With the Partners for Prosperity and Innovation project, the DEEP Centre led the first nation-wide effort to assess the viability of self-sustaining business models for business accelerators and incubators (BAIs) in Canada. Drawing on a national survey and a series of executive interviews, the study highlights critical strategies for growing private sector revenue streams and establishes a better understanding of the challenges startup support organizations face in achieving fiscal sustainability.
PART 1 provides a taxonomy of revenue models and reviews the findings from a national survey of business accelerators. The survey identifies the proportion of BAI funding coming from public and private sources, the revenue models with the most potential to fuel growth and the challenges organizations are encountering in growing private sector revenues. Download the report.
PART 2 highlights key insights and findings on fiscal sustainability from a series of executive interviews with BAI leaders. The report also examines the impact and sustainability of BAIs from the vantage point of organizations that frequently interact with business accelerators and incubators in Canada, including large companies and venture capital firms. Download the report.
PART 3 includes an analysis of domestic and international best practices in business acceleration. The report features case studies of business accelerators that have developed significant non-governmental revenue streams. A jurisdictional scan highlights initiatives for increasing the connectivity between startups, VCs and the corporate community. Download the report.
PART 4 provides a summary of the study’s recommendations and key conclusions for executives and policymakers. The recommendations for BAIs and governments identify measures to increase the economic impact and fiscal sustainability of Canada’s startup ecosystem. The report also offers suggestions for boosting corporate investment in BAIs and innovation clusters. Download the report.
This study on the fiscal sustainability of business accelerators and incubators in Canada was generously funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), FedDev Ontario, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD).