Business Incubators & Accelerators in Ontario – Directory of Startup Support Programs

Looking for startup support in Ontario? This page lists business incubators and accelerators that serve entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses across the province. For each organization, we’ve included the names of the programs they offer, so you can quickly identify the right fit based on your stage, sector, or funding goals.

Whether you’re launching a tech startup in Toronto, building a cleantech company in Ottawa, or developing a social enterprise in Northern Ontario, this directory will connect you with the province’s leading innovation hubs.

✅ What Is a Business Incubator and Accelerator?

Business incubators are designed to help entrepreneurs take an idea and turn it into a viable business. They typically support early-stage founders with mentorship, business development guidance, workspace, and connections to funding or academic partners.

Business accelerators, on the other hand, focus on growth-stage companies — usually startups that already have traction and are preparing to scale. Accelerators often run structured, cohort-based programs that provide intensive mentorship, investor introductions, and sometimes direct funding in exchange for equity.

In Ontario, many organizations serve as hybrids, offering both incubation and acceleration depending on the business’s stage and needs.

✅ What These Programs Typically Offer

Most incubator and accelerator programs in Ontario include a mix of the following services:

  • One-on-one mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and investors
  • Cohort-based training in business planning, finance, marketing, and pitching
  • Access to coworking or lab space, particularly in university-affiliated innovation centres
  • Connections to capital, including angel investors, venture capital, and public funding programs
  • Sector-specific support, especially in high-priority areas like AI, life sciences, agri-tech, cleantech, fintech, and advanced manufacturing
  • Networking events, demo days, and pitch competitions

Some programs are equity-based (particularly accelerators with investment components), while others are non-dilutive and funded by government or post-secondary institutions.

✅ How to Choose a Program

With dozens of incubators and accelerators across Ontario, it’s important to choose one that aligns with your goals. As you browse the directory below, consider:

  • Stage Fit – Are you pre-revenue, MVP-ready, or generating sales?
  • Location – Many programs are tied to specific cities or regions (e.g. Toronto, Waterloo, Kingston, Thunder Bay)
  • Sector Focus – Some programs specialize in technology, healthcare, cleantech, or social innovation
  • Equity vs. Non-Equity – Consider whether you’re comfortable giving up equity or prefer non-dilutive support
  • Duration & Format – Programs vary from a few weeks to a full year and may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid

Ontario’s support ecosystem is one of the most active in Canada, with strong ties to post-secondary institutions, regional innovation centres, and public funding bodies — making it a great place to launch and grow a business.

✅ Directory: Incubators & Accelerators in Ontario

Brampton Incubators and Accelerators

Brampton Innovation District

The Brampton Innovation District is a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship, and business support services in downtown Brampton. It brings together partners like the BHive, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, and the Brampton Entrepreneur Centre to provide a range of programs, mentorship, and co-working opportunities for startups and scaleups.

Programs offered:

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Based in Brampton and affiliated with Toronto Metropolitan University, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is a national centre for cybersecurity training, innovation, and commercialization. It offers programs for workforce development, startup acceleration, and applied research in cybersecurity.

Programs offered:

Guelph Incubators and Accelerators

Bioenterprise

Bioenterprise is Canada’s Food & Agri-Tech Engine, offering tailored support and resources to help businesses in the agriculture and food sectors innovate and grow. It connects entrepreneurs with experts, funding, research, and commercialization partners across Canada.

Programs offered:

Boundless Accelerator

Formerly known as Innovation Guelph, Boundless Accelerator supports innovative companies through mentorship, funding access, and targeted programs. Focused on agri-innovation and cleantech, it helps early-stage and scaling businesses across southern Ontario succeed.

Programs offered:

Innovation Guelph

Innovation Guelph, now rebranded as Boundless Accelerator, provided programs and mentorship to startups and small businesses in the Guelph region. It focused on agri-innovation, cleantech, and women-led ventures before expanding under its new brand identity.

Program offered:

Hamilton Incubators and Accelerators

Innovation Factory

Located in Hamilton, Innovation Factory helps entrepreneurs and startups accelerate growth through mentorship, business support services, and access to a network of industry partners. It supports innovation across sectors with a strong emphasis on health, manufacturing, and digital technologies.

