IDEA Square One Entrepreneurship Hub – Mississauga’s anchor innovation location – celebrated one year of supporting small businesses, startups, and scale-ups in Mississauga

IDEA Square One Entrepreneurship Hub celebrated its first year of operation with an open house yesterday. The event, held by Mississauga Economic Development in partnership with Oxford Realty Properties, brought together community leaders, clients, entrepreneurs, and supporters to mark the occasion.

Located in the Square One Shopping Centre in downtown Mississauga, IDEA Square One is a 4,300 square-foot facility for small businesses, startups, scale-ups, corporate leaders, and investors to collaborate and grow together.

IDEA Square One continues Economic Development’s long-standing support of the small business community and has evolved to become the hub for innovative companies to launch and scale. The IDEA team provides mentorship, advisory services and tailored programming to companies at all stages of growth and from all sectors, along with co-working and meeting facilities.

Yesterday’s festivities showcased the vibrant entrepreneurial ventures in Mississauga with guests networking and exploring a showcase featuring IDEA clients’ businesses, products, and services.

“This event marks an important milestone as we celebrate one year of operation for IDEA Square One – our anchor innovation location providing invaluable support to entrepreneurs and small businesses seeking to thrive in our city,” said Acting Mayor and Ward 8 Councillor Matt Mahoney. “Congratulations to the tireless staff at IDEA Square One on a successful inaugural year and to the clients who have trusted the IDEA team to help them advance their businesses – we wish you every success now and in the future.”

In IDEA Square One’s first year, IDEA staff:

• responded to over 2,200 client inquiries
• conducted 367 business consults
• supported the creation of 253 jobs
• supported the start or expansion of 57 businesses
• onboarded 15 resident companies to IDEA Square One

In addition, IDEA Square One was ranked #20 in the Top 100 Startup Accelerators, Incubators, and Programs in Canada by FoundersBeta, an online global community of over 6,000 founders, innovators and change-makers.

“There’s nothing better than watching our entrepreneurs start up or scale up their businesses and succeed,” said Christina Kakaflikas, Director of the Economic Development Office. “By providing support and a physical space to enable  collaboration, we empower entrepreneurs and enhance Mississauga’s profile as a trusted partner and a competitive place for business and innovation.”

Mississauga’s entrepreneurs can visit ideamississauga.ca to learn more about regional supports, resources, tools, and assets to start and grow their business.

“Square One and Mississauga have grown together over the past 50 years,” said Sherif Masood, Head of Asset Management, Canada, Oxford Properties. “IDEA Mississauga is more than an innovation centre, it is a best-in-class example of how a shopping centre and a city develop to become the economic heart and soul of a region. Connecting entrepreneurs and the community at large for collaboration and commercial opportunities is incredible. It’s also something that can only be achieved with forward-thinking partners. We look forward to building on this successful inaugural year and inspiring new ventures within Mississauga.”