Entrepreneur / Startup Founder
Build something from nothing - Canada's startup ecosystem is thriving in Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal.
Entrepreneur / Startup Founder Salary in Canada
Entrepreneur / Startup Founders in Canada earn about Variable at entry level and around Unlimited in senior roles.
- Entry level: Variable
- Senior level: Unlimited
Most startups fail - but successful founders can generate extraordinary returns.
About the Career
Canada's startup ecosystem is one of the world's fastest growing - Toronto's tech hub rivals Boston and Austin.
Job Outlook
High Growth demand. Canada's startup ecosystem is one of the world's fastest growing - Toronto's tech hub rivals Boston and Austin.
How to Get There
- Any degree - or no degree. Skills and execution matter far more than credentials.
- Time to career: Variable - many founders start in high school
Degrees That Lead Here
- Computer Science – high 80s to high 90s depending on school
Key Skills
- Opportunity Recognition
- Business Modelling
- Pitching & Fundraising
- Resilience & Adaptability
- Team Building
Typical Employers
- Startups (own venture)
- Accelerators & incubators (Velocity, Communitech)
- Venture capital & angel networks
- Family businesses
- Corporate innovation teams
High School Roadmap
- Identify a problem worth solving. Build something - a website, app, or service for your community.
- Launch a small venture. Enter pitch competitions. Research Shad Canada.
- Apply to Shad Canada. Enter business plan competitions. Build a network of mentors.
- Consider entrepreneurship programs at Waterloo (Velocity) or UofT (Creative Destruction Lab).
Top Universities for This Path
- University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON
- University of Toronto – Toronto, ON
- University of British Columbia – Vancouver, BC
- Queen's University – Kingston, ON
- McMaster University – Hamilton, ON
Insider Tips
- Waterloo's Velocity program has produced more unicorn startups per capita than any other student accelerator in the world.
- Shad Canada is Canada's top entrepreneurship program for high school students - extremely valuable for future founders.
- The most important skill for entrepreneurs is execution - start building things as early as possible.