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We are a business incubator that supports entrepreneurs with NOVEL & SCALABLE business ideas or startups.

VoxNeuro was featured on CBC’s Marketplace

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AP Renewables receives $50K from ENCQOR 5G demonstration program

Hamilton’s Startup Incubator

No equity

We do not take equity in your company. We facilitate investor events, connect you with the right advisors, provide strategic advice and help perfect your pitch.

Incredible mentors

Our network of mentors includes industry experts, serial entrepreneurs, and investors who will accelerate your company’s path to success.

Co-working space

Work from a beautiful new facility at McMaster Innovation Park, a premier research and innovation centre in Hamilton linked to Canada’s #1 most research-intensive university.


Established Network

Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs.  We host regular founder meetups and community events to get your brand out there. We celebrate wins and learn from failure together.

 

 

216
Startups

 

34
Million Raised

 

500
Jobs

 

20,000
Cups of Coffee

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We work hands-on with early-stage entrepreneurs to help them build successful startups. Our programs are open to anyone pursuing scalable, technology-based companies.

Our Valued Sponsors:

Our Valued Partners and Service Providers:

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Our Creative Team

Dr. Gay Yuyitung
Interim Director

Gay Yuyitung is the Interim Director of The Forge and the Executive Director of the McMaster Industry Liaison Office. Gay oversees…

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Riley Moynes
Incubator Manager

Riley joins The Forge from the Innovation Factory, where he was a Client Services Manager. Riley is a filmmaker turned design/business…

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Mariya Leslie
Incubator Manager (Maternity Leave)

Mariya Leslie is the Manager of The Forge Incubator at McMaster University, where she focuses on helping Canadian technology startups launch…

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Elina Ojanen
Communication & Events Manager

Elina heads the Startup Survivor pitch competition and Communications at The Forge. Previously she worked at the DeGroote School of Business…

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130
Startups

 

500
Jobs

 

$25 Million
Raised

 

20,000
Cups of Coffee

Latest News

HyIvy Health selected runner up in Pitch for the Purse Finale
February 25, 2021 | Comments 0

On February 25, 2021, Rachel Bartholomew, CEO and founder of HyIvy Health, pitched her…

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Zentrela receives $850K to build scientific database of cannabis product effects
February 11, 2021 | Comments 0

On February 11, 2021, The Forge alumnus, Zentrela Inc. announced that it has completed…

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BDATA places third in an international ARTC Startup Challenge
February 4, 2021 | Comments 0

On February 4, 2021, B Data Solutions Inc. (BDATA) was awarded third place in the…

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Serial entrepreneurs revolutionize remote learning
January 30, 2021 | Comments 0

Lightboard Depot is a forward-thinking startup that devised “the Lightboard,” a 54-inch transparent screen…

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VoxNeuro featured on CBC’s Marketplace 
January 26, 2021 | Comments 0

On January 26, 2021, VoxNeuro’s breakthrough neurotechnology was covered on CBC’s Marketplace. The feature…

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AP Renewables receives $50K from ENCQOR 5G demonstration program
January 25, 2021 | Comments 0

On January 25, AP Renewables announced that they received $50K from the ENCQOR  5G…

Read More
BDATA receives best IoT data security product award
January 24, 2021 | Comments 0

On January 24, 2021, B Data Solutions Inc. (BDATA) received the “Best IoT Data…

Read More
Welcome back Jessica Rudden
January 20, 2021 | Comments 0

Welcome back to Jessica Rudden, The Forge program coordinator, who returned from parental leave…

Read More

Client Testimonials


  • Obie.ai

    “We are so grateful to have had The Forge early on in our startup journey. The Forge gave us access to co-working space with like minded individuals, resources to validate our early product iterations and some of our first press ever! We’re proud alumni of the incubator.”

    Chris Buttenham
    Co-founder of Obie.ai
  • “EMN wouldn’t be around without the support of The Forge. This is a model that helps entrepreneurs learn quickly, build confidence, and network with other entrepreneurs who are also in the trenches.”

    Eric Zimmerman
    CEO of Enhanced Medical Nutrition Inc.
  • “As we grew from a small startup based in a downtown Hamilton apartment, to two office facilities within McMaster Innovation Park, The Forge has helped to mentor us every step of the way.”

    Matt Sheridan
    CEO of Nix Sensor Ltd.
  • “The Forge offers us not only a space to work from, but also access to prototyping equipment, a range of mentors as well as funding opportunities. In our residency at The Forge we have secured funding, grown our team and are closing in on completion of our first product.”

    Alex Shortt
    CTO of Longan Vision Corp.
  • “The Forge was instrumental in supporting the company in its original incarnation as CareKit Health. CareKit came to The Forge in 2015, leveraging its mentoring, networking, fundraising and prototyping services. The Forge helped CareKit connect with potential customers and granting agencies, which ultimately helped attract the attention of Reliq Health, leading to its acquisition of CareKit for $2 million.”

    Dr. Lisa Crossley
    CEO of Reliq Health Technologies Inc.

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About Us

The Forge is a business incubator funded by McMaster University, serving novel and scalable startups in the Hamilton, Greater Toronto and Niagara Regions. Launched in 2015, we work hands-on with entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas or startups from ideation and validation to growth. The Forge is sector agnostic, offering cohort-based programming and does not take equity in the startups we support.

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Recent Posts
HyIvy Health selected runner up in Pitch for the Purse Finale

On February 25, 2021, Rachel Bartholomew, CEO and founder…

Zentrela receives $850K to build scientific database of cannabis product effects

On February 11, 2021, The Forge alumnus, Zentrela Inc….

Contact Us

175 Longwood Road South, Suite B21, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 0A1

+1 905 525 9140 ext. 24748

info@theforge.mcmaster.ca

https://theforge.mcmaster.ca

© 2020 The Forge McMaster All Rights Reserved
In line with University and Government's policies and recommendations amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The Forge office at McMaster Innovation Park is closed until further notice. We look forward to continuing to work with you remotely. Our programming will continue and is being hosted virtually to ensure the safety of our community. If you require assistance, please reach out to a member of staff by email or phone during regular operating hours.