Top Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver has established itself as Canada's West Coast innovation hub, combining strong academic institutions, a thriving tech sector, and a commitment to sustainability. The city's unique position as a gateway to Asian and North American markets and its focus on clean technology and social innovation creates a distinctive startup ecosystem.

This guide explores the leading accelerators and incubators shaping Vancouver's evolving startup landscape. These programs support domestic and international startups seeking to establish themselves in the Canadian market.

Top 20 Startup Accelerators & Incubators in Vancouver, Canada

1. VentureLabs Accelerator

Target Audience: Deep tech startups.

Niche: AI, Biotech, and Advanced Materials.

VentureLabs offers a comprehensive six-month program supporting deep technology ventures. It partners with Simon Fraser University and Innovate BC to commercialize cutting-edge innovations. VentureLabs provides access to specialized labs and research facilities for technology development. It creates valuable connections between academic research and commercial opportunities.

2. Creative Destruction Lab (CDL)

Target Audience: Science-driven startups.

Niche: AI, Quantum Technology, and Climate Solutions.

Creative Destruction Lab operates a global seed-stage program specializing in scaling science-based ventures. It provides intensive mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and industry leaders. The lab focuses on commercializing advanced technologies in AI, quantum computing, and climate solutions and creates pathways for scientific innovations to reach global markets.

3. Founder Institute Vancouver

Target Audience: Pre-seed entrepreneurs.

Niche: Sector-Agnostic Tech.

Founder Institute Vancouver leads a structured four-month pre-seed accelerator program. It helps founders validate ideas and launch successful companies with proven methodology. Through its unique shared equity pool model, Founder Institute Vancouver's alums have raised over $1.85B globally. The program provides a comprehensive foundation for early-stage startup development and growth.

4. New Ventures BC

Target Audience: Tech startups.

Niche: Market Validation.

New Ventures BC runs British Columbia's largest technology startup competition, offering $250,000 in prizes. It provides extensive mentorship and customer discovery programs to validate market opportunities, gives grants for student hiring and business development initiatives, and creates pathways for early-stage companies to achieve market validation and growth.

5. Foresight Canada

Target Audience: Cleantech startups.

Niche: Sustainable Innovation.

Foresight Canada specializes in supporting clean energy and circular economy innovations. Alums have collectively raised over $545 million in funding and investments. Foresight Canada provides comprehensive support through industry mentorship and investor connections and creates opportunities for scaling sustainable technology solutions.

6. Victory Square Technologies

Target Audience: Scalable tech ventures.

Niche: Sports, Health, and Entertainment.

Victory Square Technologies accelerates market-ready solutions through hands-on management support. It maintains a portfolio of over 20 companies focused on rapid growth and revenue generation. It provides strategic guidance and operational expertise for technology commercialization and creates value through active involvement in portfolio company development.

7. Spring Activator

Target Audience: Impact-driven founders.

Niche: Social Entrepreneurship.

Spring Activator operates multiple programs, including the Startup Visa Accelerator and Impact Incubator. It has supported over 500 alum companies addressing global challenges. It focuses on combining business success with positive social impact and creates pathways for international entrepreneurs to establish in Canada.

8. Launch Academy

Target Audience: Early-stage tech startups.

Niche: Non-Equity Support.

Launch Academy delivers a focused five-week program with proven success metrics. It provides a dedicated workspace and direct connections to investor networks. Launch Academy has supported 11 portfolio companies through successful exits, creating a supportive environment for early-stage technology company development.

9. Alacrity Foundation

Target Audience: Tech entrepreneurs.

Niche: Software & Clean Tech.

Alacrity Foundation offers $30,000 in seed funding alongside comprehensive support services. It focuses on building scalable software companies in British Columbia. It provides office space and mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs. It also creates opportunities for technology commercialization and market expansion.

10. Grow Tech Labs

Target Audience: Cannabis innovators.

Niche: Cannabis Tech.

