Ecosystem Health Dashboard
A real-time scoreboard for Canadian innovation. The data behind the crisis — and what we’re doing about it.
2 indicators
2 indicators
4 indicators
5 indicators
10 Indicators That Define the Crisis
32.4%
Startup HQ Retention Rate
vs 70% in 2019
Only 32.4% of high-potential Canadian startups (raising $1M+ USD) remain headquartered in Canada. Down from 70% in 2019. Nearly 50% have moved to the US.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN's directory and wayfinding tools help founders find domestic support. The collective intelligence survey will identify what keeps companies here.
2x
Cross-Border Capital Gap
vs Canadian founders raise 2x less than those who relocate to US
Canadian founders who move to the US raise nearly twice as much capital as those who stay. Key driver: better access to capital and influence of US accelerators like Y Combinator.
What CAIN is doing
BAIs must help companies access capital without relocating. CAIN is mapping investor connections across the network.
66%
VC Deal Concentration
vs 26 mega-deals = 66% of all funding
While $8B was deployed in 2025, deal volume fell 12%. Funding is pooling into mega-deals. Only 42% of committed capital goes to new startups — the rest keeps existing portfolio companies afloat.
What CAIN is doing
Small and mid-stage BAIs are the pipeline for future deals. CAIN is advocating for broader distribution through the $750M early growth financing strategy.
190,399
New Business Creation
vs 191,000 in 2015 — effectively unchanged despite population growth
Canada created virtually the same number of businesses in 2024 as in 2015, despite massive population growth. Other G7 economies expanded. Canada ranks 24th globally for established business ownership.
What CAIN is doing
BAIs are the front line of business creation. CAIN is helping members modernize and reach more founders through the network.
26th
OECD Business Environment Rank
vs 10th in 1998
Canada's standing on OECD Product Market Regulation indicators — measuring barriers to entrepreneurship — fell from 10th to 26th. Markets have become more closed on a relative basis.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN's GR lane is using the competitiveness report to advocate for regulatory reform with ISED.
122 years
Corporate Incumbency Age
vs US largest companies: median age far lower (Apple, Amazon, Google all post-1975)
The median age of Canada's 15 largest public companies is 122 years (CN Rail 1918, Royal Bank 1869, Bell 1880). Incumbents rarely face competitive threats. In the US, companies like Apple and Google rose by displacing older giants.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN is catalyzing the "creative destruction" conversation — asking whether the BAI model itself needs reinvention.
2/3
Talent Exodus
vs of Waterloo graduating engineers leave Canada
Two thirds of Waterloo graduating engineers and the majority of founders raising over $1M leave for the US or Europe.
What CAIN is doing
BAIs must become reasons to stay. CAIN's positioning intelligence will help members articulate their value to talent.
1,133 notices
Federal Innovation Capacity
vs 592 positions eliminated (~9% of 6,526 ISED staff)
ISED issued 1,133 workforce adjustment notices in January 2026, with 592 position eliminations (~9% of staff). Strategic Innovation Fund lost $141.4M annually. Innovative Solutions Canada cut by ~$70M. 12+ Trudeau-era innovation programs face expiring funding.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN is filling the intelligence gap. Our collective data becomes the only source when government can't produce its own.
+14%
BAI Economic Impact
vs BAI-supported companies show 14% higher employment
BAI-supported companies demonstrate 14% higher employment and 13% greater revenue than non-supported peers. The program measuring this has lost its funding.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN's data dashboard preserves and extends this evidence. The collective intelligence survey adds qualitative depth.
“Go for bronze”
Innovation Ambition
vs Tobi Lütke (Shopify CEO) on Canada's innovation culture
Canada struggles with a "go-for-bronze" culture — celebrating mediocrity over excellence. Reinforced by government programs favoring lifestyle businesses over high-growth firms, tax policies discouraging scaling.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN's Sovereignty Manifesto calls for an "Own-the-Podium" culture shift. The sprint is designed to model what bold action looks like.
$70B
Buy Canadian Procurement
vs Mandatory Canadian preference replaces "best efforts"
The Buy Canadian Policy Framework (effective December 2025) requires mandatory Canadian preference in procurement. Contracts ≥$25M now, dropping to ≥$5M by June 2026. This represents roughly $70 billion in public spending now accessible to Canadian innovators.
What CAIN is doing
BAIs should position portfolio companies as procurement-ready domestic suppliers. CAIN is mapping which members can help companies navigate government procurement.
$180B
Defence Industrial Strategy
vs $290B capital investment + $6B BOREALIS for frontier R&D
Canada launched its Defence Industrial Strategy (Feb 2026) with $180B in procurement, $290B in capital investment, and BOREALIS ($6B for frontier R&D). BDC Defence Platform offers $4B for defence/security SMBs. NATO DIANA selected 22 Canadian firms.
What CAIN is doing
BAIs in defence tech corridors (Halifax ocean tech, Ottawa cybersecurity, Waterloo quantum) should position as pipeline accelerators into this massive new market.
-67%
Innovative Solutions Canada Gutted
vs ~$70M annual cut — two-thirds of the program eliminated
Innovative Solutions Canada, the closest Canadian analog to the US SBIR program, was cut by approximately $70 million annually. The US SBIR provides $4.73B annually — a 60:1 gap with ISC even before the cuts. 12+ other innovation programs face expiring funding.
What CAIN is doing
CAIN should advocate for a Canadian SBIR-equivalent with mandatory agency set-asides. The current approach of discretionary small programs is demonstrably failing.
The Case for Hope
The data paints a difficult picture — but the evidence for what works is equally clear.
+14%
Higher employment at BAI-supported companies
+13% greater revenue
176
Organizations in the CAIN network
11 provinces and territories
549
Programs discovered across the network
Through AI-powered enrichment
$750M
Early growth financing opportunity
On the horizon for the ecosystem
This data tells us the ecosystem needs to change.
CAIN is leading that change. Explore the network, contribute your data, or join the conversation.