Futurpreneur announces Canada's 2026 delegation to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance Summit in Vienna, Austria. Published June 19, 2026 Canada's 2026 G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance (G20 YEA) Delegation TORONTO, June 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Forty young entrepreneurs from across Canada are preparing to bring Canadian innovation, ambition and global growth potential to Vienna, Austria, as part of Futurpreneur's 2026 Canadian delegation to the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance Summit. Futurpreneur, a proud founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance (G20 YEA), is pleased to announce the 2026 Canadian delegation selected to represent Canada at this year's Summit, taking place in Vienna, Austria, from September 16-18, 2026. Following a nationwide selection process, the delegation brings together exceptional young founders from across the country, representing eight provinces. Recognizing Canada's diversity, more than 50% of the delegation are women and over 75% of delegates identify as People of Colour, including Black founders (40%) and Indigenous founders (5%). Delegates represent a wide range of sectors, including professional services, technology, education, manufacturing, sustainability, transportation, and health and wellness. Hosted by the European Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs (YES for Europe), the 2026 G20 YEA Summit will convene entrepreneurs, policymakers and ecosystem leaders from G20 countries to advance collaboration, innovation and inclusive economic growth. Centred around the theme, "Re/Code Europe: The G20 Entrepreneur's Mandate", this year's Summit will explore how entrepreneurs can help drive resilient, future-ready economies through innovation, sustainability and global cooperation. Delegates will engage in discussions and networking opportunities focused on fostering cross-border partnerships, market expansion and diversification, emerging technologies and more equitable opportunities for entrepreneurs, particularly, women, Black and other founders from equity-deserving communities. As entrepreneurs continue to navigate shifting global markets, rapid advances in technology and evolving economic priorities, the G20 YEA remains an important platform for elevating the voices of the next generation of business leaders. Representing more than 500,000 young entrepreneurs worldwide, the Alliance contributes to advancing policies and partnerships that strengthen entrepreneurship, innovation and international trade across G20 economies. "The entrepreneurs selected for this year's delegation showcase the innovation, resilience and diversity that define Canada's entrepreneurial landscape," said Micah Anshan, Senior Director, Partnerships at Futurpreneur and President of the Canadian G20 YEA Delegation. "These founders are creating impact across sectors ranging from AI, technology and manufacturing to education, health and sustainability. We are excited to support a delegation that reflects Canada's regional and cultural diversity while helping strengthen Canada's entrepreneurial connections around the world." As Futurpreneur marks its 30th anniversary in 2026, this year's delegation reflects the organization's long-standing commitment to helping young entrepreneurs launch, grow and expand beyond Canadian borders. For three decades, Futurpreneur has supported founders in building businesses that strengthen communities and contribute to a more resilient economy. The 2026 G20 YEA Canadian delegation builds on that legacy by showcasing a new generation of innovators to lead, build and compete on the global stage. In Vienna, Canadian delegates will have the opportunity to build relationships with international peers, explore European and global markets, and contribute to policy conversations shaping the future of entrepreneurship. As a hub for international diplomacy and a growing centre for innovation and entrepreneurship, Vienna provides a dynamic environment for collaboration and dialogue on the future of business and economic development. The 2026 Canadian delegation will be co-led by Futurpreneur's Senior Bilingual Partnerships Specialist and G20 YEA Canadian Sherpa, Sidonie Kerbellec, and Senior Director Partnerships and G20 YEA Canadian President, Micah Anshan. Futurpreneur is grateful to Global Affairs Canada's CanExport Associations' funding program for supporting the delegation and to Trade