Evidence Day |
The ScaleUP Conference

A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Sponsors:
ScaleUp Week 2024 could not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. View our sponsors and discover special offers from Growth Catalyst graduates—five alumni companies who came together to support this inaugural event and have exclusive deals for you!...and, if you are interested in exploring participation in the next cohort of the Growth Catalyst program, they are currently recruiting for a new cohort in Calgary starting this September. You can book a discovery call here.

COMMING SOON – ScaleUP Nights: The conversation doesn't end here! Join us for our new event series, ScaleUP Nights, starting this fall. Every 6-8 weeks, we'll gather to share stories, intelligence, and best practices on scaling and growing companies. It's a perfect opportunity to continue your journey with the scaleup movement and connect with like-minded professionals. Click here to get on the pre-registration list!

JOIN A SCALEUP
MOVEMENT

Canada has a scaleup gap. While half of all startups endure beyond eight years, only a mere 0.1% of small firms advance to the status of mid-sized enterprises, and 2% of mid-sized firms attain the status of large corporations. While Canada boasts the highest Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) among advanced economies globally, we fall short in terms of the number of firms that successfully navigate the ‘second valley of death’ to achieve growth and scale.

The reality? Growth is not a continuous or sustainable phenomenon, but is punctuated by episodes. The majority of companies are ‘one-hit wonders,’ with only 10-15% managing to achieve a second significant growth episode. This situation raises concerns, particularly considering that in Canada, a staggering 99.8% of companies fall under the category of Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). These SMEs make a significant contribution, accounting for over half of Canada's GDP and generating more than two-thirds of all new jobs over the past two decades. While the importance of SMEs in the economy cannot be overstated, it is crucial to delve deeper into the reasons that lead startups to survive, scale up and grow.

ScaleUp Week coincides with the United Nations Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSME) Day, encouraging support and empowerment for MSMEs worldwide. Proceeds generated by the event are invested in building the evidence base on company growth and scaling, helping to advance our collective understanding on what it takes to scale from Western Canada.

ABOUT GROWTH COMPASS

Growth Compass provides evidence-based insights and intelligence on company growth and scaling. The challenge of achieving sustainable growth is stark, with only a small percentage of companies experiencing prolonged high growth. This raises the critical question: How can companies defy these odds? We are dedicated to tackling this challenge through two avenues. Firstly, by fostering a vibrant Community where the exchange of evidence and ideas on business growth and scaling is amplified. Secondly, through our Lab, we design, deliver, and evaluate cutting-edge learning programs aimed at catalyzing company growth and scale.