Startup to scale-up: Futurpreneur and BDC highlight your roadmap to thriving in Canada’s entrepreneurial revolution
We’ve all felt it—the ground is shifting. Canada’s entrepreneurial landscape is going through a revolution, powered by rapid technological shifts and economic change.
To help entrepreneurs and business owners navigate this transition, Futurpreneur and the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) teamed up during Small Business Week (Oct. 22, 2025) to host two exclusive panel discussions.
Titled “Startup to Succession: Thriving in Canada’s Entrepreneurial Revolution,” these events brought together top experts and successful young founders to share a roadmap for not just surviving but thriving in today’s fast-moving ecosystem. This partnership demonstrates our joint commitment to supporting entrepreneurs through every stage, from launching ventures to planning long-term growth.
These dynamic panels were moderated by Futurpreneur’s own Maryse Gingras (Vice President, Business Development) and Mona-Lisa Prosper (Senior Director, Community Engagement) and welcomed incredible experts and successful young founders supported by both BDC and Futurpreneur. Attendees heard from Amanda Kattan (Business Partner at BDC Capital), Geneviève Cyr (Repreneuriat Québec), Liz McRae (Co-Founder of Village Wellth) and inspiring Futurpreneur-supported entrepreneurs: Vian Anh Nguyen (Founder of Rude Mama Hot Sauce), and Gabriel Roy Doyon and Guillaume Dagher (Co-founders of Redfrog Labs). Attendees didn’t just listen—they got to ask tough questions and walk away with practical strategies to adapt and grow in this rapidly changing economic climate.
Ready to launch? Here are the key takeaways
Your mental health is your biggest asset
Entrepreneurs can’t do this alone. The panellists emphasized that mentorship isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s essential. The best strategy is to be proactive: step outside your comfort zone, reach out to people you admire, and build your own personal support squad. Just as crucial is self-care. Success is taxing, and maintaining your mental health is vital. Remember to recognize your strengths during difficult moments and, most importantly, ask for help when you need it.
Plans are useless, but planning is essential
To build a sustainable business, you need to think like a funder. Adopting that proactive, strategic mindset helps you refine your business and your pitch to investors. The panellists shared a quote that sums up entrepreneurship perfectly: “All plans are useless, but planning is essential.” Create a clear roadmap, but stay flexible, stay agile, and keep your focus laser-sharp on the central problem your business solves. The ability to pivot quickly is what defines success in this new economy.
Think big: It’s never too early for long-term growth
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking at buying an existing company, you must prioritize scaling and long-term projections. The planning required to achieve major milestones—like acquiring or selling a business—takes serious time and strategic fine-tuning. That’s why Futurpreneur and BDC are committed to providing you with resources, funding, and support designed to empower you through every stage of your growth journey.
As co-lending partners, Futurpreneur and BDC share a joint commitment to building a resilient future for young entrepreneurs across Canada. We’re here to help you weather any economic storm or entrepreneurial revolution.
Ready to launch, buy, or grow your business? We’ve got the startup loans, the mentorship and the resources you need to turn your vision into success. Learn more and connect with us today.
Futurpreneur celebrates 15 years of G20 YEA in South Africa with high-impact delegation and pitch competition
As a founding organization, Futurpreneur is proud to celebrate a decade and a half of global youth entrepreneurship connection and global impact through the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA). As Canada’s delegation leader for the G20 YEA, Futurpreneur has witnessed the remarkable resilience of Canadian businesses and entrepreneurs. For the fifteenth year, we proudly led the Canadian delegation at the annual G20 YEA summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Sept. 18-21, 2025, contributing to uniting young business leaders and promoting innovation, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth internationally.
This year’s summit focused on the theme “Celebrating 15 years of impact. Together we thrive.” In the spirit of global collaboration, Futurpreneur sent 39 diverse, high-impact young entrepreneurs to represent Canada on the world stage. Our commitment to diverse young entrepreneurs was demonstrated through a delegation that included businesses from Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Beyond the wide regional representation, which contributed to Canada’s delegation winning the award for the largest delegation, the participating group represented Canada’s diversity, with 59% of the businesses being women-led and 30 entrepreneurs out of 39 identifying as Black, Indigenous or People of Colour. The group also included two entrepreneurs with disabilities and two entrepreneurs from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Pitching for the win and shaping global vision
One of the highlights of the annual G20 YEA Summit is the pitch competition, which comes with a monetary award for the winner. In Johannesburg, two Canadian delegates competed as finalists and the Canadian delegation brought home the title for the first time in eight years, with Futurpreneur Diana Virgovicova, CEO of Xatoms, winning the pitch competition! Building on this major achievement, our delegates played a prominent role in informing the latest G20 YEA communiqué and shaping a shared global entrepreneurial vision.
During the summit, Canadian delegates participated in several panels on crucial topics such as circular economy, inclusive finance, women entrepreneurship, creative industries, tech, artificial intelligence, and the state of education. Canadian delegates capitalized on this momentum by connecting with peers from around the world and engaging with Canadian and South African business leaders, including The Da Vinci Institute, The Southern Africa–Canada Chamber of Commerce (SACANCHAM), NSDV Law, PKF Octagon and the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct Innovation. They also met James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa, and other officials whose unwavering support greatly encouraged their efforts and amplified the delegation’s voice.
