Nominations Open May 13 — July 20
Canada's top ten young entrepreneurs
Awards Weekend
Sept 13–14, 2026
Location
Vancouver & Whistler
ABOUT
CATEGORIES
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Female Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Black Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Indigenous Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Emerging Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Tech & AI Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Sustainability Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Health & Wellness Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Partner Designed Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Partner Designed Young Entrepreneur of the Year
THE PROCESS
1
May 13 - July 20
Nominations Open
Submit yours or nominate a founder you believe in. Coast-to-coast intake.
2
July 27
Applications Close
3
August 10
Winners are announced and invited to both Vancouver and Whistler.
4
Sept 13–14
Awards Weekend
Summit Day in Vancouver. Winners' Retreat in Whistler the next day.
THE EXPERIENCE
Two days, two altitudes,
one unforgettable week.
DAY 1
Sunday · Sep 13 · Vancouver
The Summit Day
A full-day gathering of Canada's most ambitious founders, investors, and operators. Talks, panels, and the moments you'll remember for years.
Morning Summit Hike Experience
Rooftop DJ Set & Live Winner Announcements
Curated networking with 200+ attendees
Awards ceremony & celebration
Day 2
Monday · Sep 14 · Whistler
The Winners' Retreat
The Top 10 head north. An intimate, invite-only day in the mountains — no stage, no agenda except deep conversation, real connection, and the kind of relationships that build companies.
VIP transport to Whistler
Mountain + Wellness Experience
Intimate Dinner at Ryan Holmes Home
Curated Networking
NOMINATIONS
Two ways to put a founder
on the national stage.
Nominate Yourself
You've built something real. You've got the grit, the growth, and the receipts. Tell us your story — we're looking for Canada's next generation of category-defining founders.
Nominate Someone
Know a founder who deserves the spotlight? The best leaders are often too busy building to brag. Put them forward — we'll take it from there.
LAST YEAR'S WINNER
Founded in 2021, Puppy Sphere is now pulling in over $5M a year, running events in 14 cities across North America, and partnering with Google, TikTok, and The New York Times. Their community of 200,000+ fans and over $50,000 raised for mental health and animal welfare prove it’s more than cute content: it’s connection.
Francesca Albo
Puppy Sphere
COMMON QUESTIONS