Thinking of starting a business?
Growing an existing business?
Securing financing or strategic partners?
Need market research?

Ottawa’s firmly established entrepreneurial spirit continues to evolve and plays an important role in the economic development of the city.  One of OCRI’s primary strengths is its ability to help entrepreneurs develop and launch new enterprises, build strategic alliances and manage successful businesses.

The Entrepreneurship Centre is an initiative of OCRI, dedicated to helping Ottawa entrepreneurs make educated decisions about starting and growing their businesses. Through its retail outlet and interactive website, the Centre aims to promote Ottawa's economy, through the development of products and services that encourage entrepreneurship and support business growth.

Valuable investment and commercialization services now available to SME’s in Ottawa through OCRI include the Business Accelerator program which provides qualified companies with full access to OCRI’s business development services; the Entrepreneurs-in-Residence initiative that brings local entrepreneurs and business leaders in-house to assist local start-ups with the strategic development of their companies; and   access to Market Research that can provide young companies with the critical information they need to fully analyse their market potential and positioning. 

In addition to being instrumental in the development and success of Ottawa’s entrepreneurs, OCRI manages the Ottawa Venture and Technology Summit (OVTS). OVTS is Canada’s only city-based venture capital fair, which puts pre-evaluated early stage companies in front of qualified investors.  Each year, OCRI hosts Canada’s Top 10 TM Competition which identifies the top Life Science, Cleantech and ICT companies from across the country and promotes them to VCs and strategic partners in the United States.  OCRI’s Entrepreneurship Centre is dedicated to helping Ottawa entrepreneurs make informed decisions about starting and growing their businesses.  Demand for these services continues to grow and many of these clients will create viable businesses thanks to the assistance available through OCRI.  In the very near future, these companies can become economic drivers in Ottawa – creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.