Fully endorsed by the ScaleUp Institute in 2022, Canada’s Lazaridis ScaleUp Programme – based at Wilfrid Laurier University – brings together the most promising scaleup tech companies from across the country and connects them with a network of senior talent from successful firms and customised engagement, helping them to scale and compete globally while remaining domiciled in Canada. Lazaridis also brings good practices from scaling tech companies to SMEs in traditional industries to help them thrive in an increasingly digital economy.

Cohorts of the most promising companies are selected from a diverse range of sectors including AI, medtech, fintech, agritech, tech-enabled retailers and oil and gas for a 12-month scaleup programme of education, peer networking and mentorship. The programme has delivered 7 cohorts and has enhanced its support to include the wider executive teams of scaleups rather than focusing solely on founders. This includes access to  function-oriented peer groups. The current cohort moved from remote to in person support in May 2022 with events in Palo Alto and New York.

To enhance the connections developed through the programme, Lazaridis runs all-cohort alumni events aimed at expanding trusted peer networks with speakers drawn from globally successful companies.. Recruitment for the eighth cohort of the core programme is currently underway.

Since the programme began in 2016, it has supported 529 executives and 70 scaling companies that have raised more than CA$2bn and created more than 4,085 jobs. The programme has a strong impact on scaleups, showing on average an annualised growth rate of 57% in employment and 70% in revenues; while 95% of the participating scaleups reported increased confidence or leadership capacity.

The programme’s commitment to diversity is a key priority with 82 per cent of the current cohort of companies and 41 per cent of the 70 alumni companies having a founder or co-founder from an under-represented group. Additionally, 34 per cent of the ScaleUp companies are women-led, which compares to 5 percent of Canadian tech companies that have a woman CEO.

Additionally building upon the success of the Scale Up Programme and their SME GROWTH pilot, Lazaridis is testing the market for an executive growth programme aimed at earlier stage founders. 

Lazaridis ScaleUp Program [2022] website