Programs offered:

The Forge

The Forge is a business incubator for startups based at McMaster University in Hamilton. It supports early-stage companies through mentorship, funding opportunities, co-working space, and hands-on programming for scalable tech-based ventures.

Program offered:

The Forge, McMaster University

An initiative of McMaster University, The Forge helps student and community entrepreneurs turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses. It offers seed funding, mentorship, and access to labs and resources tailored to tech-focused startups.

Program offered:

Kingston Incubators and Accelerators

GreenCentre Canada

Based in Kingston, GreenCentre Canada supports the development and commercialization of green chemistry and cleantech innovations. It offers lab and scale-up services, technical expertise, and business support to help companies bring sustainable products to market.

Programs offered:

Launch Lab

Launch Lab is a Regional Innovation Centre headquartered in Kingston that provides business advisory services to innovative startups and scale-ups across Eastern Ontario. It works closely with entrepreneurs to build strategy, access funding, and accelerate commercialization.

Program offered:

Queen’s University

Queen’s University in Kingston is a leading Canadian research institution with a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization. Through its various programs and partnerships—including Launch Lab and the Dunin-Deshpande Queen’s Innovation Centre—it supports startups and entrepreneurial ventures at all stages.

Programs offered:

London Ontario Incubators and Accelerators

TechAlliance of Southwestern Ontario

TechAlliance is the Regional Innovation Centre for London and Southwestern Ontario, providing support to technology-based companies. Its services include coaching, access to funding, workshops, and initiatives that foster a thriving regional innovation ecosystem.

Programs offered:

Markham Incubators and Accelerators

Yorku (Yspace)

YSpace is York University’s entrepreneurship and innovation hub offering a range of programs to support startups in sectors like food and beverage, tech, and social enterprise. It provides incubation, acceleration, and investment readiness resources to both students and community entrepreneurs.

Programs offered:

YSpace (York University)

YSpace, part of York University, is an innovation hub that helps entrepreneurs launch and scale their ventures. With locations in Markham and York Region, it delivers sector-specific programming, mentorship, and networking to founders across Ontario.

Programs offered:

Mississauga Incubators and Accelerators

EDGE (Sheridan College)

EDGE is Sheridan College’s entrepreneurship hub supporting socially conscious and community-focused ventures. Located in Mississauga, EDGE offers co-working space, mentorship, and programs to help startups grow sustainably and make a positive social impact.

Programs offered:

ICUBE – University of Toronto

ICUBE is the University of Toronto Mississauga’s startup incubator offering support to early-stage entrepreneurs. It provides workspace, coaching, funding opportunities, and programming to help turn innovative ideas into viable businesses.

Programs offered:

IDEA Mississauga

IDEA Mississauga is the city’s innovation ecosystem hub supporting entrepreneurs and scaling businesses. It connects founders to business services, programs, and networks through partnerships with incubators, accelerators, and post-secondary institutions.

Programs offered:

Newmarket Incubators and Accelerators

Treefrog Accelerator

Based in Newmarket, Treefrog Accelerator supports early-stage tech companies through mentorship, funding navigation, and growth-focused programming. It aims to foster innovation in the northern York Region and beyond.

Programs offered:

North York Incubators and Accelerators

Bay & Co

Bay & Co is a Canadian venture capital and advisory firm that helps startups and growth-stage companies scale. The firm provides funding, strategic guidance, and market access to accelerate business development.

Program offered:

Oshawa Incubators and Accelerators

Brilliant Catalyst

Brilliant Catalyst is Ontario Tech University’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub based in Oshawa. It provides students and community entrepreneurs with mentorship, events, funding programs, and co-working space to launch and grow ventures.

Programs offered:

Ottawa Incubators and Accelerators

CANARIE

CANARIE is a federally funded non-profit that designs and operates digital research infrastructure for Canada’s research, education, and innovation communities. It also supports tech startups through its DAIR Cloud Program, providing free cloud resources and tools for development and testing.

Program offered:

Carleton University Innovation Hub

Carleton University’s Innovation Hub is a collaborative space that fosters entrepreneurial thinking and supports student-led startups. Located in Ottawa, it offers programs, mentorship, and resources to help students develop and launch innovative ventures.

