Kingston recognized for being a startup ecosystem innovator

KEDCO were named as Best Small City in Canada at StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Awards.

The Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) is being recognized for creating a big startup ecosystem in a small city.

The organization received the Best Small City in Canada award from the StartupBlink Startup Ecosystem Awards that were announced on Tuesday. The honour recognizes KEDCO for its leadership in the Kingston startup ecosystem.

Kingston was the only Canadian city with a population under 500,000 named in the top-10 startup ecosystems.

The awards specifically honour organizations that have demonstrated exceptional achievement in fostering startup ecosystem development. It is determined through detailed analysis of StartupBlink's comprehensive algorithm, which evaluates over 40 parameters across more than 1,000 cities and 100 countries worldwide.

KEDCO CEO Donna Gillespie says in a statement that the award is being shared with the entire community.

"It recognizes the strategic partnerships and commitment that makes Kingston's startup and entrepreneurial ecosystem thrive," she says.

"This recognition stems from creating conditions where innovation flourishes and entrepreneurs build their futures here."

In a news release, Kingston's startup ecosystem demonstrates particular strength in sustainable manufacturing and life sciences innovation. This specialization aligns with Kingston's commitment to sustainability and positions the community as a leader in sectors critical to addressing global challenges.

Story by Ken Hashizume