MaRS Discovery District
Non-profit organization that partners with entrepreneurs, researchers, business and government to build the next generation of.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | investor | €0.0 | round |
| N/A | $1.0m | Early VC | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
MaRS Discovery District, established in 2000, operates as a non-profit corporation and North America's largest urban innovation hub. It was founded by a collective of civic leaders, including Dr. John Evans, with the vision to translate Canada's scientific and technological research into successful global businesses. Initially an acronym for "Medical and Related Sciences," MaRS has since broadened its scope to include cleantech, finance and commerce, and enterprise software.
Functioning as a public-private partnership, MaRS provides a comprehensive support system for startups at various growth stages. The organization's business model is centered on creating a collaborative ecosystem. It provides advisory services, mentorship, market intelligence, entrepreneurship education, and crucial connections to talent, customers, and capital. Revenue is generated through government funding, charitable donations, and leasing space within its 1.5 million-square-foot facility in Toronto to a curated mix of startups, established tech companies, and research labs. This leasing model allows MaRS to offer discounted rates to startups while charging market rates to corporate tenants. MaRS also manages venture capital funds, such as the MaRS IAF, one of Canada's most active seed-stage investors.
The MaRS Centre is a key asset, housing incubator programs, wet-lab-capable buildings, conference facilities, and office spaces. This physical co-location of researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners is designed to accelerate innovation. The hub supports over 1,200 ventures and is home to more than 120 tenants. Since 2010, companies supported by MaRS have raised over $19 billion in capital and generated $11.5 billion in revenue, contributing significantly to Canada's GDP and creating over 33,000 jobs.
Keywords: innovation hub, technology commercialization, startup support, venture capital, public-private partnership, life sciences, cleantech, fintech, enterprise software, entrepreneurship education, market intelligence, seed funding, business incubator, Toronto innovation, research commercialization, scale-up support, corporate partnerships, Canadian startups, economic development, social innovation
