We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating:
We’re betting on Canada.
Not because it’s perfect, but because the brands being built here are rewriting the rules in ways the world can learn from.
At a time when extractive systems are cracking and authoritarianism is on the rise, we believe Canada has a chance to chart a new course. One where capitalism isn’t just about growth for growth’s sake, but about scaling solutions that serve people, communities, and the planet.
This month, we’re spotlighting Canadian brands doing just that across the sectors that shape how we live, grow, bank, and lead.
🏠How We Build Homes
Forget urban sprawl and single-family sprawl. These brands are building smarter, more sustainable spaces that respond to real community needs:
- Smallworks: Reimagining urban infill with backyard laneway homes that support multi-generational living and affordability.
- Assembly: Delivering modular housing that’s fast, beautiful, and designed for a net-zero future.
- StrĂĽktek: Advancing prefab with precision-engineered timber systems that reduce waste and carbon emissions.
🌱 How We Grow Food
 In the face of climate instability and broken supply chains, these innovators are rethinking agriculture from the soil up:
- GoodLeaf Farms: Scaling vertical farms that deliver fresh greens with 95% less water and zero pesticides.
- Replic8: Engineering future-ready crops with genetic precision to increase resilience and yield.
- The Growcer: Bringing food sovereignty to remote and northern communities with modular growing systems.
đź’¸ How We Bank and Build Wealth
Challenger brands in fintech are proving that transparency, access, and ethics can be competitive advantages:
- EQ Bank: Making high-interest savings and everyday banking radically more fair.
- Wealthsimple: Democratizing investing with simplicity, access, and a values-led voice.
- KOHO: Helping Canadians break free from predatory fees with a smarter alternative to traditional banks.
🌍 How We Trade and Govern
Not just playing within the system — these organizations are redesigning the rules altogether:
- Canadian Employee Ownership Coalition: Giving business owners a powerful alternative to private equity — by selling to their employees.
- EDC: Financing Canadian exports with an eye toward sustainability and global leadership.
- Skoll Foundation: Investing in social entrepreneurs driving systemic change (with deep Canadian roots).
⚡ How We Reach Sustainability Goals
Meeting net-zero targets won’t happen by accident. These brands show what’s possible:
- Carbon One: Turning captured CO₂ into concrete — literally transforming emissions into infrastructure.
- Lion Electric: Leading North America’s shift to electric school buses and urban transport.
- Cascadia Seaweed: Scaling Indigenous-led seaweed farming as a climate-smart industry of the future.
The Takeaway
Canada has what it takes to lead. It comes from the brands, entrepreneurs, and institutions bold enough to challenge the status quo and build what’s next.
If you’re building something that belongs on this list — or want help getting there — we’d love to hear from you.