Grow Tech Labs invests $150,000 through convertible notes in cannabis sector innovations. It specializes in supporting regulatory-compliant technology solutions for the cannabis industry, provides expert mentorship in navigating complex regulatory environments, and creates pathways for cannabis technology commercialization.

11. Empowered Startups

Target Audience: Global entrepreneurs.

Niche: Cross-Border Scaling.

Empowered Startups specializes in helping international startups expand into Canadian markets. It provides comprehensive immigration support alongside business development services, offers mentorship for cross-border expansion and market entry, and creates opportunities for global entrepreneurs to establish themselves in Vancouver.

12. RADIUS SFU

Target Audience: Social impact ventures.

Niche: Social Innovation.

RADIUS SFU runs a 24-week accelerator through SFU's Beedie School of Business. It focuses on ventures addressing inequality, climate change, and health disparities. It provides comprehensive support for social innovation development and creates pathways for scaling social impact solutions.

13. Innovate BC

Target Audience: Tech entrepreneurs.

Niche: Multi-Sector.

Innovate BC is a government-funded agency that supports technology commercialization. It partners with leading accelerators to deliver Venture Acceleration and ScaleUp programs. It provides funding and resources for technology development and market expansion and creates connections across British Columbia's innovation ecosystem.

14. entrepreneurship@UBC

Target Audience: UBC-affiliated founders.

Niche: Academic Spinouts.

entrepreneurship@UBC supports University of British Columbia students, faculty, and alums ventures. It provides grants, mentorship, and access to specialized laboratory facilities. It has also supported successful companies like ChopValue and Hypervote. entrepreneurship@UBC creates pathways for academic innovation commercialization.

15. HATCH Accelerator

Target Audience: Late-stage ventures.

Niche: Tech & Social Innovation.

HATCH operates as UBC's post-incubator program for companies with commercial traction. It provides a dedicated workspace and direct connections to investor networks. It focuses on scaling companies with proven market potential and creates opportunities for significant business expansion.

16. Moken

Target Audience: Early-stage founders.

Niche: Global Scaling.

Moken provides seed funding and non-equity support for early-stage ventures. It specializes in app development, marketing, and personal branding initiatives. It focuses on helping startups access secondary markets and creates pathways for global expansion.

17. Zen Launchpad

Target Audience: Scalable startups.

Niche: Business Model Development.

Zen Launchpad supports North Vancouver ventures through comprehensive mentorship programs. It provides co-working space and access to investor networks. It focuses on market research and business model validation, creating sustainable growth opportunities for local startups.

18. Planet Hatch

Target Audience: Post-incubation startups.

Niche: Business Scaling.

Planet Hatch offers a six-week Sales Accelerator with $25,000 in funding. It helps startups develop and refine their sales strategies, focusing on customer acquisition and revenue growth. It also creates pathways for sustainable business scaling.

19. SFU VentureLabs

Target Audience: Deep tech startups.

Niche: Science Commercialization.

SFU VentureLabs specializes in AI, biotech, and advanced materials commercialization. It partners with key ecosystem players for market validation and development, provides access to specialized research facilities and expertise, and creates opportunities for deep technology commercialization.

20. League of Innovators (LOI)

Target Audience: Young entrepreneurs (18–30).

Niche: Youth-Led Startups.

League of Innovators is a national nonprofit organization that supports young founders. It provides mentorship, funding, and a 12-week accelerator program. The organization focuses on social impact and scalable venture development and creates youth entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities.

AcceleratorApp's Closing Thoughts on Startup Accelerators and Incubators in Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver's startup ecosystem shows unique strength through its diverse range of accelerators and incubators. The ecosystem uniquely combines:

• Strong focus on clean technology and sustainability
• Robust support for social innovation
• Significant emphasis on deep technology commercialization
• Support for international expansion and cross-border growth
• Commitment to youth and diverse entrepreneurship

The city's accelerators and incubators have been instrumental in establishing Vancouver as a leading innovation hub, particularly in sectors that leverage the region's strengths in sustainability, technology, and social impact. This comprehensive support system has created a thriving ecosystem that attracts entrepreneurs from around the world.