The Founders Behind the Headlines: CanadianSME Startup Growth Awards 2026 Announces Finalists

CanadianSME Startup Growth Magazine and Canada Startup Association spotlight the entrepreneurs turning bold ideas into growing businesses, creating jobs and taking Canadian innovation beyond borders

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Sept. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Behind every startup is a founder who took a chance. Someone who left a stable career, started again in a new country, spent years developing a product or kept building when funding did not come.

These are the stories worth telling.

Today, the Startup Growth Awards 2026 proudly announced its finalists, recognizing entrepreneurs building businesses, challenging established industries, and creating new opportunities in Canada and internationally.

The winners will be revealed and celebrated at the third annual AGAZ Summit on September 21, 2026.

The awards reflect a powerful idea: the founders recognized today could become the business leaders the world reads about tomorrow. Their stories deserve to be shared long before they become household names.

Meet the 2026 Startup Growth Awards Finalists 

Startup Founder of the Year

• Mohammad Doostmohammadi - Founder & CEO of pH7 Technologies
• Mina Mitry - CEO & Co-Founder of Kepler Communications
• Soroush Karimzadeh - CEO of Novarc Technologies Inc.
• Conner Tidd - Co-Founder & CEO of Just Vertical
• Mahya Khaki - Co-founder and CEO of AiVALON Health Technologies Inc.
  
  

Emerging Startup Award

• Ehsan Velayati - CEO of AlloWide Health Inc
• Aline Gouveia - Co-Founder & Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Aeronova Advanced Materials
• Ashley Hayes - Founder & CEO at InvisiGlobe Inc.
• Jessica Glowacki - Founder of EH! Canada's Social Network
• Kemi Bolatito - CEO of Rolla
  
  

Startup Women of the Year Award

• Erin Bury - Co-founder and CEO of Final Blueprint Inc.
• Nicky Senyard - CEO of Fintel Connect Technologies Inc.
• Cristina Carpio - Founder/CEO of Evolve Media Group         
• Katherine Li - Co Founder & Chief Operating Officer at Pulse FX Corp
• Inara Lalani - Co-Founder & CEO at femtherapeutics
  
  

Excellence in Tech & AI Award

• Dr. Ameneh Madjd- Co-founder & COO, D2Type Health Inc.
• Philippe Benjamin-Duranceau - Co-founder, COO of BrainScores
• Apurav Chauhan - CEO of Cerosk      
• Ali Basij - Founder and CEO of HOP EXPERIENCES CORPORATION
• Jennifer Ai - Founder and CEO of Leopard AI Inc.
  
  

Community Impact Award

• DoorStep Dental inc
• Taste the City
• KnowMediQ - Healthcare Technologies Inc
• Enabled Talent
• Toronto Business Development Centre
  
  

Immigrant Founder Award

• Yogesh Abichandani (Saahil) - Founder & CEO of Hello Gubby
• Victoria Xu - CEO of miRoncol Health
• William Fan - Founder & CEO of Emobility Energy
• Ali Basij - Founder and CEO of HOP EXPERIENCES CORPORATION
• Cristina carpio - Founder/CEO of Evolve Media Group
  
  

Startup of the Year (SME)

• Cinareo
• Defense Station
• ZestXT Corp., Inc.
  
  

Ecosystem Builder Award

• Marat Ressin - President of York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
• Alexandra Kapelos-Peters - Founder & CEO at Cansulta
• Erum Zehra - Founder of MuslimMoms.Ca
  
  

People's Choice Award (Most Innovative Startup)

• Cansulta
• HOP EXPERIENCES CORPORATION
• FLIK Industries
• IRefer Club
• Somanai Energy Lounge
  
  

Most Impactful Startup Award

• Neptune Nanotechnologies
• Wiremi
• D2Type Health Inc.
• Hello Gubby
• Mascotica ID (M.ID)
  
  

“I have met founders building extraordinary companies who are still struggling to get into the right rooms. Not because their ideas aren’t good enough, but because the right people simply haven’t heard their stories yet,” said Tehmina A. Chaudhry, Founder and President of Canada Startup Association and Co- Founder of Startup Growth Magazine.

“We created Startup Growth Magazine to tell those stories. We created these awards to celebrate the people behind them. And through our international initiatives, we want to make sure those stories travel beyond Canada. Recognition should open doors, not end with a trophy.”

SK- Founder, CanadianSME Magazine; Co-Founder, Startup Growth Magazine

A Magazine Giving Unseen Founders a Voice

Launched to bring fresh voices into Canada’s business and startup conversation, Startup Growth Magazine has published three issues featuring founders, investors and ecosystem leaders whose experiences offer a different perspective on entrepreneurship.

The publication grew from a simple observation: some of the most interesting founders are not necessarily the ones receiving the most attention.

Many are immigrants building businesses in a new country. Others are women, first-time entrepreneurs or founders working outside traditional investment networks. Their journeys are rarely straightforward, but they remain an important part of Canada’s economic story.

With its fourth issue, Startup Growth Magazine continues to bring these experiences to readers while expanding its ambition beyond publishing.

The Startup Growth Awards are part of that journey, transforming storytelling into recognition and bringing founders face-to-face with investors, business leaders and potential partners who can help them grow.

Taking Canadian Startup Stories to the World

The finalists will be recognized at the 2026 AGAZ Summit, themed Capital Beyond Borders and organized by the Canada Startup Association.

Over the past three years, the association has built a community of more than 2,000 founders and supported over 50 entrepreneurs through international delegations, helping them explore new markets, meet investors and develop commercial partnerships.

Together, Startup Growth Magazine, the Startup Growth Awards and Canada Startup Association are working toward a shared goal: ensuring the next generation of Canadian business success stories is discovered at home and recognized worldwide.

Because the next major Canadian success story might already be building, we simply have not heard about it yet.

About Startup Growth Magazine

Startup Growth Magazine is a Canadian publication dedicated to sharing the stories of entrepreneurs, investors and the people building businesses. With a particular focus on emerging and underrepresented voices, the magazine brings readers closer to the real experiences, decisions and challenges behind entrepreneurship. Its ambition is to take Canadian startup stories to a global audience.

Website: startupgrowth.ca

About the Startup Growth Awards

The Startup Growth Awards recognize entrepreneurs and startups for their achievements, innovation and contributions to business and economic growth. The awards provide a platform for emerging companies and founders to gain recognition and connect with Canada’s wider business and investment community.

Website: startupgrowthawards.ca

About Canada Startup Association

Canada Startup Association is a Canadian not-for-profit organization supporting entrepreneurs through community building, access to capital and international commercialization. Its initiatives connect Canadian startups with investors, customers and business opportunities across global markets.

Website: canadastartups.co

Media Contact

Tehmina A Chaudhary
info@startupgrowth.ca | +1 (647) 771-0078 | +1 437 778 4446
Startup Growth Magazine