The event will spotlight the companies and people driving Canada’s scaleup economy — and why they matter more than ever.
Digital Journal has been named the official media partner for ScaleUP Week 2025, a Western Canadian taking place June 2–5 in Calgary and online. Over four days, the event will explore what it really takes to grow companies beyond the startup stage — a challenge that has persisted in Canada’s innovation economy for more than a decade.
Canada’s startup scene is frequently celebrated, but turning those early wins into sustained growth remains a persistent challenge. The leap from startup to scaleup is often where momentum stalls — not because of a lack of ambition, but because the resources, networks, and policies needed to support scaling are still catching up. This gap has real consequences, influencing everything from job creation to national productivity and global competitiveness.
Recent data from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada backs this up. While small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up over 99 percent of all businesses in the country, only a sliver achieve sustained high growth. According to the 2023 Key Small Business Statistics, just 0.1% of employer businesses were classified as high-growth by employment, and only 0.2% by revenue. These numbers reinforce a long-standing pattern: Canada excels at launching businesses, but struggles to help them scale into globally competitive companies — a challenge also highlighted in the report’s section on business growth and survival rates.
“Canada has everything it needs to become a global leader in scale,” says Simon Raby, professor at Mount Royal University and founder of ScaleUP Week. “We’re seeing more momentum than ever behind the idea that scaling matters — and ScaleUP Week brings together the people, insights, and tools needed to turn potential into performance.”
ScaleUP Week is powered by Mount Royal University, in collaboration with Growth Catalyst, McLeod Law LLP, Motiv Digital and IVY Design Inc.
Turning the spotlight toward scale
Each day of ScaleUP Week 2025 is designed to unpack a different aspect of growth.
The event opens with a look at the current state of scaleup ecosystems in Canada. With input from global experts and new research, participants will dig into the conditions that enable scale — and where regional gaps persist. Localized working sessions across the West will give founders, policymakers and ecosystem leaders the chance to compare notes and co-create action plans.
On day two, the focus shifts to leaders of small to mid-sized businesses with growth plans. ScaleUP Masterclasses offer hands-on learning opportunities, connecting business builders with leading experts to explore the tough operational and strategic challenges that come with growth. These sessions are meant to equip companies to grow faster and smarter.
The third day is designed as an interactive marketplace — ScaleUP Connections — where advisors, investors, and service providers converge with high-growth firms. Whether it’s insight into capital access, talent development, or market expansion, the goal is to connect companies with the people and tools they need to keep scaling.
The week culminates with the ScaleUP Awards Gala, a national celebration recognizing the companies, leaders, and innovators helping redefine what growth looks like in Canada.
Surveying the scaleup landscape
In the lead-up to the event, organizers have launched the ScaleUP Monitor, which includes a survey open until April 30. The survey captures the lived experience of scaling in Canada — from founders and leadership teams to community builders and investors — and will inform recommendations shared during the event. Responses can be submitted here.
“Canada’s growth companies have powerful stories to tell, and real insight into what they need to succeed,” says Raby. “This partnership helps us bring those stories to a broader audience.”
A national platform for growth
With more than 1.5 million monthly readers, Digital Journal is known for spotlighting transformation and innovation across sectors. As the official media partner, the platform will feature regular interviews, analysis, and founder perspectives throughout the lead-up to ScaleUP Week — starting with this article.
“Scaleups are the ones who’ve already figured something out — they’ve found product–market fit, built real businesses, and are growing with purpose,” says Jennifer Friesen, associate editor at Digital Journal. “Beyond hopeful stories, these are proof points. And our role is to help share those lessons more broadly across Canada’s innovation ecosystem.”
More information about ScaleUp Week 2025, including how to attend or participate, is available at scaleupweek.ca.
Digital Journal is the official media partner of ScaleUP Week 2025.
This coverage is supported by the Calgary Innovation Coalition (CIC), a network of 95+ organizations working to accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship across the Calgary region.
This article was created with the assistance of AI. Learn more about our AI ethics policy here.
