Build your aI company.

Keep all of it.

A non-profit AI founder community in Toronto — with mentors, investors, and global pathways alongside you. A real campus to work from. Zero equity, ever.

Designed so founders Retain full ownership.

NovaForge is a registered Ontario non-profit headquartered at the Office146 campus in Etobicoke. We provide AI founders with a working community, expert mentorship, structured introductions to capital, and dedicated workspace — with deliberate inclusion of newcomers, women, racialized, and Indigenous founders across every part of the ecosystem. We take zero equity. The support stands on its own, and your cap table remains entirely yours.

A community,
and the people who back it.

Founder Community

AI founders working side by side at Office146 — peer feedback, dinners, and demo nights.

Explore the Community →

Expert Advisors

Operators who’ve built and sold AI companies — matched on stage and sector.

Learn About Our Advisors →

Investor Access

Warm introductions to angels, pre-seed, and seed funds — pitch, data room, and room prep.

Learn About Our Investors →

Global Pathways

Helping Canadian ventures go global — and global ventures landing through Canada.

Explore Global Pathways →

Early-stage AI Founders Ready to move.

Whether you’re shaping a working prototype or closing your first customers en route to pre-seed, what matters most is the same: serious intent, honest work, and momentum.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT FIT

  • Building an AI product — applied, infrastructure, or model layer

  • Pre-seed to seed stage with idea, prototype, or early traction

  • Based in or able to spend real time in the GTA

  • Coachable, fast-moving, and open to honest feedback

  • Looking for serious support without giving up equity

A Campus to Build from, on day one.

NovaForge is headquartered at Office146 — a 50,000 sq ft coworking campus in south Etobicoke. Take a hot desk, a dedicated seat, or a private office alongside fellow AI founders, book a meeting room for a 1:1 with a mentor, and use the event lounge for hackathons, demo nights, and investor sessions.

40+

PRIVATE OFFICES

5

MEETING ROOMS

200+

EVENT LOUNGE

24/7

SECURE ACCESS

Recording studio, commercial kitchen, phone booths, outdoor patio, and free on-site parking — all included. Founders, mentors, and partners under one roof.

Founder FAQ

NovaForge focuses on pre-seed to seed stage AI founders based in the Greater Toronto Area. If you’re in the early stages of building an AI-driven company and are looking for support, community, and connections, you’re exactly who we’re here for.

Founders receive access to workspace at Office146, mentorship from domain experts, capital readiness support, introductions to investors, and connections to a global network. It’s a practical combination of space, guidance, and relationships designed to help you move faster.

Never. NovaForge does not take equity, warrants, SAFEs, or any form of future rights from any founder, ever. This is a founding principle of the organization and will never change regardless of the level of support provided.

Mentors are domain experts who provide focused, practical guidance — typically around two to four hours per quarter. These are advisors who have real experience in areas relevant to your business, not generalists who offer vague advice.

The Investor and Advisor Council is a curated group of investors and advisors connected to NovaForge. As a founder, you gain access to their deal flow, introductions, and a seat at Demo Day — where you can pitch directly to people who are actively looking to back early-stage AI companies.

Demo Day is a pitch event where NovaForge founders present their companies to investors and industry leaders. NovaForge plans to run two Demo Days per year — one in December and one in April. It’s one of the highest-value opportunities for founders in the program.

Not yet. NovaForge is currently taking a community-first approach, which means you can get involved through events and conversations before any formal intake process. The best way to start is to attend an event or reach out directly to the team.

Yes, and this is a formal commitment. NovaForge is dedicated to ensuring that 40% or more of the founders it supports come from underrepresented groups, including women, racialized communities, and newcomers to Canada. This is part of the organization’s Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) commitment.

Yes. Capital readiness support is a core part of what founders receive. NovaForge helps you understand what investors are looking for, build the right materials, and make meaningful introductions — so when you go out to raise, you’re prepared.

NovaForge is best suited for founders at the pre-seed or seed stage — companies that are still finding their footing, building their product, and preparing to scale. If you’re post-Series A with a large team, you may have outgrown what NovaForge currently offers, though you’re always welcome as a community member or partner.

NovaForge provides guidance on non-dilutive funding sources including OTF, IRAP, Mitacs, Google Ad Grants, Microsoft Nonprofit, and AWS Activate. These are grants and credits that can fund your growth without giving up equity, and navigating them is part of what NovaForge helps founders with.

Launch your legacy.

Skip the noise and get direct access to the advisors, investors, and traction that move the needle.