Resilience, Renewal and the Next Generation of Canadian Entrepreneurs

Few years have tested Canadian entrepreneurs quite like 2025. Ongoing trade and tariff uncertainty, geopolitical instability and shifting global supply chains have added new layers of complexity for small business owners already navigating a volatile economic environment. From exporters recalibrating pricing to local businesses managing rising input costs and unpredictable markets, today’s founders are being asked to make critical decisions with less certainty than ever. Yet across our amazing country, entrepreneurs continue to adapt, innovate and persevere.

Small business owners are, by their nature, problem-solvers who innovate, take calculated risks and strengthen our communities. Their resilience is not just admirable; it’s essential to Canada’s economic future. Small businesses remain the backbone of our economy, creating jobs, sustaining local communities and driving growth that is both durable and inclusive.

At Futurpreneur, we see entrepreneurs’ resilience firsthand every day. As we look ahead to 2026, we are proud to be approaching a major milestone: 30 years of supporting young entrepreneurs. Since 1996, more than 20,000 entrepreneurs have launched businesses with Futurpreneur’s loan financing and mentorship support. These businesses contribute to inclusive economic development and prosperity in communities of all sizes across Canada.

Our team is especially proud of the impact behind those numbers. Each year, at least 14 per cent of the entrepreneurs we support tell us they never would have started a business without Futurpreneur. Once they start, Futurpreneur-supported businesses are 27 per cent more likely to survive five years than the Canadian average.

In a challenging economic climate, the right startup support is vital to help businesses succeed and strengthen local economies, one entrepreneur at a time.

If you’re considering starting a business, know that you don’t have to do it alone. Access to capital, mentorship and trusted guidance can transform your great idea into your business taking root and flourishing. Futurpreneur is here to help young entrepreneurs take that first step, including aspiring founders in communities that face systemic barriers to entrepreneurship and small business ownership.

Finally, for successful business owners looking to give back, January is National Mentoring Month. Now is the perfect time to volunteer as a mentor, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and helping to shape a stronger, more inclusive Canadian economy.

Karen Greve Young

CEO, Futurpreneur

Karen Greve Young is CEO of Futurpreneur, a national non-profit whose pan-Canadian team has supported the success of 20,000+ diverse, young entrepreneurs launching businesses that contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development in every province and territory. Karen is also proud to serve as Chair of the Board of Ovarian Cancer Canada. She holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Harvard University.