Entrepreneurship in Action
Five years ago, we set out to establish the Dobson Centre as a world-class hub where ideas ignite and drive meaningful change. In 2024, we celebrate five years of growth and global impact.
Driving Change Through Entrepreneurship
This year, our community reached new heights, testaments to the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of our ecosystem鈥檚 brightest minds.听
Our commitment to purpose-driven entrepreneurship earned us prestigious recognition, including being named one of the Top 10 Best Incubators/Accelerators in the World by the Prix Galien and the Most Impactful Initiative in North America by the ACEEU.听
Being honored by the Prix Galien, one of the highest distinctions in life sciences, reflects our founders鈥� profound impact in pioneering solutions for a healthier future.
听
Energizing Global Collaboration
This past year, our focus was on expanding international influence by creating meaningful partnerships, facilitating networking opportunities, and then matching startups with investment theses aligned to their goals.
This global strategy has solidified our network, enabling successful international operations, growing intellectual property, and showcasing the impact of our innovation on a global stage.
听
Leading the Change for a Sustainable Future
With a steadfast commitment to the UN鈥檚 17 Sustainable Development Goals, we have created a space that fosters collaboration while championing environmental responsibility. In early 2025, we are proud to host the Canadian Hult Prize, the world鈥檚 largest impact competition.听
By joining forces with 1,324 universities across 113 countries, we empower the next generation of entrepreneurs to tackle the world鈥檚 most urgent challenges right from our own stage.
听
Our programs are designed to meet the evolving needs of founders.听
We are committed to delivering world-class programming at every stage, ensuring a founders-first approach with global success in mind.
Our 2024 Ecosystem in Numbers
The 不良研究所 Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship has supported thousands of ventures throughout the years:
听
Since 2019, we are proud to report that more than 50% of our startups have at least one woman co-founder.
Fueling Growth during Pivotal Fundraising Stages
Accelerating fundraising: Funding raised by Dobson startups over the years
Funding raised by Dobson startups over the years
x10 in five years
| Funding Tier | Year |
|---|---|
| 3 Million | 2011 |
| 12 Million | 2012 |
| 50 Million | 2013 |
| 100 Million | 2014 |
| 130 Million | 2015 |
| 200 Million | 2016 |
| 250 Million | 2017 |
| 320 Million | 2018 |
| 400 Million | 2019 |
| 1,5 Billion | 2020 |
| 2,8 Billion | 2021 |
| 3,6 Billion | 2022 |
| 3,7 Billion | 2023 |
| 4,1 Billion | 2024 |
Closing the funding gap at every stage: Dobson startups by funding tier raised
Dobson startups by funding tier raised
To date 15% of startups raised over 10M
| # of Dobson Startups 2023 | # of Dobson Startups 2024 | Startup funds | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 58 | Less than 10 Thousand | 50% |
| 111 | 125 | 10 to 50 Thousand | |
| 52 | 57 | 50 to 100 Thousand | |
| 76 | 84 | 100 to 500 Thousand | |
| 35 | 42 | 500 Thousand to 1 Million | 35% |
| 67 | 76 | 1 to 5 Million | |
| 19 | 39 | 5 to 10 Million | |
| 33 | 45 | 10 to 100 Million | 15% |
| 29 | 33 | Greater than 100 Million |
Innovation Transforming Industries
Innovation stemming from across the campus: Breakdown of Dobson startups by industry and the related contributions to UN SDGs
Breakdown of Dobson startups by industry and the related contributions to UN SDGs
| Industry | Generated Patents | % |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture & Food SDG 2, SDG 12 | 20 | 3.73% |
| Biotechnology & Therapeutics SDG 3, SDG 16 | 30 | 5.70% |
| Consumer Technologies & Retail SDG 8, SDG 13 | 114 | 16.27% |
| Education SDG 4, SDG 8 | 38 | 7.09% |
| Health & Medical Technologies SDG 3, SDG 5 | 146 | 27.24% |
| Manufacturing SDG 9, SDG 10 | 18 | 3.36% |
| Not-For-Profit & Social Purpose Organizations, SDG 1, SDG 5, SDG 13 | 47 | 8.77% |
| Pure Technologies SDG 11, SDG 16 | 44 | 8.21% |
| Climate & Environmental Impact SDG 6, SDG 7, SDG 13, SDG 14, SDG 15 | 63 | 11.75% |
| Other SDG 8, SDG 10 | 53 | 7.88% |
Bringing the newest IP to market: Breakdown of Dobson startups by industry with generated patents
Breakdown of Dobson startups by industry with generated patents
Total of 258 active patents
| Industry | Generated Patents 2023 | Generated Patents 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Climate & Environmental Impact | 1 | 5 |
| Pure Technologies | 4 | 10 |
| Not-For-Profit & Social Purpose Organizations | 5 | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 8 |
| Health & Medical Technologies | 1 | 4 |
| Education | 59 | 148 |
| Consumer Technologies & Retail | 12 | 17 |
| Biotechnology & Therapeutics | 1 | 8 |
| Agriculture & Food | 2 | 3 |
| Other | 20 | 40 |
Dobson鈥檚 Global Footprint
Our startups operate in 46 countries and partner with 127 universities.
61 Universities
in North America
6 Universities
in South America
24 Universities
in Africa
22 Universities
in Europe
7 Universities
in Middle East
6 Universities
in Asia
1 University in Oceania
