Next 36

Next 36

Next 36 is a Canadian entrepreneurial leadership program launched in 2010 to accelerate high-potential founders and build a national network of startup leaders. Modeled on intensive fellowship formats, it brings together cohorts for mentorship, education, and seed funding paired with connections to private capital, research institutions, and corporate partners. The initiative positions participants within Canada’s innovation ecosystem, interacting with accelerators, incubators, and policy organizations.

History

Founded in 2010 by a group of Canadian entrepreneurs and philanthropists, the program emerged amid debates about Canadian competitiveness and talent retention relative to Silicon Valley, Toronto, Vancouver, Waterloo, and Montreal. Early supporters included figures from the Canadian tech scene and philanthropic institutions linked to MaRS Discovery District, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and provincial innovation agencies. The inaugural cohorts trained during a period marked by the rise of companies like Shopify, Hootsuite, RIM, and the expansion of global players such as Google and Microsoft into Canadian markets. Over time the program adapted to shifts in venture capital flows influenced by firms like Sequoia Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Andreessen Horowitz, and responded to policy developments from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and provincial strategies. Leadership and curriculum changes reflected partnerships with universities such as University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and McGill University, and collaborations with accelerators like YC Continuity and corporates including RBC, TD Bank, and Shopify.

Program and Curriculum

The multi-week residency blends mentorship from serial founders, executives, and investors who have worked with BlackBerry Limited, Lightspeed Commerce, Slack Technologies, Facebook, Amazon (company), Apple Inc., and Tesla, Inc.. Coursework covers customer discovery, product-market fit, unit economics, cap table structuring, and fundraising strategies often informed by case studies involving Airbnb, Uber, Stripe, Square, Inc., and LinkedIn. Sessions feature speakers from policy and regulatory backgrounds tied to institutions like Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Canadian Intellectual Property Office, and trade bodies such as Business Council of Canada. Supplementary workshops deploy tools used by accelerators including Y Combinator, Techstars, and 500 Startups, while legal and finance modules reference standards from firms comparable to DLA Piper and KPMG. The program also integrates mentorship from venture capital firms and angel networks including Real Ventures, Golden Ventures, OMERS Ventures, and RBCx.

Admissions and Selection

Selection targets founders and early-stage teams across Canadian provinces including applicants from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, and the Atlantic provinces. The process evaluates technical founders, business leads, and interdisciplinary teams drawing on criteria similar to those used by Y Combinator, Techstars, and university entrepreneurship programs at McMaster University and Queen's University. Applicants submit proposals, resumes, and references often compared against metrics used by accelerators such as traction, TAM analysis, and founder-market fit noted in case studies of Shopify, Kik Interactive, and Hootsuite. Selection panels have included entrepreneurs, investors, and academics affiliated with University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, and national incubators like MaRS Discovery District.

Alumni and Impact

Alumni have founded startups spanning fintech, healthtech, cleantech, and AI, with some drawing follow-on capital from firms such as Real Ventures, Inovia Capital, Relay Ventures, and Whitecap Venture Partners. Companies founded by graduates have participated in programs including Y Combinator, Techstars, and Founder Institute, and engaged with corporate partners like RBC, Bell Canada, and SNC-Lavalin. Success stories cite exits or scaling milestones comparable in profile to Canadian unicorns like Shopify and D2L Corporation, while alumni have also contributed to public policy dialogues alongside bodies such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and think tanks like C.D. Howe Institute. The network fosters connections to international ecosystems including Silicon Valley, London, Tel Aviv, and Berlin.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding has combined philanthropic gifts, corporate sponsorships, and support from venture funds, aligning with partners such as RBC, TD Bank, Scotiabank, MaRS Discovery District, and university entrepreneurship centres at University of Toronto and University of Waterloo. Grants and donations have come from family foundations and notable Canadian philanthropists linked to initiatives similar to those of Terry Matthews and Galen Weston-affiliated entities. Strategic partnerships include collaborations with accelerators and investor groups like Y Combinator, Techstars, Real Ventures, and corporate innovation arms such as Shopify and Bell Ventures. These relationships support seed capital, mentorship, and in-kind resources, and align programming with the priorities of institutional backers and venture partners including OMERS Ventures and Inovia Capital.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques mirror debates about accelerator models worldwide, including concerns about selection bias toward urban centres like Toronto and Vancouver, perceived echo chambers linked to Silicon Valley norms, and questions over equity distribution similar to controversies faced by Y Combinator and Techstars. Observers have raised issues about access for underrepresented founders from Indigenous communities, Northern regions, and francophone areas associated with Quebec City and Montréal, paralleling national discussions in forums such as Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and advocacy groups focused on diversity in tech. Debates have also touched on transparency in follow-on funding and the influence of corporate sponsors on curriculum, reflecting tensions seen in conversations involving institutions like MaRS Discovery District and academic partners.

Category:Canadian entrepreneurship programs