What an incredible week in Ottawa! As we celebrate Futurpreneur’s 30th anniversary, our team, mentors, and partners gathered in the nation’s capital for Hill Day 2026.From high-level policy discussions at the Future of Business Summit to meaningful conversations with Members of Parliament, the energy was palpable. We are thrilled to share the highlights of how we are working together to foster a more inclusive and prosperous ecosystem for Canada’s next generation of business leaders.
Driving the conversation: The Future of Business Summit
Our week began at the Future of Business Summit, hosted by our partners at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Futurpreneur CEO, Karen Greve Young, joined a panel titled “Enabling Small Businesses to Scale: From Insight to Impact.” During the session, she emphasized that while Canada has no shortage of entrepreneurial ambition, the challenge lies in providing the right conditions for these businesses to scale. Moderated by Déborah Cherenfant, the discussion included Cinzia Bazzo (Sage) and Simon Poulin (Upside Drinks).
Key takeaways included:
- Breaking down internal barriers: For many founders, their first export market is a neighboring province, yet red tape can make this challenging.
- The advisory gap: Scaling requires a different toolkit than starting a business. Founders need access to management talent and experienced advisors who have navigated these waters before.
A highlight of the summit was during the Premiers’ Session featuring The Hon. Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario), The Hon. Susan Holt (Premier of New Brunswick), The Hon. Rob Lantz (Premier of Prince Edward Island), and The Hon. R.J. Simpson (Premier of the Northwest Territories). The discussion focused on national unity and trade, reinforcing the issues entrepreneurs face across the country.
A night of celebrations: Our 30th anniversary Hill Day reception
The highlight of the week was Futurpreneur’s 30th anniversary Hill Day reception at the University of Ottawa, co-presented by our long-standing partners, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), represented by Miguel Barrieras, Chief Community Banking and Impact Officer, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), represented by Yasser Ghazi, Vice President- Commercial Financial Services, Ontario North & East. The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), joined us and expressed her support for the next generation of founders. Eleven Futurpreneur-supported young entrepreneurs from across Canada showcased their businesses to policymakers and ecosystem leaders, reflecting the diversity and strength of the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
Featured entrepreneurs included:
- Joanna Pariseau (Taste the City, AB), who connects people to cities through food-based discovery experiences and turns digital recommendations into purchasable real-world routes.
- Moirae Choquette (Tomato Wheels, AB), founder of one of Canada’s fastest-growing independent wine labels focused on quality and community.
- Darion Ducharme (Teqare, MB), who delivers technology and cybersecurity education to First Nations communities.
- David Owasi (Outreach Genius, MB) David leads a venture-backed startup that deploys AI voice agents to help home service companies and brands scale operations.
- Constanza Safatle (Newbornlander, NL), G20 Alumni, who creates sustainable baby accessories while providing employment and training for newcomer and refugee women.
- Diana Virgovicova (Xatoms, ON), G20 Alumni, who uses AI and quantum chemistry to develop new materials for water treatment.
- Jennifer Ai (Leopard AI, ON), G20 Alumni, who is rethinking how venture capital is allocated globally.
- Richa Gupta (Good Food for Good, ON), who has scaled her organic, health-conscious food brand across North America.
- Viet Anh (Vian) Nguyen (Rude Mama Hot Sauce, ON), whose handcrafted Vietnamese hot sauces using locally sourced Canadian ingredients have expanded into major grocery retailers across the country.
- Arold Ramboasalama & Cécile Dijoux (Or Noir de Madagascar, QC), who draw on four generations of family expertise to bring ethically sourced Madagascar vanilla to the Quebec market.
- Guillaume Blais (PROD.G, QC), a veteran of the contemporary circus world, who produces immersive acrobatic performances that prioritize inclusion and diversity.
Entrepreneur David Owasi delivered a keynote address about building Outreach Genius, highlighting how access to mentorship and capital can help founders scale both their businesses and their impact.
We also heard from Futurpreneur Indigenous entrepreneur and Board member, Lorne Jr. Blesse, founder of Kiwetin Clothing, AB, who shared his journey from northern Alberta, emphasizing the importance of empowering others to envision their own success and ensuring those same doors to opportunity remain open for them.
This sense of community was echoed by Guillaume Blais (PRODG, QC), who shared how the Hill Day experience allowed him to bridge the gap between culture and commerce, securing pivotal meetings with institutions like the Canada Council for the Arts.
Experience the energy firsthand. Click below to watch a special behind-the-scenes video from Joanna Pariseau (Taste the City, AB), who reflected on her Hill Day experience.
Bringing entrepreneurial voices to parliament
To ensure the voices of young entrepreneurs are heard where decisions are made, Futurpreneur arranged one-on-one meetings between our founders and their local Members of Parliament, so they could hear firsthand about the challenges of scaling a business in Canada and the impact of federal support.
Looking ahead
Since 1996, Futurpreneur has supported more than 21,000 young entrepreneurs, helping them launch more than 16,600 businesses across Canada. As we reflect on 30 years of success, we are reminded that while the landscape of business has changed, the spirit of the Canadian entrepreneur remains strong.
We leave Ottawa feeling optimistic. Our week underscored the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs, government and the private sector to ensure the next generation of founders have the support, the mentorship and the capital they need to succeed.
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the Hill. Here’s to the next 30 years of building, growing and scaling together!
