🚀 Startup Wins, Tourism Surge, & FrontFundr Podcast Feature

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🔋RheEnergise meet the team Q&A

RheEnergise is hosting 2 Q&A live sessions in August. They are the team behind the innovation and growth in the cleantech business. Read their profile to learn about their decades of experience across energy, investment, and R&D innovation.

Invest in RheEnergise | $3.2M Raised | 62% of target

🔔 Alumni updates

🚗 HOVR completed their Coast-to-Coast Journey from Victoria all the way to St. John’s. On their road trip, they had the opportunity to meet drivers, mayors, premiers, government officials, stakeholders, and investors. Watch their journey!

⚡️VoltSafe is joining the Port of San Diego Blue Economy Incubator, securing $250,000 USD for a high-visibility pilot in one of the world’s most important marina markets! A major milestone for VoltSafe as they will receive significant business development and marketing efforts.

🇨🇦Little Canada has been awarded Tripadvisor’s Travellers' Choice Award Winner 2025! Marking this as their third year being ranked in the top 10% of attractions worldwide. If you’re in Toronto, Ontario, explore the little wonders.

💳 TipTap now has a custom donations feature available in the USA. The device directs donors’ phones to an online fundraising page, giving donors the ability to select from set amounts or enter their own custom donation amount.

🤔 What’s on our minds

🍁 Tourism Takes Off: How Travel Is Supporting Canada’s Economic Landscape

From coast to coast, Canada’s tourism industry is becoming one of the country’s most promising economic stories in 2025. Tourism spending is projected to surpass $183 billion this year, including $104 billion from domestic travellers alone. While well-known destinations like Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal continue to draw international attention, the ripple effects are reaching small businesses, rural communities, and cultural hubs across the country.

📸 A Snapshot of Travel in 2025

As of Q1 2025, tourism accounted for 1.74% of Canada’s GDP, outgrowing sectors like agriculture and narrowing the gap on construction and retail. The industry also supports over 707,000 jobs across the country, from seasonal guides in Banff to boutique owners in Charlottetown. 

One notable growth area is Indigenous tourism, which now generates $3.7 billion annually and employs more than 34,000 people. It’s an area of the sector growing faster than the national average, and gaining attention for its cultural, educational, and economic significance.

Riding the momentum of the buy canadian movement, the federal government has taken an active role in accelerating domestic tourism.  

• The Canada Strong Pass has made it easier for Canadians to access national parks, rail routes, and cultural sites at a discount.

• A $20 million Indigenous tourism investment fund has helped develop new experiences across 130+ communities.

• The Clean Growth Tourism Fund, introduced in 2024, gives grants to eco-conscious tourism businesses and sustainable travel providers.

🏞️ Big Numbers in Small Places

What makes this moment particularly exciting is that tourism growth is being felt far beyond the major cities. Domestic travellers are rediscovering small towns and booking regional experiences in record numbers, bringing more opportunities and business to local entrepreneurs and small businesses.

• Accommodation & Food Services: Seeing record-breaking revenues thanks to summer travel surges. Average hotel occupancy hit 78% nationwide in July.

• Transportation: VIA Rail and regional carriers are reporting double-digit increases in domestic ridership as more Canadians opt to stay local. If you’re wondering what travelling across Canada looks like, check out Travis Ridgen’s channel as he travels across Canada with the VIA rail.

• Retail & Culture: Mid-sized towns and small communities saw increased foot traffic at local museums, shops, and festivals.

🇨🇦 The Road Ahead for Canadian Tourism

With strong public support, growing domestic enthusiasm, and the global spotlight of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, tourism is poised to be one of Canada’s most dynamic and resilient industries. Increased visitor numbers combined with government-backed funding are making Canada’s tourism sector more accessible and innovation-friendly than ever before. 

Canada's tourism ecosystem is offering something rare in today’s economy: a chance to build businesses that are both profitable and community-driven. Especially with the rise in Indigenous tourism and government funding, Indigenous business owners and entrepreneurs may find new opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and new market segments. From digital platforms that connect travelers with unique experiences to guided tours, local products, and cultural events, the space is wide open for creativity.

At the end of the day, travel is not just recreation but a way to invest in our own communities. The industry is proving its power to create jobs, support local culture, and strengthen the national economy.

📌 FrontFundr bulletin

FrontFundr’s Founder and CEO Peter-Paul Van Hoeken featured on CanadianSME Small Business Podcast

Peter-Paul Van Hoeken sat down with Kripa Anand, the host of CanadianSME Small Business podcast, to speak on the impact of community-backed funding for Canadian startups and growth-stage businesses. Peter-Paul shares insights on what makes a crowdfunding campaign successful, how individuals can start investing in startups, and highlights examples of standout raises. He also reflects on his entrepreneurial journey and the vision behind creating FrontFundr.

Watch the full interview here ➡️