Commissioner Services for their work preparing the delegates, and thanks their partners for helping them champion Canada's young entrepreneurs on the global stage. Futurpreneur's 2026 G20 YEA Canadian delegation includes: | Jacob Goldmann | Sunalta Power | | Briggs Gibbins | Last Shot Apparel | | Temi Okesanya | Road Aider | | / | / | British Columbia | Janine Jivani | Lilac and Leaf Wellness | | Clinton Large | Large Tutoring | | Saboor Meherzad | GrowEasy Solution | | Uzzi Sultoni | Adventure Outdoors | | / | / | New Brunswick Nova Scotia | Towoju Oluwatobi | CLARIVUE | | Rashmi Prakash | Re.generation | | Max Medyk | ImmigrateAI Global | | Basam Murtaza Tahoor | Tahoors Creative Marketing | | Isaac Arnold | XO TECHNOLOGY INC. | | / | / | | Vahid Zourmand baghban | Gemini Trading Alliance | | Sherena Hussain | FleetZero Inc. ("FleetZero") | | Ruth Aliu | Techity Consulting | | Rahila Kuyoro | D'hilla Beauty Inc | | Paul Griffin | The Sales Factory Inc | | Morgan Lehtinen | Kingston Innovation Coalition (o/a RXN HUB) | | Kajal Agarwal | Kovida Consultants Inc. | | Jennifer, Ai | Leopard AI Inc. | | Helen Huang | Trove | | Ehi Agbonlahor | Anutio | | Lina Ravelojaona | Uncap Consulting | | El Gibbor Djiki | Twish Cart | | Gharsa Amin | Kavodax | | Pamela Yengayenge | Innovyeng entrepreneuriat féminin Inc. | | Atifur Khan | Flite Material Sciences | | Merveille Mangenda Mukoko | Yekola | | Diana Virgovicova | Xatoms | | / | / | | Nicole Antoine | N/A & Co inc. | | Murielle Bien-Aimé | LA MAISON KOMANDŌ | | Falone Ngnitedem Siakam | fafa luxury canada inc | | Catherine Poirier | Pure Liberté inc ( Événements reconnaissance RH et Treasure kids) | | Omer Khan | Privacy.Education | | Damien Rambeaud | Iris + Arlo | | / | / | Saskatchewan | Olaseni (Shaney) Cole | Steminai | | Daryl Wright | Seed 2 Leaf Environmental Consulting Inc. | | / | / | ABOUT FUTURPRENEUR Since 1996, Futurpreneur has empowered thousands of young entrepreneurs ages 18-39 to start, buy and grow made-in-Canada businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to a more inclusive economy. Through accessible loan financing with mentorship and resources, Futurpreneur has helped more than 21,000 entrepreneurs build over 16,600 businesses in every province and territory, 80% of which are still operating after five years, a survival rate 27% higher than the national average. As Futurpreneur celebrates 30 years of inclusive impact, our work remains focused on the next generation of founders, helping them turn ambition into action and build thriving businesses with confidence. Futurpreneur is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). Learn more at futurpreneur.ca.

Small business, big Impact: Visa selects Futurpreneur as exclusive Canadian non-profit partner. Futurpreneur | May 19, 2026 Artwork by: Rafael Mayani, a Mexican artist based in Vancouver, BC Futurpreneur is thrilled to have been selected as Visa's only Canadian non-profit partner for 'Tap In to Impact,' a global program that will extend the energy of the highly anticipated international soccer tournament beyond the pitch and into the local communities that will help bring it to life. As part of this initiative, Visa is contributing $275,000 CAD to Futurpreneur to expand its support for young entrepreneurs, mentors and community-builders across Canada, an exciting partnership that comes during a landmark year for Futurpreneur, as Futurpreneur Canada celebrate 30 years of inclusive impact. "Tap In to Impact reinforces the vital role small businesses play in building vibrant, strong, connected communities," said Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur. "As we celebrate Futurpreneur's 30th anniversary, this partnership with Visa is especially meaningful, as it will enable us to empower even more young entrepreneurs with the loan financing, mentorship and resources they need to turn ambition into action and build thriving businesses with confidence." Through Tap In to Impact, Visa is committing $200,000 USD to one non-profit partner in each host country of the soccer tournament ($600,000 USD total) to support their work with small businesses and entrepreneurs. Along with Futurpreneur in Canada, Visa is partnering with Pro Mujer, a non-profit supporting women microentrepreneurs across Latin America and Mexico, and Score Association, America's largest network of volunteer business mentors. The goal of the campaign is to provide donations that drive practical, market-relevant support for small businesses.

