Perched on a cliffside above the historic harbour of North America’s oldest city, Genesis is literally and figuratively at the edge of innovation, helping shape one of Atlantic Canada’s most vibrant startup communities. Since its launch in 1997, Genesis programming has been the starting point for over 1,000 aspiring tech entrepreneurs, creating opportunities and driving economic growth in Newfoundland and Labrador, a province that embraces its small island culture while achieving remarkable results.
In this setting, founders and established business leaders mingle at ecosystem events or on a casual hike along the rugged coast. Here, support is personal and genuine; you are never just another face in the crowd. Instead, you join a community that believes collaboration and mutual support propel everyone forward, much like a rising tide lifts all boats.
The impact of Genesis is clear. Its clients have created over 2,900 jobs, generated $347 million in annual recurring revenue, and attracted more than $751 million in private capital. Once seen as a remote outpost, Newfoundland and Labrador is now recognized as fertile ground for innovative technology ventures. Verafin, an early Genesis alum from 2003 to 2006, set a historic benchmark when Nasdaq acquired it for USD 2.75 billion in 2020, marking the largest private acquisition in Canadian history at the time.
Over the years, Genesis has evolved from a single program with a handful of clients into a comprehensive support network that continuously adapts to the dynamic needs of founders. The flagship Enterprise incubation program equips early-stage ventures to reach their first million dollars in revenue, paving the way for a full market launch. Recognizing the need for market validation and customer discovery, Genesis introduced the Evolution accelerator in 2014 and Evolution+ in 2021 to offer pre-incubation coaching tailored for emerging founders. This suite of programs has helped founders secure early customers, validate markets, and build the foundation for scalable growth.
Genesis remains firmly committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Initiatives such as the Women in Tech peer group and Genesis Ignite were launched to empower underrepresented founders and ensure that every voice is heard. At the same time, the Startup Visa program embraces global perspectives by attracting visionary newcomer entrepreneurs. The organization’s collaborative spirit was further demonstrated through its involvement in the Ocean Startup Project, an initiative designed to boost ocean industry startups, and continues today with forward-thinking projects like the Genesis AI Garage, where talent from post-secondary institutions like Memorial University’s Centre for Artificial Intelligence, partners with startups to tackle real-world business challenges using AI-powered solutions.
Now, nearly three decades after its inception, Genesis continues to strengthen its commitment to its mission of creating tech companies that compete globally, secure significant investment, and drive economic opportunity in a province traditionally known for natural resources such as fishing, oil and gas, and mining. With clients spanning diverse markets around the world, Genesis is reinventing Newfoundland and Labrador as a dynamic hub of innovation and possibility.
From students transforming academic projects into their first ventures to seasoned professionals pursuing long-held dreams, Genesis welcomes founders with a wide array of ideas, backgrounds, and ambitions. Fresh ideas bear fruit as new ventures form, inspired by those who paved the way. The story of Genesis is one of continuous renewal, where every success fuels the next chapter in the province’s remarkable entrepreneurial legacy.
