Toronto accelerator program is expected to support as many as 60 sports tech startups.
As Toronto hosts World Cup soccer, the Government of Canada and City of Toronto have revealed up to $900,000 in funding to create a new, local sports technology accelerator that will deliver annual programming to as many as 60 soccer and other sports tech startups.
The news: The federal government revealed today that, through FedDev Ontario, it has committed $600,000 to the Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to help establish the Future of Sport Lab x FIFA 2026 Legacy Incubation Hub. Toronto is kicking in up to $300,000 in additional funding, alongside other contributions from undisclosed private sector and sports organizations, to support its launch.
From the source: Rechie Valdez, Canada’s secretary of state for small business and tourism, described hosting the World Cup as “an extraordinary opportunity for Toronto” at the TradeTO Trade Diversification Summit at Toronto City Hall this morning. “Getting the most out of opportunities like [this] requires exactly [this] type of partnership,” she added.
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Following the thread: Tech is playing an increasing role in modern sport. At the World Cup, it is being used for in-ball motion sensing, computer-vision tracking, AI analysis, and more. Julien Blin, CEO of American sports tech consultancy Upside Global Org, argued last year that Canada is quietly becoming a hotbed for such innovation with its strong talent pool and supportive ecosystem. TMU’s Future of Sport Lab (FSL), which was established in 2015 and gives Canadian startups access to professional sports franchises, has been part of that picture for some time.
Final thought: The federal government expects the 2026 World Cup to provide a big boost to the Canadian economy. With this commitment to TMU and FSL, the feds and the city hope to ensure Toronto’s investment in hosting the 2026 World Cup creates “a lasting economic legacy” for domestic sports tech firms.
Feature image courtesy FedDev Ontario.