not all, 44% of all Futurpreneur-supported businesses are led by women. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, we want to celebrate women-owned businesses by hearing directly from the entrepreneurs about their experiences: challenges, achievements, and the way forward. Women Leading the Charge Carolann Robyn Cruz Carolann Robyn Cruz is an Indigenous entrepreneur and founder of Enn Taant, a camping gear and supplies business in Manitoba. Robyn has been an ..read more

A mentor can transform the course of a young entrepreneur’s business and life.  Corinne Lau, Vice-President of Client and Mentoring Experience at Futurpreneur, has witnessed it play out time and time again through her more than 20+ years with the organization. Lau says mentoring can have a transformative power on young startup founders, and it is a critical part of the services Futurpreneur offers.   “Entrepreneurs recognize Futurpreneur as an organization that offers financing and mentoring and often they’ll tell us a mentor ultimately provides them more value than the dollars ..read more