Originally published in 2020. Updated July 2025 for context.
In June 2020, North Forge launched the North Forge Founders Program, a new digital-first incubator and accelerator designed to support technology-enabled startups across Manitoba. As Manitoba’s largest incubator, North Forge created this unique program to help entrepreneurs turn their ideas into scalable businesses, no matter what stage they’re in or where they’re located in the province.
A Province-Wide, Stage-Based Approach
The North Forge Founders Program was built on the principle that entrepreneurs need different types of support at different points in their journey. It offers four distinct stages, each tailored to a startup’s maturity:
Pathfinder: Helps founders validate ideas, identify customer pain points, and understand their target markets through 16 hours of foundational virtual training.
Base Camp: Focuses on testing the product-market fit and developing investor-ready pitches.
Ascent: Supports the creation of a minimum viable product (MVP), go-to-market strategies, and customer acquisition.
North Star: Provides advanced mentorship and connections to global partners and investors for startups scaling toward Series A funding.
Startups can enter the program at the stage that suits them best, creating a flexible and customized experience.
Built on Proven Models, Designed for Manitoba
The Founders Program draws inspiration from successful Canadian incubators like Co.Labs in Saskatchewan. By combining national best practices with Manitoba-specific programming, North Forge designed a platform to drive regional growth and strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
“Five years ago, I met with the now Executive Director of Co.Labs, Jordan Dutchak. We discussed best practices around building a technology incubator,” said Joelle Foster, CEO of North Forge. “What we’ve created at North Forge reflects those insights, adapted for Manitoba’s unique strengths and challenges.”
Government and Community Support
At its launch, the Founders Program was backed by the Manitoba government as part of its commitment to supporting the province’s innovation economy.
“The backbone of Manitoba’s economy is small business. It is now more important than ever that we provide the necessary support and resources for our local startups and entrepreneurs,” said Economic Development and Training Minister Ralph Eichler in 2020. “This new digital Founders Program offers a platform that will be the catalyst for launching many new tech-enabled startups.”
A Strong Start for a New Era of Innovation
With its digital-first model, mentorship network, and stage-based structure, the Founders Program officially marked North Forge’s evolution into a hybrid incubator and accelerator. By supporting tech entrepreneurs across rural and urban Manitoba, the program is designed to help launch the next wave of scalable startups.
Learn more about the North Forge Founders Program.
