About Us

A joint partnership between the City of Brampton and Ryerson University, Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton is a new pre-seed, non-equity incubator that is dedicated to building and growing early stage, high potential technology startups in Brampton. We enable connections between aspiring entrepreneurs, current founders, industry experts, funders, and customers to build solutions that address hyperlocal issues in the community.

RVZ operates within a culture that fosters a mindset of growth and provides entrepreneurs with deeper industry knowledge and upskilling opportunities through programming, coaching, and access to the resources they need to create new ventures.

City of Brampton

On January 7, 2020, Ryerson University and the City of Brampton issued a joint media release, opens in new window announcing the establishment of the Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton. Located within the burgeoning Brampton Innovation District,, external link, opens in new window RVZ aims to enhance the city’s social and economic vitality by supporting the growth of new business, creating high-skilled jobs, and solidifying Brampton’s standing as a global hub of innovation.The presence of Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton will build a future talent pipeline in the City of Brampton and serve as a model economic growth engine for emerging cities of the future. RVZ works alongside community partners and organizations such as the RIC Centre, external link, opens in new window, Brampton Entrepreneur Centre, external link, opens in new window, BHive,, external link, opens in new window and Sheridan’s EDGE, external link, opens in new window centre as part of the City of Brampton’s overall 2040 vision and commitment to innovation.

A home for innovation and cultivating local talent

RVZ aims to nurture local entrepreneurs helping drive the Brampton economy and create impactful solutions for businesses and people in Canada and beyond.

The presence of Ryerson Venture Zone in Brampton will build a future talent pipeline in the City of Brampton and serve as a model economic growth engine for emerging cities of the future. RVZ works alongside community partners and organizations such as the RIC Centre, external link, opens in new window, Brampton Entrepreneur Centre, external link, opens in new window, BHive, external link, opens in new window and Sheridan’s EDGE, external link, opens in new window centre as part of the City of Brampton’s overall 2040 vision and commitment to innovation.

Brampton cityscape

Sector Focuses in Brampton

Community Health and Wellness- William Osler Health System,, external link is a hospital system that serves 1.3 million residents of Brampton, Etobicoke, and surrounding communities within the Central West Local Health Integration Network. It consists of Peel memorial centre, Brampton civic hospital, Reactivation care centre and Etobicoke general hospital. The health system is dedicated to evaluating and implementing more patient inspired technologies to enable efficient, effective and innovative care for this diverse community.

Food Processing and Packaging - Brampton’s food and beverage sector is a one-stop-shop, complete with food testing, processing and packaging facilities as well as transportation, packaging design, equipment and refrigeration storage all located within the city. It contributes $1.3 B to Canada’s GDP and 8,500 people are employed in 300 companies. Top employers include Loblaws, Maple Lodge, Coca-Cola, Give & Go prepared foods, Italpasta to name a few.

Advanced Manufacturing - It is the largest employment sector in Brampton; contributes $4B to the Canadian GDP, 1,500 companies employ 30,000 people. Top employers include FCA, ABB robotics, Magna, Almag aluminum, BMP metals to name a few. Home to the key post-secondary training through Sheridan College’s Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Design Technology (CAMDT, external link) and Skilled Trades Centre (STC), Brampton is strategically positioned to support the diverse talent needs of the advanced manufacturing sector.

Smart City, Mobility and Logistics- Located near Pearson airport and home to many logistics companies, the following are some of the largest goods movement employers in the region: Chrysler, Maple Lodge farms, Coca-Cola, Amazon, Canadian Tire and Maritime Ontario to name a few. CN Rail’s Brampton Intermodal Terminal (BIT) is the largest terminal in North America and is CN’s intermodal hub for the GTA and Southwestern Ontario, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week and nearly 60 percent of the railway’s system-wide intermodal business passes through the terminal.

Film, Media and Entertainment

Zone Learning

The RVZ is part of Ryerson University's Zone Learning network, one of the most respected university-based innovation ecosystems in the world. Zone Learning is for anyone who wants to get practical experience in what it takes to build an initiative/venture from the ground-up. You can initiate your own projects or contribute to existing ventures involving faculty, business and community partners.

The 10 zones – each with a focus on a different industry – are incubators or spaces where people come together to brainstorm, kickstart projects, and build startups. Zone Learning, opens in new window members work at the forefront of emerging markets to develop new products, explore innovative solutions, or embark on ventures to change the world.