Enterprise Bridge Toronto: Community Bootcamp and Mentorship for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
Application deadline: September 14, 2026
Enterprise Bridge Toronto is a program designed to empower entrepreneurs through training, mentoring, consulting, and community connections that help create sustainable new businesses. This program is hosted by Global Migration Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Urban Poverty and Business Initiative (UPBI) (external link) to tackle urban poverty in Toronto through entrepreneurship. UPBI has identified 80 steps to sustainable success, and we guide participants through them to successfully complete the program.
Turn your entrepreneurial dream into reality!
About
The Enterprise Bridge program is open to all immigrants based in Toronto who either have a business idea or are in the early stages of entrepreneurship. This program offers comprehensive support, including training via bootcamps and special sessions, mentoring, consulting services, and networking opportunities. The program takes place over 8 months, and sustainable business ventures will be tracked for three years. The program starts with six compulsory bootcamp sessions, followed by professional mentorship and one-on-one consulting support.
Program Dates
Application Deadline: September 14, 2026 (Successful applicants informed of decision: end of September)
Bootcamps: October 31, November 7, November 14, November 21, November 28, December 5, 2026, from 10 AM - 2:30 PM (Location: In-person at the Global Migration Institute office, 220 Yonge, TEC-204, CF Toronto Eaton Centre)
Mentorship: January-April 2027
Student Consulting: May-June 2027
Why participate?
- Learn the essential tools, concepts, and principles for launching and growing a sustainable business
- Receive a certificate of completion for entrepreneurship bootcamp training
- Receive mentorship from an industry professional. You need to complete 6 bootcamp sessions to be eligible for the mentoring phase
- Receive one-on-one consultation from student consultants to help you solve particular problems such as setting up a bookkeeping system, registering businesses, developing a social media presence, and website improvements. Participants need to complete all six bootcamp sessions, and complete the mentorship phase to be eligible for consulting.
- Connect with other entrepreneurs in the community to help promote your business
- Get exclusive access to resources available on the Ignite UPBI project website developed to support entrepreneurs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Submit an online application here: https://forms.gle/4SUdogHPWy3B5sV87 (external link)
The deadline to apply is September 14, 2026. There are limited enrollment spots. Successful applicants will be informed by the end of September.
Applicants must be an immigrant to Canada, reside in Toronto, and either have a business idea or be an early-stage entrepreneur. The program is intended for entrepreneurs building service-based, retail, creative, food, professional, and other small businesses. Applicants must complete all six bootcamp sessions to be eligible for mentorship. To qualify for consulting, applicants must complete the bootcamps and, if mentored, have maintained regular interactions with your mentor.
No. Sessions are delivered in English, and it is recommended a CLB level 5 or above for full participation. However, no test certificate is required.
The value of this course is $1,000, but the Global Migration Institute at TMU is subsidizing the full cost, so the program is free. Accepted participants are asked to pay a one-time fee of $25 to cover the cost of books and materials.
If applicants require financial accommodations to participate fully in this program, please contact global.migration@torontomu.ca
All bootcamp sessions will be held in-person in downtown Toronto. To ensure the maximum benefit and successful participation in the program, applicants must attend all six bootcamp sessions.
For more information or questions, please email global.migration@torontomu.ca indicating Enterprise Bridge Toronto in the subject line.