Chestermere’s startup community and founder platform.
Programs, events and introductions for people starting or growing a business in Chestermere, from a first idea to a first customer. Community-led, and built by local founders.
First Founders Night coming January 2027.
- Ideas
- Home-based
- Trades
- Newcomers
- Side projects
- Community surveyIn progress: Open now
- Founder interviewsIn progress: Underway
- First Founders NightPlanned: January 2027
- Society registrationPlanned: Spring 2027
Start here
Which of these is you?
I am a founder
You have an idea or a business under three years old. Join the list for the first Founders Night.
Join as a founderI can mentor
You have run a business and would give an hour a month to someone a few steps behind you.
Offer to mentorI can help organize
You would help run Founders Night, welcome people, or shape the founding board.
VolunteerI represent an organization
You support founders in the region and would like to speak at an event or receive referrals.
Start a conversation
Residents, 2025 census32,255
up from 22,163 in the 2021 federal census
Sources: Statistics Canada, 2021 Census; City of Chestermere, 2025 Municipal Census.
Why we are starting this
A fast-growing city with no local place for new founders to connect.
Chestermere has grown fast, from 22,163 residents in the 2021 federal census to 32,255 in the City’s 2025 municipal census, and it has a young population. Every week we meet neighbours starting something: a home bakery, a trades business, an app on the side. However, there is no local place for new founders to connect.
We are founders ourselves. We are starting by listening: talking to local founders and running a short survey before we build anything.
- A home bakery
- A trades business
- An app on the side
Programs
Programs for every stage.
Each program shows where it stands today, so you always know what you can join now.
- Starting January 2027
Founders Night
A free monthly evening: a short, practical talk, then structured introductions and time to meet other founders.
Join the Founders Night list - Open now
Introductions to support
Tell us what you are working on and we will introduce you to the kind of help that fits: planning, financing, advice, newcomer support or technology programs.
Book an introduction call - Forming now
Mentor network
Experienced local business owners who give an hour a month to someone a few steps behind them.
Offer to mentor - Planned: spring 2027
Founder pilot cohort
A small group of 8 to 12 Chestermere founders working through the early questions together, with mentors and peers. Its shape will follow what founders tell us in the survey.
Register interest - Open now
Insights and resources
Practical articles on starting and growing a business in Chestermere, and a guide to the six kinds of support available.
Read the insights
- You have an idea and want to test it.
- Your business is under three years old.
- You run a home-based, service, trades, retail, online or tech business.
- You are new to Canada and starting something here.
- You are building something alongside a full-time job.
Get involved
Get involved
Tell us a little about you. We will invite you to the first Founders Night and keep you posted.
- Tell us about youIt takes about a minute.
- Receive your invitationWe will email you before the first Founders Night.
- Meet other foundersStarting January 2027, in Chestermere.
Prefer to talk? Take our 3-minute survey (opens in a new tab)
Who we are
Built by local founders.
Innovate Chestermere is being built by local founders, as a separate, community-led non-profit.
Jay Kambo
Co-founder
Technology and product
Noopur Trivedi
Co-founder
Data, business intelligence and talent
Bal Aulakh
Co-founder
Local business, real estate and community
Join the founding board
We are building our founding board. Interested in helping shape this?
Let us know
Our approach
How we work.
Listen first.
We talk to founders before building programs.
Work alongside, not against.
We connect founders to existing local support rather than duplicating it.
Community-led.
A non-profit with a local board.
Measure what matters.
We track who we reach and where they go next, and share it with our community.
What is Innovate Chestermere?
Innovate Chestermere is a new community non-profit, currently in formation, that helps founders in Chestermere, Alberta meet each other, learn together, and find the right support early.
Who is Innovate Chestermere for?
It is for people in Chestermere who have an idea or a business under three years old, including home-based, service, trades, retail, online and technology businesses, newcomers to Canada, and people building something alongside a full-time job.
What is Founders Night, and does it cost anything?
Founders Night is a free monthly evening in Chestermere: a short, useful talk, followed by time to meet other founders. The first Founders Night is planned for January 2027.
Is Innovate Chestermere an incubator?
Not yet. Today Innovate Chestermere is a community startup platform, in formation as a non-profit: it runs events, is building a mentor network, and introduces founders to the local and provincial organizations that offer business advice, planning and financing. A founder pilot cohort of 8 to 12 founders is planned for spring 2027.
How can I get involved?
Join the list on this website to receive an invitation to the first Founders Night, and take the 3-minute community survey. Mentors, volunteers and partner organizations are also welcome, and the founding board is being formed.
How do I contact Innovate Chestermere?
Email hello@innovatechestermere.ca.
Building something in Chestermere?
Join the list for the first Founders Night in January 2027.
Count me in