Most entrepreneurs in the GTA think that traveling to downtown Toronto is their best bet for startup resources. But Startup York, a grassroots organization stemming from the larger Startup Canada, is trying to change that perception.
The organization has created an in-depth guide for York Region-based entrepreneurs looking for resources within the community. Lucas Chang, the startup community co-lead for York Region, said that they started creating the guide a year ago after those that participated in Startup Weekend York Region couldn’t easily find other organizations that fostered entrepreneurship.
“York Region is spread out, as it includes nine municipalities including Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and up to Newmarket and King City,” said Chang. “There are no obvious places for entrepreneurs and innovators to get together such as a Liberty Village or King and Spadina.”
Chang’s hope for this resource — which he encourages others to contribute to and ‘rebrand’ for their own companies as they see fit — will help entrepreneurs spend more time building their companies and less time trying to figure out where to start. “The document is a tangible map of the ecosystem in YR – perhaps the first one that some of the organizations have seen,” said Chang. “If this tangible ecosystem map leads to better collaboration — which is already strong here — that is then conveyed to the broader community so that new and growing entrepreneurs have a front door into the ecosystem, that’s fantastic.”