The City of Toronto is partnering with WeWork to launch the Toronto Startup Passport.
The Toronto Startup Passport will provide Toronto-based entrepreneurs with access to WeWork spaces in Canada and around the world to work and hold meetings. Specifically, entrepreneurs associated with the MaRS Discovery District, the DMZ, the University of Toronto Entrepreneurship, and York University will receive access to WeWork’s international network to scale and grow their businesses in new markets.
“Toronto has a thriving entrepreneurial community and for these businesses to compete at an international scale, we need to provide them with the right infrastructure to succeed,” said Mayor John Tory. “The Toronto Startup Passport lowers the barrier of entry for businesses to build their presence outside of Toronto by providing them workspace and access to the WeWork community for programming and networking.”
“The Toronto Startup Passport lowers the barrier of entry for businesses to build their presence outside of Toronto.”
The City of Toronto said the Toronto Startup Passport includes access to any workspace once a month at any of WeWork’s locations, the ability to book and pay for workspaces on an as-needed basis, and access to programming within WeWork spaces including panels and events. Startups will also receive business services available only to WeWork members, and access to the WeWork Member Network App, which connects users to over 250,000 members worldwide
“There is certainly opportunity for Toronto entrepreneurs to do a lot of business internationally, but it’s hard because you need a way to plug into local networks and you need a space where you can meet these prospective partners,” said Dave McLaughlin, Northeast general manager for WeWork. “WeWork provides the space and support to do that in 74 cities all over the world and we’re adding more all the time. I’m grateful to Mayor Tory for his vision on the Passport, because we see this as another way for WeWork to help grow the Toronto economy.”
Last month, WeWork confirmed the location of its fourth Toronto space. The company also has spaces in Montreal and Vancouver.