Programs offered:

Impact Hub Ottawa

Impact Hub Ottawa is a community-driven co-working and innovation space focused on social impact. It offers networking opportunities, events, and programs that empower changemakers and entrepreneurs working toward social and environmental good.

Programs offered:

Invest Ottawa

Invest Ottawa is the lead economic development agency for Canada’s capital, supporting startups, scaleups, and global businesses. Through programs like Pre-Accelerator and Area X.O, it delivers mentorship, funding access, and commercialization support in sectors like tech and autonomous systems.

Programs offered:

L-SPARK

Based in Ottawa, L-SPARK is a leading Canadian accelerator focused on scaling B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, and connected medtech companies. It provides tailored mentorship, corporate partnerships, and growth support to help startups reach global markets.

Programs offered:

Peterborough Incubators and Accelerators

Cleantech Commons at Trent University

Cleantech Commons is a research and innovation park located at Trent University in Peterborough. It is designed to support cleantech companies by offering collaboration opportunities with academic researchers and access to sustainable infrastructure. 

Programs offered:

Innovation Cluster

Headquartered in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, the Innovation Cluster supports tech-driven companies in cleantech, agritech, and digital sectors. It offers incubation, mentorship, and access to research facilities and commercialization resources.

Program offered:

Spark Centre

Spark Centre is a Regional Innovation Centre based in Oshawa that supports technology and innovation entrepreneurs. It provides advisory services, incubation, acceleration programs, and connections to investors and industry experts.

Programs offered:

Sault Ste. Marie Incubators and Accelerators

Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre

The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre supports economic development in Northern Ontario by advancing tech entrepreneurship, GIS/data services, and smart city solutions. It provides business support, research collaboration, and innovation consulting.

Programs offered:

St. Catharines Incubators and Accelerators

Brock LINC

Located at Brock University in St. Catharines, Brock LINC is a hub for creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It offers programming and resources that connect students, faculty, and the broader community to turn ideas into impactful ventures.

Programs offered:

Sudbury Incubators and Accelerators

NORCAT

Headquartered in Sudbury, NORCAT is a leading innovation centre that supports tech startups, provides skilled labour training, and offers services to the global mining industry. It also operates an underground mine used for testing and demonstrating mining technologies.

Programs offered:

Thunder Bay Incubators and Accelerators

Ingenuity at Lakehead University

Ingenuity is Lakehead University’s business incubator in Thunder Bay that supports students and recent graduates in launching startups. It provides mentorship, workshops, and access to workspace and entrepreneurial resources.

Program offered:

Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre

Based in Thunder Bay, the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre helps innovative companies start and scale. It offers programs, advisory services, and funding support to entrepreneurs across the region, especially in rural and remote communities.

Programs offered:

Toronto Incubators and Accelerators

adMare BioInnovations

adMare BioInnovations is a national organization supporting the growth of Canada’s life sciences sector. It builds companies, develops talent, and invests in biotech innovations through its accelerator, venture, and research infrastructure programs.

Program offered:

Artscape Daniels Launchpad

Located in Toronto, Artscape Daniels Launchpad is a creative entrepreneurship hub offering artists and designers access to co-working spaces, specialized studios, and business skills development programs to grow their creative enterprises.

Programs offered:

Centre for Social Innovation

The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) is a Toronto-based co-working and innovation space focused on social entrepreneurship. CSI offers programs, mentorship, and a collaborative community for people and organizations working to make positive social change.

Programs offered:

DMZ Ventures at Toronto Metropolitan University

DMZ is a world-leading tech incubator at Toronto Metropolitan University that helps high-potential startups scale with intensive support. It provides mentorship, capital access, and market opportunities for early-stage companies in Canada and globally.

Programs offered:

George Brown College Digital Media & Gaming Incubator

Located in Toronto, this incubator at George Brown College supports startups in digital media, gaming, and interactive technologies. It offers mentorship, access to industry networks, and collaboration opportunities with students and faculty.

Program offered:

Geotab Torque Labs

Torque Labs is Geotab’s innovation hub that accelerates startups developing connected vehicle and smart mobility solutions. Based in Oakville, it offers mentorship, industry expertise, and access to Geotab’s global ecosystem.

