Programs
CAIN develops tools, frameworks, and advocacy programs that help Canadian accelerators and incubators measure impact, improve operations, and shape national policy.
Startup Tracker
Data intelligence for BAIs
Automated impact tracking dashboard replacing manual data collection.
BAI PMF
Performance measurement with ISED
National framework measuring BAI impact on startups and the economy.
Start-Up Visa
Advocacy with Startup Canada
Improving Canada’s pathway for international entrepreneurs.
Startup Tracker for Accelerators + Incubators
Data intelligence for BAIs
Stop Chasing Data. Start Measuring Impact.
The Problem
Accelerators and incubators lose countless hours on manual data collection to understand and report their impact. Gathering data from multiple sources and asking entrepreneurs to answer ongoing startup surveys is time-consuming, unreliable, and often incomplete.
The Solution
Our Startup Tracker Dashboard provides comprehensive, verifiable, and up-to-date insights — automatically tracking startups currently and previously enrolled in your programs.
Challenges BAIs Face Every Day
Low Response Rates
Entrepreneurs are busy — survey fatigue means you only hear from a fraction of your portfolio.
Short-Term View
Most data captures a single point in time, missing the long-term trajectory of startups after they leave your program.
Resource Strain
Staff spend days chasing data instead of supporting startups and running programs.
Disconnected Data
Information lives in spreadsheets, CRMs, and email threads — impossible to get a unified picture.
Gaps in Reporting
When funders and government ask for impact data, the numbers are incomplete and hard to defend.
Missing the Full Story
Revenue alone doesn't tell the story — you need jobs created, funding raised, pivots, exits, and more.
Wasted Time
Manual data collection and verification eats into limited team capacity every reporting cycle.
Lack of References
Self-reported data is hard to verify — stakeholders want sourced, referenceable information.
How Startup Tracker Solves This
Automatic Updates
Data refreshes continuously from referenced sources — no surveys required.
Multi-Year Longitudinal Data
Track startups over time, years after they complete your program.
High Coverage
Capture data on the vast majority of your portfolio, not just the ones who respond to surveys.
Referenced Sources
Every data point is traceable to a verifiable source — defend your numbers with confidence.
Cross-Program Insights
Compare outcomes across cohorts, programs, and time periods to find what works.
Save Your Team Days of Work
With Startup Tracker handling data collection, your team can focus on what matters:
Interactive Dashboard Features
Segment
Filter by program, startup age, founders, gender, company size, funding stage, and industry.
Location
Map your portfolio across regions, cities, and provinces to understand geographic distribution.
Benchmarking
Compare your portfolio against national cohorts and peer organizations.
Journey Mapping
Visualize the full lifecycle of startups — from program entry through growth, funding, and exits.
Ready to Stop Chasing and Start Leading?
Book a 15-minute demo to see how Startup Tracker can transform your impact reporting.
Book a 15-minute demoBAI Performance Measurement Framework
In collaboration with ISED
CAIN partnered with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) on the Business Accelerator and Incubator Performance Measurement Framework (BAI PMF) — a comprehensive national survey designed to measure the impact and effectiveness of accelerators and incubators across Canada.
The BAI PMF gathered data from organizations across the country, creating one of the most complete pictures of how BAIs contribute to the Canadian innovation ecosystem. The framework examined program structures, outcomes for supported startups, and the broader economic impact of business acceleration and incubation.
Key Outcomes & Findings
The framework’s findings reveal that BAIs play a crucial role in Canada’s innovation landscape, while also highlighting areas for improvement in how we measure and support their work.
Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program
Partnership with Startup Canada
CAIN has partnered with Startup Canada to advocate for improvements to Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program, which connects immigrant entrepreneurs with designated organizations (DOs) — including accelerators and incubators — to launch innovative businesses in Canada.
The SUV program is a critical pathway for international entrepreneurs, but stakeholders have identified significant challenges that limit its effectiveness. Through joint research, CAIN and Startup Canada developed evidence-based recommendations for improving the program.
In partnership with Startup CanadaOur Approach
The research drew on multiple sources to build a comprehensive picture of how the SUV program works in practice:
What We Found — 5 Recommendation Areas
Bilingual content available — French version of the SUV research exists. All recommendations were developed with input from both English and French-speaking stakeholders.