Startups
190
Kingston: Quality Over Scale
Launch your startup in a city that blends world‑class research, affordable talent, and access to Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal corridors.
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Growth Rate
20.2%
Total Funding
$1.4B
Best Achievements of the Ecosystem
National Ranking
#9 in Canada
Kingston stands out for punching above its weight as one of only two Canadian Top‑10 ecosystems with a population under 500,000; it has climbed for a third consecutive year, marking a five‑spot global improvement.
“Kingston's entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem is among the nimblest and collaborative globally for communities our size. We are truly inspired by the remarkable agility and dynamism of the entrepreneurs who keep innovating and succeeding on the world stage.”
Norman Musengimana
Development Manager, Start-Ups and Entrepreneurship, Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Latest Opportunities & Events
Discover the latest events and opportunities for startups in the portal.
Exploring Entrepreneurship
A government-funded program offering up to $3,000 in startup funding and mentorship for students aged 15 to 29.
Available until:
Ongoing
Newcomer Entrepreneurs Awards
Celebrates newcomer entrepreneurs in Kingston with awards for community service, startups, and inspirational entrepreneurship.
Available until:
Coming Soon
Starter Company Plus Program
Provides business training and a non-repayable grant of up to $5,000 for entrepreneurs aged 18 and over.
Available until:
Ongoing
Recent Articles & News
Discover the latest startup stories and insights from the portal.
Join our Kingston Ecosystem Newsletter
Our Partners
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
Ecosystem Stakeholders
Meet with the key players driving this vibrant startup ecosystem.
Notable Startups
Top Coworking Spaces
Notable Organizations
Want to know more about Kingston startup ecosystem and its benefits?
Contact UsTop Achievements of the Kingston Startup Ecosystem
Rankings provided by
Small City in Canada
#1
Kingston is Canada’s #1 small‑city startup ecosystem (population under 500k) in 2025
Growth Rate
+20%
Kingston experienced an annual growth rate of over 20%.
Small City in Energy & Environment
#4
Among small cities worldwide, Kingston ranks 4th in Energy & Environment.
Key Benefits of Joining Kingston Startup Ecosystem
Strategic Location & Market Access
At the intersection of the Toronto–Ottawa–Montréal triangle, Kingston offers direct access to customers, talent, and investors across Eastern Ontario and Québec, with lower costs than major metros.
Research‑Driven, Founder‑Friendly
Queen’s University, Innovation Park, and Launch Lab create a pipeline from research to commercialization with mentorship, prototyping, and industry partnerships.
Sector Strengths & Cluster Development
Kingston shows special strengths in cleantech/energy & environment, life sciences/health innovation, and hardware/IoT, giving startups sector‑specific partners and early customers.
Key Statistics
Students at Queen’s University
28,715
In 2025
Undergraduate Retention (Y1→Y2)
94.2%
In 2023
Innovation Space (R&D/Labs)
230,000
Square feet
Kingston Ecosystem Landscape
Taxes and Incentives
- SR&ED Tax Incentive (Federal): refundable/non‑refundable credits for eligible R&D performed in Canada.
- Ontario Innovation Tax Credit (OITC): refundable provincial credit on eligible SR&ED performed in Ontario.
- Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit (OIDMTC): refundable credit supporting interactive digital media products.
- FedDev Ontario – Business Scale‑Up & Productivity (BSP): repayable contributions for scale‑up and commercialization projects (typically $125,000–$10M per project, subject to eligibility and due diligence).
- Mitacs (Accelerate, Entrepreneur, International): co‑funded R&D placements connecting companies with graduate‑level talent.
- Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI): programs that de‑risk industry–academic collaboration and commercialization.
- Futurpreneur Canada (18–39): startup financing up to $75,000 in partnership with BDC, plus up to two years of mentorship and resources.
- WE‑CAN (Queen’s Partnerships & Innovation): Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) Ecosystem Fund–backed programming serving women‑identifying and non‑binary entrepreneurs in the Kingston region.
Investor Landscape
- KNDL (formerly SOAN): the region’s angel investor network mobilizing accredited capital into Southeastern Ontario startups; connected to provincial and national angel networks.
- Recognized Investment Location: Kingston named one of Canada’s Top 20 locations to invest by Site Selection (2022).
- FDI Excellence (Historic): fDi Intelligence (Financial Times) named Kingston the top Small City in the Americas for FDI strategy (2017), with additional accolades for human capital & lifestyle
Ecosystem Milestones
1998
Kingston Economic Development Corporation was established as a notfor-profit agency dedicated to driving business investment and fostering economic growth in Kingston.
Queen’s University establishes Innovation Park, fostering collaboration between academia, startups, and industry.
2008
2015
The Kingston Nano-Fabrication Laboratory (KNFL) was launched within Innovation Park, enhancing Canada's network of micro-nano discovery labs
Li-Cycle was founded in Kingston, specializing in lithium-ion battery recycling.
2016
2019
Queen’s University launches the Wings MVP Acceleration Program.
Compass North Acceleration Program is launched for women founders
2020
2023
Donna Gillespie, CEO of Kingston Economic Development Corporation, received the Economic Development Achievement Award from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario, recognizing her significant contributions to the city's economic growth.
Want to Get in Touch?
Have something to share or explore within the ecosystem? Let us know how we can help — from adding events and opportunities to discussing partnerships or ideas.
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