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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With its announcement this morning of a $70 million+ commitment to Futurpreneur \u2014 the largest from a corporate partner in our organization\u2019s history \u2014 Canada\u2019s biggest company is expanding its support for our country\u2019s smallest businesses and the young founders behind them, signalling just how critical they are at driving our economy forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong> each year<\/em><\/strong>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n With this renewed and expanded commitment, we\u2019ll 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n “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.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n “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.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sean Amato-Gauci, Group Head, RBC Commercial Banking, agrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Canada’s future depends on a new generation of young entrepreneurs building and growing their businesses right here at home,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n “Through this partnership with Futurpreneur, we’re providing them the financing, mentorship and practical support they need to succeed \u2014 because the founders we back today will be the leaders who carry Canada forward for years to come.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n RBC\u2019s $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: <\/p>\n\n\n\n What Futurpreneur and RBC have built together, and are now scaling with this announcement, is a powerful boost for Canada\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This expanded support comes at a critical time for young people in Canada and for our economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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>” \u2014 a slower, quieter breakdown in the sequence that used to lead from school to job to stability. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No wonder so many young people are turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n According to a recent RBC poll, Gen Z Canadians have the strongest interest in business ownership of any generation, at 66% (RBC, September 2026<\/a>), but paradoxically, they also fear it the most. A recent RBC special report on youth entrepreneurship found that some 60% of Canada\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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What this expanded commitment means<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Why this moment matters<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Empowering Indigenous entrepreneurs<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n