Celebrating 30 years of impact: A recap of Futurpreneur's Hill Day 2026. Amani Ben Lakhdher | May 1, 2026 What an incredible week in Ottawa! As Futurpreneur Canada celebrate Futurpreneur's 30th anniversary, its team, mentors, and partners gathered in the nation's capital for Hill Day 2026.From high-level policy discussions at the Future of Business Summit to meaningful conversations with Members of Parliament, the energy was palpable. Futurpreneur Canada is thrilled to share the highlights of how Futurpreneur Canada is working together to foster a more inclusive and prosperous ecosystem for Canada's next generation of business leaders. Driving the conversation: The Future of Business Summit Its week began at the Future of Business Summit, hosted by its partners at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Futurpreneur CEO, Karen Greve Young, joined a panel titled "Enabling Small Businesses to Scale: From Insight to Impact." During the session, she emphasized that while Canada has no shortage of entrepreneurial ambition, the challenge lies in providing the right conditions for these businesses to scale. Moderated by Déborah Cherenfant, the discussion included Cinzia Bazzo (Sage) and Simon Poulin (Upside Drinks). Key takeaways included: * Breaking down internal barriers: For many founders, their first export market is a neighboring province, yet red tape can make this challenging. * The advisory gap: Scaling requires a different toolkit than starting a business. Founders need access to management talent and experienced advisors who have navigated these waters before. A highlight of the summit was during the Premiers' Session featuring The Hon. Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario), The Hon. Susan Holt (Premier of New Brunswick), The Hon. Rob Lantz (Premier of Prince Edward Island), and The Hon. R.J. Simpson (Premier of the Northwest Territories). The discussion focused on national unity and trade, reinforcing the issues entrepreneurs face across the country. A night of celebrations: Its 30th anniversary Hill Day reception The highlight of the week was Futurpreneur's 30th anniversary Hill Day reception at the University of Ottawa, co-presented by its long-standing partners, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), represented by Miguel Barrieras, Chief Community Banking and Impact Officer, and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), represented by Yasser Ghazi, Vice President- Commercial Financial Services, Ontario North & East. The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), joined Futurpreneur Canada and expressed her support for the next generation of founders. Eleven Futurpreneur-supported young entrepreneurs from across Canada showcased their businesses to policymakers and ecosystem leaders, reflecting the diversity and strength of the country's entrepreneurial landscape. Featured entrepreneurs included: * Joanna Pariseau (Taste the City, AB), who connects people to cities through food-based discovery experiences and turns digital recommendations into purchasable real-world routes. * Moirae Choquette (Tomato Wheels, AB), founder of one of Canada's fastest-growing independent wine labels focused on quality and community. * Darion Ducharme (Teqare, MB), who delivers technology and cybersecurity education to First Nations communities. * David Owasi (Outreach Genius, MB) David leads a venture-backed startup that deploys AI voice agents to help home service companies and brands scale operations. * Constanza Safatle (Newbornlander, NL), G20 Alumni, who creates sustainable baby accessories while providing employment and training for newcomer and refugee women. * Diana Virgovicova (Xatoms, ON), G20 Alumni, who uses AI and quantum chemistry to develop new materials for water treatment. * Jennifer Ai (Leopard AI, ON), G20 Alumni, who is rethinking how venture capital is allocated globally. * Richa Gupta (Good Food for Good, ON), who has scaled her organic, health-conscious food brand across North America. * Viet Anh (Vian) Nguyen (Rude Mama Hot Sauce, ON), whose handcrafted Vietnamese hot sauces using locally sourced Canadian ingredients have expanded into major grocery retailers across the country. * Arold Ramboasalama & Cécile Dijoux (Or Noir de Madagascar, QC), who draw on four generations of family expertise to bring ethically sourced Madagascar vanilla to the Quebec market. * Guillaume Blais (PROD.G, QC), a veteran of the contemporary circus world, who produces immersive acrobatic performances that prioritize inclusion and diversity. Entrepreneur David Owasi delivered a keynote address about building Outreach Genius, highlighting how access to mentorship and capital can help founders scale both their businesses and their impact. Futurpreneur Canada also heard from Futurpreneur Indigenous entrepreneur and Board member, Lorne Jr. Blesse, founder of Kiwetin Clothing, AB, who shared his journey from northern Alberta, emphasizing the importance of empowering others to envision their own success and ensuring those same doors to opportunity remain open for them. This sense of community was echoed by Guillaume Blais (PRODG, QC), who shared how the Hill Day experience allowed him to bridge the gap between culture and commerce, securing pivotal meetings with institutions like the Canada Council for the Arts. Experience the energy firsthand. Click below to watch a special behind-the-scenes video from Joanna Pariseau (Taste the City, AB), who reflected on her Hill Day experience. Bringing entrepreneurial voices to parliament To ensure the voices of young entrepreneurs are heard where decisions are made, Futurpreneur arranged one-on-one meetings between its founders and their local Members of Parliament, so they could hear firsthand about the challenges of scaling a business in Canada and the impact of federal support. Looking ahead Since 1996, Futurpreneur has supported more than 21,000 young entrepreneurs, helping them launch more than 16,600 businesses across Canada. As Futurpreneur Canada reflect on 30 years of success, Futurpreneur Canada is reminded that while the landscape of business has changed, the spirit of the Canadian entrepreneur remains strong. Futurpreneur Canada leave Ottawa feeling optimistic. Its week underscored the importance of collaboration between entrepreneurs, government and the private sector to ensure the next generation of founders have the support, the mentorship and the capital they need to succeed. Thank you to everyone who joined Futurpreneur Canada on the Hill. Here's to the next 30 years of building, growing and scaling together!