Program offered:

Global Startups

Global Startups is a Toronto-based accelerator that helps international tech companies scale into North America. It provides soft-landing programs, business development support, and investor connections.

Programs offered:

Gradient Spaces

Gradient Spaces is a Toronto-based startup accelerator dedicated to supporting 2SLGBTQ+ tech founders. It offers mentorship, peer support, and programming designed to break down barriers to funding and growth.

Program offered:

Health Innovation Hub University of Toronto

H2i is a health-focused incubator at the University of Toronto that supports early-stage health science and medtech ventures. It provides commercialization support, mentorship, and access to the university’s research network.

Program offered:

Highline Beta

Highline Beta is a venture studio and early-stage investment firm based in Toronto. It partners with corporations and entrepreneurs to co-build and invest in startups with scalable business models.

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Humber Centre for Entrepreneurship

Located at Humber College in Toronto, this centre supports students and community members in starting and growing businesses. It offers workshops, mentoring, pitch competitions, and startup resources.

Programs offered:

MaRS

MaRS is one of the world’s largest urban innovation hubs, based in Toronto. It supports high-growth ventures in health, cleantech, fintech, and enterprise software through advisory services, partnerships, and access to capital.

Programs offered:

NEXT AI

NEXT AI is a Toronto-based accelerator for AI-enabled startups and entrepreneurs. It provides world-class mentorship, technical training, and funding to help founders build AI ventures with global potential.

Program offered:

Ontario Centre of Innovation (oci)

OCI is a provincial agency that drives innovation by connecting industry and academia. It supports research, commercialization, and scale-up through funding programs and strategic partnerships across Ontario.

Programs offered:

Plug and Play

Plug and Play Alberta (with ties to Toronto via its global network) is an international accelerator and innovation platform that connects startups with corporate partners and investors. It supports sectors like health, sustainability, and smart cities.

Program offered:

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Located in Brampton, the Catalyst is TMU’s national centre for cybersecurity innovation and training. It offers startup acceleration, workforce development, and commercialization programs focused on cybersecurity.

Program offered:

The Fireweed Fellowship

The Fireweed Fellowship is Canada’s first national accelerator program for Indigenous entrepreneurs. It provides culturally grounded business education, mentorship, and a supportive peer network to foster Indigenous innovation and leadership.

Program offered:

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto is a global research institution with strong support for entrepreneurship through its incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs. It hosts programs like UTEST, H2i, and ICUBE to help startups grow from idea to commercialization.

Program offered:

UTEST

UTEST is a University of Toronto incubator for early-stage, deep tech startups founded by U of T faculty, students, and recent graduates. It offers equity funding, mentorship, and access to university IP and research resources.

Program offered:

Waterloo Incubators and Accelerators

Accelerator Centre (in partnership with WEtech Alliance)

This collaboration extends the Accelerator Centre’s award-winning programming to entrepreneurs supported by WEtech Alliance in Windsor-Essex. It provides high-impact advisory services, mentorship, and growth-focused resources for startups across Southwestern Ontario.

Program offered:

The Accelerator Centre

Located in Waterloo, the Accelerator Centre supports early-stage tech startups through its multi-phase accelerator program. It offers customized mentorship, funding guidance, and access to a network of successful entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Program offered:

Velocity

Velocity is the University of Waterloo’s flagship entrepreneurship program and one of Canada’s top startup incubators. It offers space, mentorship, and funding to help student and community entrepreneurs build scalable tech ventures.

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Waterloo Accelerator Centre

The Waterloo Accelerator Centre is a world-renowned incubator helping tech startups grow and scale. Its milestone-driven programming supports entrepreneurs through product development, market entry, and investment readiness.

Program offered:

Whitby Incubators and Accelerators

Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences

Ontario Shores, located in Whitby, is a mental health facility that also engages in innovation and applied research. Through initiatives like its Innovation Centre, it explores technology and partnerships to improve mental health care delivery.

Program offered:

Windsor Incubators and Accelerators

WEtech Alliance

WEtech Alliance is a Regional Innovation Centre based in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent, supporting tech entrepreneurs and SMEs. It provides business advisory services, startup programs, and strategic connections to help companies grow and scale.

Program offered: