Thirty years on, RBC and Futurpreneur are betting bigger on Canada’s next generation of founders
Since 1996, RBC has stood beside Futurpreneur as a founding partner, sharing our belief that a young entrepreneur with a good idea and no collateral deserves a shot at success.
With its announcement this morning of a $70 million+ commitment to Futurpreneur — the largest from a corporate partner in our organization’s history — Canada’s biggest company is expanding its support for our country’s smallest businesses and the young founders behind them, signalling just how critical they are at driving our economy forward.
To date, Futurpreneur has helped more than 21,000 entrepreneurs, aged 18 to 39, launch more than 16,600 businesses in every province and territory across Canada; collectively, these businesses contribute an estimated $9.3 billion to Canada’s GDP each year.
With this renewed and expanded commitment, we’ll empower even more young entrepreneurs by offering tailored support for founders under 30 and Indigenous entrepreneurs to start, buy and grow successful businesses over the next five years.
“For 30 years, RBC has been a steadfast champion of young entrepreneurs across Canada, helping them transform ideas into businesses that create jobs, strengthen communities and contribute to a more resilient economy,” says Karen Greve Young, CEO of Futurpreneur.
“This historic investment will allow us to expand our reach and ensure that even more aspiring entrepreneurs can access the opportunities they need to start and grow successful businesses.”
Sean Amato-Gauci, Group Head, RBC Commercial Banking, agrees.
“Canada’s future depends on a new generation of young entrepreneurs building and growing their businesses right here at home,” he says.
“Through this partnership with Futurpreneur, we’re providing them the financing, mentorship and practical support they need to succeed — because the founders we back today will be the leaders who carry Canada forward for years to come.”
What this expanded commitment means
RBC’s $70-million, five-year commitment will power three integrated programs at Futurpreneur, each designed to support a broad range of young founders at different stages in their journey:
- Under 30 (“U30”) Startup Program: Developed in collaboration with RBC, the new U30 program builds upon Futurpreneur’s national Startup Program with tailored support designed specifically for entrepreneurs ages 18 to 29. In addition to up to $25,000 of collateral-free financing funded by RBC (up to $75,000 including BDC co-lending) and two years of mentorship, U30 offers tailored workshops, resources, networking events and hands-on support that help young founders navigate common early-stage barriers, including access to capital, business knowledge and professional networks. The program is designed to give young entrepreneurs the tools, connections and confidence they need to start and grow successful businesses.
- Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP): With culturally grounded workshops led and delivered by a dedicated all-Indigenous team, mentorship from experienced leaders and up to $25,000 of collateral-free loans funded by RBC (up to $75,000 including BDC co-lend), Futurpreneur’s IESP, in collaboration with RBC Origins, is designed to reduce capital barriers and provide tailored advice for Indigenous entrepreneurs ages 18-39.
- RBC Rock My Business Workshops and Awards: This series of free workshops helps early-stage founders across Canada build financial literacy, business ideation and planning skills, connect and consult with other aspiring entrepreneurs, while becoming eligible for one of 10 annual startup awards of $5,000 each.
What Futurpreneur and RBC have built together, and are now scaling with this announcement, is a powerful boost for Canada’s future economy, by increasing access to capital and mentorship for founders under 30 and young Indigenous entrepreneurs, who are two of the fastest-growing groups of new business owners in the country.
Why this moment matters
This expanded support comes at a critical time for young people in Canada and for our economy.
With youth unemployment stubbornly high (in September, it was 13%, double the national rate, and 48,000 youth jobs were lost that month alone, accompanied by a decline of 50,000 in the number of youth in the labour force, the highest of any cohort), ongoing economic uncertainty and increased cost of living, economists have started describing what young Canadians are living through as a “milestone recession” — a slower, quieter breakdown in the sequence that used to lead from school to job to stability.
No wonder so many young people are turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative.
According to a recent RBC poll, Gen Z Canadians have the strongest interest in business ownership of any generation, at 66% (RBC, September 2026), but paradoxically, they also fear it the most. A recent RBC special report on youth entrepreneurship found that some 60% of Canada’s youth would not start a business because the fear of failure is too high, whether due to the high cost of living, lack of access to capital or other factors. In fact, Canada ranks first out of 22 peers and well above the OECD average on this fear metric.
This partnership helps fill the gap between ambition and access, empowering more aspiring business owners to skill up, gain confidence, access capital and take the leap to business ownership.
Empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs
This support is also critical for Indigenous entrepreneurs, who are launching businesses at five times the national rate despite facing unique systemic and structural barriers that can restrict access to financing, business supports, networks and growth opportunities.
The Bank of Canada found that Indigenous-owned businesses are significantly less likely than other Canadian businesses to rely on conventional lending institutions and may face barriers related to geographic remoteness, launching a business on Reserve, access to collateral, infrastructure gaps, socioeconomic inequities and the ongoing impacts of historical policies.
Bolstered by this renewed commitment, Futurpreneur’s Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program (IESP), in collaboration with RBC’s Indigenous Banking and Reconciliation Office, RBC Origins, will address these realities by providing culturally relevant business support, mentorship, financing (both on- and off-Reserve) and connections that reflect the needs and experiences of Indigenous entrepreneurs, while enabling more equitable access to entrepreneurship opportunities.
“Indigenous entrepreneurs are creating businesses that strengthen communities, preserve culture and generate opportunities now and for future generations, and yet too many continue to face barriers to accessing capital, networks and business support,” says Holly Atjecoutay, Futurpreneur’s Head of Inclusive Impact & Director of Indigenous and Northern Entrepreneurs.
“Investing in Indigenous entrepreneurs is not only about advancing economic reconciliation, but is also supporting self-determination, innovation and long-term prosperity for Indigenous Peoples and for Canada as a whole.”
Looking ahead to a bright future
Over the next five years, this investment is expected to empower 25,000+ young and Indigenous entrepreneurs with skills and training, while offering financing and mentorship to support entrepreneurs launching 2,350+ businesses, helping them move from idea to launch, and from launch to growth.
After 30 years of empowering young entrepreneurs, Futurpreneur, with RBC’s continued support, is building on that legacy by expanding access to financing, mentorship and support for the next generation of founders, helping create a stronger, more resilient Canadian economy.
For more information, see RBC’s press release.
What’s Your Entrepreneurial Archetype?
Why do some entrepreneurs relentlessly pursue a social mission while others are driven by innovation, freedom, or mastery of a craft?
After years of working with entrepreneurs, I’ve noticed recurring patterns in what motivates people to build a business. These aren’t about personality types or measures of business skills. They’re entrepreneurial archetypes: the core motivations that shape how we build businesses, make decisions and define success.
Understanding your archetype can reveal what fuels you, where you’re most effective and where you’re most likely to stumble. As you explore the seven archetypes below, identify the one that resonates most, then choose a second. Most entrepreneurs are a combination of both.
The goal isn’t to label yourself. It’s to understand what drives you and develop the skills that may not come naturally. Whether you’re starting a business in Canada or figuring out your next stage of growth, that self-awareness can help you make more intentional decisions.
The Mission-Driven Archetype
Core drive: Purpose, impact and meaning.
You’re motivated by a cause, whether it’s social justice, environmental sustainability, community development, or supporting artists. You feel a deep sense of responsibility to create positive change and often build a business with a strong mission at its heart.
Your superpower: Relentless commitment to a cause. You stay the course when others lose interest.
Your blind spot: You can become cause-blind to cash flow. Passion replaces practicality. You may underprice, overgive, or avoid financial discipline because it feels misaligned with your mission.
Growth advice: Treat money as a tool for impact, not a betrayal of it. Build simple financial habits around pricing, profitability and cash flow.
Ask yourself: “Does my mission have a sustainable business model behind it?”
The Artist/Inventor Archetype
Core drive: Originality, expression and innovation.
You’re drawn to creativity and originality, wanting to bring unique, breakthrough ideas to life. Artists and inventors can be found in every industry, from technology to food production, constantly pushing boundaries with new designs, products and concepts.
Your superpower: You create what doesn’t yet exist. You see possibilities others miss.
Your blind spot: You can drift into a “no one gets it” mindset. Ideas remain abstract, unfinished, or disconnected from what customers need.
Growth advice: Creation is only half the game. Translation is the other half. Practice making your ideas accessible: test early, explain simply and invite feedback.
Ask yourself: “How can I make this useful, not just original?”
The Opportunist Archetype
Core drive: Timing, momentum, opportunity.
When people picture an entrepreneur, this is often who they imagine. You spot gaps in the market, identify trends early, and sense when the timing is right for something new.
Your superpower: You spot openings quickly and act decisively. You’re highly responsive to the market.
Your blind spot: You can become addicted to the chase, jumping too quickly, spreading yourself thin, or abandoning ideas before they mature.
Growth Advice: Not every opportunity deserves your attention. Discipline your follow-through. Winning often comes from staying longer than others, not just starting faster.
Ask yourself: “Does this align with a bigger direction, or is it just exciting?”
The Lifestylist Archetype
Core Drive: Freedom, flexibility and quality of life.
You’re driven by the desire to create a business that supports a particular lifestyle, whether that means flexible hours, remote work, travel, family time, or simply greater autonomy.
Your superpower: You design work around life, not the other way around. You’re adaptable and resourceful.
Your blind spot: You may settle into a comfortable equilibrium: enough revenue to sustain the lifestyle, but not enough structure to create long-term resilience. In protecting your freedom, you may inadvertently limit future opportunities.
Growth Advice: Consider what commitments, clients, or projects you can minimize to create greater focus. Lifestyle businesses also have a natural ceiling and reaching beyond it may mean trading away some of the freedom that inspired the business in the first place. Choose that path deliberately rather than drifting into it.
Ask yourself: “Am I designing a lifestyle, or creating a bigger burden?”
The Collaborator Archetype
Core Drive: Connection, co-creation and shared success.
You thrive on shared ownership, building ideas through partnerships. Co-founders, joint ventures, collectives and community-driven models are where you do your best work.
Your superpower: You bring out the best in others. You create trust, synergy and collective momentum.
Your blind spot: You can over-trust or under-assert yourself, leading to unclear roles, uneven contribution, or diluted ownership.
Growth Advice: Strong collaboration requires clear boundaries. Define roles, expectations and decision-making authority early.
Practice saying: “Here’s what I need and here’s what I bring.”
The System-Builder Archetype
Core Drive: Scale, structure and efficiency.
You aim to create a business that operates through repeatable systems and processes. Whether it’s a sales funnel, a franchise model, or a scalable operation, your goal is to build something that can ultimately function without your constant involvement.
Your superpower: You create order from chaos. You build processes, systems and structures that allow businesses to scale efficiently and consistently.
Your blind spot: You can over-engineer too early, building complex structures before validating demand or losing touch with the human side of the business.
Growth Advice: Sequence matters: validate first, then systemize. Stay close to customers longer than feels comfortable.
Ask yourself: “Am I solving a real problem, or just perfecting a system?”
The Expert Archetype
Core Drive: Mastery, credibility and depth.
After years of honing your craft, you’re ready to turn your expertise into a business. You want to share what you’ve learned, solve meaningful problems and be compensated for the value you provide.
Your superpower: You deliver real value through deep knowledge and skill. People trust your expertise.
Your blind spot: You can over-rely on your craft and underinvest in visibility, sales, or growth. “If I’m good enough, they’ll come” becomes a quiet limiter.
Growth Advice: Expertise doesn’t automatically create opportunity. Exposure does. Build the habit of sharing what you know. Teach, publish, speak and contribute.
Ask yourself: “If no one knows how good I am, does it matter?”
One Archetype Rarely Tells the Whole Story
Most entrepreneurs won’t fit neatly into a single category. You may be a Mission-Driven Artist, an Expert who is also a Collaborator, or an Opportunist with strong System-Builder tendencies.
What matters isn’t finding a perfect match. It’s recognizing the forces that consistently shape your decisions so you can build intentionally and sidestep the traps that can hold you back.
Success doesn’t come from becoming a different kind of entrepreneur. It comes from understanding the entrepreneur you already are.
Dominik Loncar is an entrepreneurship coach at Futurpreneur. Over the last decade, he has dedicated his practical skills and expertise from building three businesses and running his own social purpose business to guide young entrepreneurs. Dominik believes that becoming an entrepreneur is a transformative identity shift and has worked with over 200 young entrepreneurs to launch social purpose ventures and both traditional and innovation-based businesses in a multitude of industries.
Ready to grow into your next identity? If you’re an entrepreneur looking to test your ideas and build with confidence, Futurpreneur offers flexible loan financing, expert mentorship and resources to support your journey. Learn more and take your next step today.
The story behind Calgary’s Champ2Champ: How newcomer Yaryna Motovylina became Canada’s exclusive Adidas Karate distributor
For Yaryna Motovylina, karate has always been more than a sport. It’s a way of life. After building a network of karate clubs in Ukraine, she and her husband brought that passion to Calgary, where they founded Champ2Champ Equipment Inc., now the official and exclusive distributor of Adidas Karate in Canada. Yaryna shared with us how she and her husband turned their love of karate into two connected businesses and why she believes Canada is a place where any dream can be built.
1. Please tell us about yourself and your experience as a newcomer entrepreneur in Canada.
I moved to Canada four years ago. Back in Ukraine, we already had a successful business, a network of karate clubs, so we decided to bring our experience and knowledge here as well. During our very first year, we opened our first business, Champion Karate Club, in Calgary, Alberta. A year later, we launched another company, Champ2Champ Equipment Inc.
That first year was incredibly challenging. Immigration, the birth of our child and launching a new business all happened at the same time, in an English-speaking environment. But my husband and I have always had a strong desire to create something meaningful and ambitious. That mindset kept pushing us forward.
2. Please tell us about your business, its origin story, your mission and vision.
Since our two businesses are so closely connected, I’d love to share a bit about both. My husband, Yevhen Motovylin, is a world karate champion. In Ukraine, we already had a network of karate clubs, so when we moved to Canada, there was never really a question about what we wanted to do here. For us, a karate club is much more than a business; it’s at the heart of everything we do. My husband is not only a coach but also a mentor. In fact, over the many years our athletes spend working toward a black belt, they become like family. That is one of the beautiful things about karate. Alongside free community events and activities for children, we also run competitions, summer camps and a comprehensive training program that helps students grow both physically and mentally.
The idea for Champ2Champ came later, when we started purchasing equipment for our students and realized there was an opportunity for another business. Local equipment suppliers often charged high prices and had inconvenient ordering systems, so we set out to bring more variety and accessibility to the market by partnering with a strong global brand like Adidas. That is how we became the official and exclusive distributor of Adidas Karate in Canada. Our mission is reflected directly in our name, Champion to Champion, by sharing expertise, knowledge and premium equipment with the next generation of champions.
3. What inspired you to start your own business in Canada?
I think people who have experienced the entrepreneurial path can never fully walk away from it. The feeling of building something of your own and creating opportunities for others is incomparable. Yes, sometimes it is difficult and every entrepreneur faces challenges and burnout at some point. But the sense of freedom and possibility that entrepreneurship gives you is absolutely worth it.
4. What are some of your biggest wins since launching your business?
My biggest wins are the people I work with. Business has its ups and downs, but the people who come into your life through this journey become the most motivating and inspiring part of it all.
5. How did Futurpreneur support your entrepreneurial journey?
I am very grateful to the program for the opportunity to work with a mentor and to learn from someone who had already walked this path before me, including both the successes and the setbacks. I also really appreciate the access to resources, educational materials and online sessions with professionals across different fields. And of course, events like the Growth Accelerator, where we met 20 entrepreneurs who were all so different, yet so similar at the same time.
6. What advice would you offer to newcomer entrepreneurs starting their businesses in Canada?
Don’t be afraid of absolutely anything. I truly believe that Canada is a country where you can build the business of your dreams. Here, almost anything is possible if you’re willing to keep working toward it.
There is an incredible amount of support, resources and people willing to help you along the way. And as Adidas likes to remind us, “Impossible Is Nothing.”
7. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself as an entrepreneur?
I learned that I am much stronger and more resilient than I thought. Entrepreneurship teaches you to adapt quickly, make decisions under pressure and keep moving forward even when things feel uncertain. I also learned that I genuinely love creating and growing things, not only businesses but also communities, opportunities and environments where other people can grow too.
Ready to build your own success story in Canada? Yaryna’s journey shows that with determination and the right support, newcomers can build successful businesses and strong communities. Discover how Futurpreneur’s My Canadian Startup program, presented by TD Bank, can help you turn your idea into a thriving business.
From Newcomer to Founder: How Han Yue Built OHME! Foods in Vancouver
OHME! Foods is giving classic fruit snacks a fresh, flavourful crunch. Founded in Vancouver, B.C., the freeze-dried fruit and snack brand transforms carefully sourced, ripe fruit into colourful, craveable bites. We sat down with co-founder Han Yue to discuss the vision, values and newcomer journey behind a brand finding its place on shelves across Canada.
1. Please tell us about yourself and your experience as a newcomer entrepreneur in Canada.
My name is Han, and I’m the co-founder of OHME! Foods Inc., a Vancouver-based freeze-dried fruit and snack brand. I came to Canada in 2012 to study health information science at the University of Victoria. What started as an international student experience turned into the foundation for a new life. After graduating, I worked full-time in health IT before taking the leap into entrepreneurship.
Being a newcomer gave me a unique perspective. I learned to navigate unfamiliar systems, build trust from scratch and keep moving when things felt uncertain. Those same instincts became essential when I started building a business. I didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur in Canada, but looking back, each step prepared me for it.
2. Please tell us about your business, its origin story, your mission and vision.
OHME! began with a familiar pandemic habit: eating on autopilot. We reached for the same breakfast and the same snacks every day. The food was technically fine, but it had stopped feeling enjoyable.
My co-founder Jenny and I were both working in healthcare. We knew what eating well was supposed to look like but knowing that didn’t make it feel good or intentional. That disconnect got us curious, and that curiosity led us to freeze-dried fruit: fruit picked ripe, dried in a way that locks in its flavour and nutrients, and transformed into something genuinely crunchy and fun to eat.
We loved how it tasted, but not how it showed up on shelves. Most of what we found felt dated, as though it hadn’t been invited into real life yet. So, we built the version we wanted. What began as kitchen experiments became farmers’ markets, late nights packing orders and a moment that kept repeating itself: someone would take a bite, pause and say, “Wait… this is actually really good.” That reaction is the reason OHME! exists.
Our mission is to make healthy snacking an easy yes: no guilt, no overthinking and no compromise on taste. Our vision is to earn a permanent spot in Canadian homes and, eventually, homes beyond Canada.
3. What inspired you to start your own business in Canada?
It started with a gap we felt personally. Jenny and I are health-conscious people who were struggling to find nutritious and enjoyable snacks. That tension felt worth solving.
Canada gave us a supportive environment in which to try. Programs, support networks and an openness to new ideas made entrepreneurship feel possible. As newcomers, we also felt we had something to prove, and that energy became a powerful motivator as we built the business from the ground up.
4. What are some of your biggest wins since launching your business?
The one that still surprises me to say out loud: OHME! is now carried in more than 500 retail stores across Canada. When we were packing orders on our kitchen table, that number would have felt impossible.
But before that milestone, the wins were smaller and just as meaningful. There was our first farmers’ market, where strangers tried our product and came back for more. There was our first wholesale reorder, and there was getting accepted into York University’s YSpace Food & Beverage Accelerator this year. Each of those moments told us we were onto something real.
Our products are also available online, and our community of customers from across the country keeps coming back for more.
5. How did Futurpreneur support your entrepreneurial journey?
Futurpreneur came in at a critical stage. We invested the financing directly in inventory and packaging, the unglamorous but essential work of getting our product out the door and onto store shelves. Without that support, reaching our current scale would have taken much longer.
Beyond the loan, having a Futurpreneur mentor assigned to us made a real difference. Running a business throws problems at you that you never saw coming. Having someone experienced in your corner, someone who asks the right questions and keeps you grounded, is invaluable.
6. What advice would you offer to newcomer entrepreneurs starting their businesses in Canada?
There are three things I’d genuinely stand behind:
- First, find programs offered by Futurpreneur, accelerators and newcomer business networks. Starting a business in a new country is hard and these resources are here to help.
- Second, don’t underestimate the power of showing up in person. Our farmers’ markets and pop-ups taught us more about our customers than any spreadsheet could. Get in front of people early.
- Third, your outsider perspective is an advantage. As a newcomer, you see things that others take for granted. That’s where new ideas come from. Lean into what makes your point of view different.
7. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself as an entrepreneur?
That I’m more resilient than I thought I was. Building OHME! has thrown things at us I never could have prepared for: supply chain challenges, logistical headaches, regulatory changes and the unglamorous reality of an early-stage business. And every time, the answer was the same: stay calm, solve the problem in front of you and keep going.
I’ve also learned that the hardest moments often teach you the most. I wouldn’t trade any of them.
Ready to build your own success story in Canada? Like Han, you don’t have to do it alone. Discover how Futurpreneur’s My Canadian Startup program, presented by TD Bank, can help you turn your idea into a thriving business.
