Top 50 Accelerators and Incubators in Ontario (2026)
Ontario provides a strong foundation for startups through its diverse accelerator and incubator programs. Key players like Ontario Centres of Excellence have backed over 400 companies, and DMZ has helped launch more than 270 ventures.
The support system extends across major cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Waterloo, catering to various industries. Each program offers different resources, making it important for founders to choose the right fit.
Below is our list of the best 50 accelerators and incubators in Ontario.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
The Ontario Centre of Innovation accelerates technology development and commercialization by connecting industry, academia, and government partners across the province. They provide funding programs and expert advice to help transform promising research into market-ready innovations that drive Ontario's economy.
| Year Founded | 1987 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 433 |
| Nº of Exits | 60 |
2. DMZ
As a world-leading incubator from Toronto Metropolitan University, DMZ helps high-potential tech startups build and scale their companies. Founders are connected with customers, capital, and a community of experts to fuel their growth.
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Sheldon Levy, Hossein Rahnama |
| Nº of Investments | 278 |
| Nº of Exits | 38 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 16 |
3. L-SPARK
L-SPARK accelerates the growth of market-ready SaaS and cloud companies by connecting them with Canada's top SaaS experts for intensive mentorship. The program prioritizes strategic connections over direct investment, operating on a unique performance-based equity model that is contingent on future fundraising.
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Leo Lax |
| Investment Amount | $0 direct investment (no fund) |
| Equity Taken | 3% performance-based equity IF funding raised within 18 months (6-month program + 12 months after); 0% if no funding raised |
| Nº of Investments | 108 |
| Nº of Exits | 13 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 24 |
As the Canadian arm of the global 500 Startups venture fund, they invest in promising early-stage companies across the country. They provide $150K in seed capital for 6% equity and connect founders to a worldwide network of mentors and resources.
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Neha Khera, Sanjay Singhal |
| Investment Amount | $150K USD for 6% equity |
| Equity Taken | 6% |
| Nº of Investments | 40 |
| Nº of Exits | 12 |
5. BrandProject
BrandProject partners with early-stage consumer startups, providing the operational expertise to build a strong brand from the ground up. They back these companies with significant capital, investing anywhere from $500K to $2M to fuel growth through incubation and seed stages.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Andrew Black, Andrew Bridge, Jay Bhatti |
| Investment Amount | Incubation: $500K-$2M; Pre-seed/Seed acceleration: $750K-$2M |
| Nº of Investments | 44 |
| Nº of Exits | 10 |
Dedicated to developing and commercializing technology startups, the Accelerator Centre offers deep mentorship and resources to help companies scale globally. They have supported a wide range of ventures, including successes like ApplyBoard and Axonify, through specialized programs in sectors such as Clean Tech and Aerospace.
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | — |
| Investment Amount | Aerospace Program: up to $600K in-kind tools/services |
| Nº of Investments | 211 |
| Nº of Exits | 9 |
| Program Type | On-Site |
| Duration (Weeks) | 144 |
Supporting the province's mining industry, the Ontario Junior Exploration Programme offers funding to junior companies for early-stage exploration projects. The program helps de-risk these ventures to attract more investment and encourage new mineral discoveries in Ontario.
| Year Founded | — |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 8 |
| Nº of Exits | 8 |
Backed by Canada's Trade Commissioner Service, the Canadian Technology Accelerator offers high-potential tech firms the support needed to enter and grow in foreign markets. Participants gain vital market knowledge and a network of global contacts to fast-track their international expansion in fields ranging from HealthTech to Cleantech.
| Year Founded | 2013 |
| Founders | Christine Carr |
| Nº of Investments | 36 |
| Nº of Exits | 7 |
9. UTEST
As part of the University of Toronto's innovation ecosystem, UTEST provides mentorship and investment to help entrepreneurs build companies from their research. They have supported the launch of notable startups, including the AI-driven drug discovery platform Atomwise.
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | — |
| Nº of Investments | 82 |
| Nº of Exits | 7 |
10. JOLT
As Canada's B2B Sales Accelerator, JOLT provides seed capital and hands-on support to promising technology companies. They help startups achieve high growth through a focused program on sales, marketing, and customer success as part of the MaRS ecosystem.
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Susan McGill, Kerri Golden |
| Nº of Investments | 21 |
| Nº of Exits | 5 |
40 Additional Ontario Accelerators and Incubators Worth Applying To
Beyond our top selections, there's a wide range of other programs doing great work for founders. Combined, they have backed over 700 startups and helped more than 35 of them reach an exit. These organizations represent a deep commitment to building new companies across the province. Here’s a look at the rest of the accelerators and incubators helping founders in Ontario.
