Building a Stronger Canada Through Newcomer Entrepreneurship
Canada has attracted talent, ideas, experience and connections from around the world.
ImPact Canada exists to turn that potential into Canadian prosperity.
ImPact Canada is a non-profit organization advancing newcomer entrepreneurship as a force for economic growth, innovation, stronger communities and diversified global trade.
We believe newcomers aren’t simply joining Canada’s economy. They can help build what comes next.
Entrepreneurship is infrastructure.
Starting a business is one of the fastest ways newcomers can transform their experience, knowledge and ideas into economic participation.
But entrepreneurship doesn’t happen in isolation.
ImPact works to build the connections between newcomers, Canadian business, government, researchers, communities and capital that allow entrepreneurial potential to become economic capacity.
Our work is developing around four interconnected areas:
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Creating practical pathways to the knowledge, relationships, resources and opportunities entrepreneurs need to build in Canada.
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Studying newcomer entrepreneurship, identifying barriers and opportunities, and turning what we learn into useful ideas for policymakers, institutions and business leaders.
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Building networks between newcomer entrepreneurs and Canada’s broader business ecosystem—across industries, communities and regions.
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Developing new approaches to connecting promising newcomer-led businesses with investment and growth capital.
Newcomer entrepreneurs are a Canadian advantage.
Canada’s immigrant population represents an extraordinary reservoir of knowledge, experience and global connectivity.
We see four particularly important advantages.
Innovation
People who have experienced different systems, markets and cultures often see problems—and possibilities—differently. Those perspectives can produce new products, businesses and ways of thinking.
Global Networks
Newcomers often maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, investors and communities around the world. Those networks can become bridges between Canadian businesses and international markets.
Market Intelligence
Language, cultural understanding and first-hand knowledge of foreign markets can help Canadian companies navigate places that would otherwise be difficult to enter.
Community Strength
Entrepreneurs create more than businesses. They create employment, relationships, institutions, neighbourhood activity and a sense of belonging.
Stronger at Home. More Connected to the World.
Canada is entering a period in which economic resilience matters enormously.
We need more entrepreneurship.
We need stronger communities.
We need new sources of productivity and innovation.
And we need deeper economic relationships beyond our traditional markets.
Newcomer entrepreneurs can contribute to all four.
Supporting newcomer entrepreneurship isn’t simply good immigration policy. It’s good economic strategy.
Ideas that can strengthen Canada.
ImPact Canada is also building an independent research and convening platform focused on the intersection of:
Immigration × Entrepreneurship × Innovation × Trade × Community
We want to ask bigger questions.
What happens when Canada views immigrants not primarily through the lens of settlement, but as potential founders, innovators and economic connectors?
How can newcomer knowledge and networks help Canadian companies reach new markets?
What prevents experienced entrepreneurs from rebuilding businesses after arriving in Canada?
Where are Canada’s institutions working—and where could we design something better?
Our research, pilots and partnerships will help turn those questions into practical recommendations.
Come In, We’re Open!
Stories from the people building Canada.
Come In, We’re Open! is ImPact Canada’s storytelling platform exploring the lives and businesses of newcomer entrepreneurs.
Through conversations with founders from around the world, we document what it actually means to arrive, adapt, take risks and build something in Canada.
Their stories reveal more than individual perseverance.
Together, they show us what Canada’s next generation of entrepreneurship can look like.
Build with us.
This isn’t work ImPact Canada can—or should—do alone.
We’re building a national network of entrepreneurs, researchers, businesses, governments, investors, universities, economic-development organizations and community partners who share a simple belief:
Canada becomes stronger when the people who choose to build their lives here are able to help build the country too.
If you’re working on that future, we’d like to know you.