Key recommendations for global growth
This year’s G20 YEA communiqué presented five key recommendations that reaffirmed the Alliance’s mission to empower young entrepreneurs and drive global economic renewal. It called on G20 leaders to restore trade certainty by committing to a rules-based international trading system, ensuring stability for startups and small businesses navigating global markets. The communiqué also emphasized the importance of inclusive growth by expanding opportunities for young entrepreneurs who face social or economic barriers.
Beyond inclusion, the G20 YEA urged governments to strengthen support for young entrepreneurs leading innovation in sustainable agriculture, the green economic transition, and digital technology sectors critical to building a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable global economy.
Our commitment to global impact
As a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, which has a global network of more than 500,000 young entrepreneurs, Futurpreneur remains committed to fostering innovation, sustainable development, and inclusive economic growth. “Futurpreneur created a space for and by young entrepreneurs to build international partnerships and secure support for our entrepreneurs and their startups,” says Mona-Lisa Prosper, Futurpreneur’s Senior Director, Community Engagement and Interim G20 YEA Canadian Delegation President. “It was a transformative experience. I’m proud to have championed a brilliant, diverse group of entrepreneurs whose global impact continues to inspire. The international connections we built—across cultures, industries, and borders—were deeply enriching for all of us. My heart is full, and my mind is sparking with new ideas.”
The G20 YEA trip to South Africa was more than a summit or a trade mission; it was a milestone for Canadian youth. Beyond celebrating the Alliance’s 15th anniversary, they reaffirmed their strong position on this unique world stage by bringing new connections, ideas, and a pitch competition win back to Canada.
Ready to expand your horizons, gain new insights and take your business to the global stagr? Visit Futurpreneur’s G20 YEA page to learn more.
The story behind Lili et Gordo: The Quebecois-Mexican fusion cuisine business from Futurpreneurs Kévin Bélisle and Lili Perez Vera
At the heart of Quebec’s evolving culinary landscape, Lili et Gordo is redefining how authentic Mexican cuisine is experienced—one taco at a time. Co-founded by chefs Lili (originally from Mexico) and Kévin (from Quebec), the business is a vibrant blend of two cultures, rooted in tradition and driven by innovation. We sat down with the founders to learn more about their journey, values, and the passion that fuels their growing brand.
1. Please tell us about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.
We’re Kévin and Lili, Co-Founders of Lili et Gordo (and Marché MX), a business celebrating authentic Mexican cuisine in Drummondville, Quebec. As a Québécois-Mexican couple, we blend our cultures to bring something unique to our community. This journey teaches us daily about management, adaptation, and innovation.
2. Please tell us about your business, its origin story, your mission and vision.
Our company is called Lili et Gordo and operates Marché MX in Drummondville. Born from our passion for authentic Mexican cuisine, we offer fully cooked, seasoned taco fillings, vacuum-sealed and frozen for convenience. We also run an online grocery store, a taco bar, catering services, Mexican cooking classes (in-person and online), and a restaurant-style counter. Our mission is to make real Mexican food easy to enjoy at home and bring people together through a friendly, flavorful experience.
Early challenges included introducing unfamiliar Mexican flavors to the local market, managing food production logistics, and educating customers about our products. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our online grocery and classes across Canada.
3. What inspired you to start your own business in Canada?
The inspiration really came from the meeting of our two cultures. We saw an opportunity to introduce the richness of Mexican gastronomy to our area, where authentic options were limited. The support and curiosity of our local community also encouraged us to take the leap and build something meaningful together.
4. What are some of your biggest wins since launching your business?
Some of our biggest successes to date include:
- Building a loyal local customer base and opening our specialty grocery store, Marché MX, in Drummondville.
- Launching our signature line of vacuum-sealed, ready-to-eat taco fillings, combining authenticity and convenience.
- Developing in-store and online Direct-to-Consumer (D2C distribution), allowing us to ship frozen products across Quebec and beyond.
- Expanding services to include taco bar catering and cooking classes (in-person and online), strengthening community engagement.
- Receiving consistent positive feedback for product quality and authenticity.
- Growing organically through D2C sales and exploring strategic partnership avenues to scale production and distribution across Canada.
5. How did Futurpreneur support your entrepreneurial journey?
Futurpreneur played a key role by providing us with financing when it was challenging to access traditional loans. Futurpreneur’s support helped us get off the ground and invest in equipment and inventory. Their online resources and business planning tools were also extremely helpful, giving us practical guidance as we navigated the Canadian market.
6. What advice would you offer to newcomer entrepreneurs starting their businesses in Canada?
One of the first things we noticed, especially Lili, was how many more rules there are here compared to Mexico. Our advice to other newcomers is to take the time to understand the key differences in business laws and regulations between Canada and your home country.
From food safety and permits to labeling and taxes, the regulatory environment can feel overwhelming at first. But investing the time to learn and comply with these rules is essential—not just to stay legally protected, but also to build trust and credibility with your customers.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Local business organizations, government programs, and mentorship networks can offer valuable guidance. It’s absolutely worth it in the long run.
7. What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about yourself as an entrepreneur?
We’ve learned that we’re able to adapt and thrive in a multicultural environment. Working with team members, distributors, and customers who speak Spanish, French, and English has challenged us to be more flexible, open-minded, and creative in how we communicate and solve problems. This diversity has become one of our greatest strengths. It helps us to grow and learn every day.
If you are a newcomer entrepreneur like Kévin and Lili, click here to learn more about Futurpreneur’s My Canadian Startup program presented by TD Bank.
