6 Best Cities for Startups in Canada

New business ideas are always popping up and if you think you have an idea for the next big company, check out this list of the best cities for startups in Canada.

When we think of startups we think of fun, innovative offices where everyone enjoys free food and riding around on scooters. While that’s the case for some, it’s not really the case for all startups. However, startups can be really cool environments to work in, where you get to work with some really brilliant and passionate people. Many like startups because of the intimate working environment. Startups are companies that are just getting off the ground, so there are usually a handful of employees. This is extremely beneficial in creating an atmosphere where it feels like everyone’s input is recognized, and each employee is doing their unique part in the business’s success.

Countries all over the world are encouraging and helping their major cities to become incubators for startups as more and more business ideas are developing — especially in the technology industry. One of those countries on the come up for startups is Canada. From beautiful cities, to great people and a generally welcoming environment, it’s no wonder why businesses are flocking to Canada. The country offers a number of grants and other aid to assist with small businesses, which is naturally a big influence in bringing more startups. Since these small businesses are just getting going, and funds aren’t always readily available, it makes sense to go where you will get money. Regardless of the country, many startups flock to cities because there tend to be more resources and access to various businesses available. Just like anywhere it would be a wise decision to conduct a feasibility study to know if you will reach the point where you expand globally.

If going over the border isn’t your thing and you live in the United States, check out our list of 10 best cities for startups in the U.S.

We’ve collected the cities on our list of best cities for startups in Canada from the study conducted by Startup Genome. There are cities in Canada that made it to the top 20 while the others are in the regional clusters. We decided to rank our list by the number of startups in each of the most popular Canadian cities for startups. There is no information on the survival rate of startups per city. Aside from that, depending on the startup and what you are looking for in a city, any of the cities may be the “best” choice for your business.

Let’s take a look at our list of 6 best cities for startups in Canada.

6. Quebec City

One of the most inspiring startup cities with around 150 to 300 startups is Quebec City. Quebec City may have struggled to keep up with its neighbors but with first of its kind startups focusing on new categories, we will not be surprised if Quebec City will climb and secure a spot to the top 20 in the coming years.

5. Ottawa

Ambitious tech startups in Ottawa are around 450 to 850.  Tech startups thrive here because the city has a narrow focus in this particular industry. 41% is the foreign customer rate of Ottawa’s startups. Global connectedness and ample access to talents will be Ottawa’s asset to achieve a high score when it comes to the startup ecosystem.

4. Montreal

We are continuing our list of best cities for startups in Canada with Montreal that may not have made it to top 20 but it shows that it has a strong ecosystem.  There may be a slow pace for startups in Montreal but this is an advantage for having deep connections with the customers. It has around 800 to 1,400 startups but Montreal should be wise in picking their talents to achieve a better performance.

3. Waterloo

Toronto and Waterloo are both parts of The Corridor or the Toronto-Waterloo Region.  Just like Toronto, the startup companies here in Waterloo are growing fast. In due time, startups here would go from local to global, which is why it landed a spot on our list of the best cities for startups in Canada.

2. Toronto

In the top 20 is actually the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor so we included both Toronto and Waterloo on our list.  Hootsuite is the leading startup in Toronto and is known outside of the Canadian borders. While Toronto is a city where startups are blossoming, there’s still much to work on especially to compete with its main competitor, Silicon Valley in the United States.

1. Vancouver

Vancouver secured the 15th spot in the top 20 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome. The livability and quality of life characteristics are the reasons why Vancouver is consistently one of the top cities worldwide. Startup outputs in Vancouver are around 800 to 1,100. Immigrant founders here are 30%, which is pretty impressive.

If you have a new business idea and you live in Canada, your business will benefit by being located in one of these best cities for startups in Canada.