At Startup Canada, we believe that entrepreneurship is for everyone and that when underrepresented founders are given the mic, the whole ecosystem grows stronger. This June, we’re proud to celebrate Pride Month by amplifying 2SLGBTQIA+ voices through a special Startup Podcast takeover and the relaunch of our curated 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurship Resource Guide.
🌈 Our Updated 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurship Resource Guide
2SLGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs face unique challenges in the business world, from accessing funding to overcoming bias in their industries. That’s why we’ve relaunched our 2SLGBTQIA+ Entrepreneurship Resource Guide, developed in collaboration with CGLCC and presented by Wealthy Unicorn.
The guide features tools, templates, and content from organizations like Egale Canada, Futurpreneur, TransFocus Consulting, and more. Whether you’re looking to connect with a mentor, apply for a grant, or find 2SLGBTQIA+-focused training, this guide is for you.
The Pride Podcast Takeover
All month long, we’re handing over the Startup Podcast mic to 2SLGBTQIA+ founders, leaders, and changemakers whose work is transforming health care, fashion, archives, fundraising, and more. These stories aren’t just about business, they’re about identity, resilience, and building better systems for future generations.
Listen to our Podcast!
Episode 1:
Prep, Pride, and Purpose with Dr. Caley Shukalek
Release Date: June 3, 2025
Dr. Caley Shukalek, CEO of PurposeMed, shares how personal experiences shaped his mission to expand access to life-saving care across Canada, including HIV prevention through Freddie, ADHD support through Frida, gender-affirming care through Foria, and more.
Episode 2:
Making Space with Rae Hill of Origami Customs
Release Date: June 10, 2025
Rae Hill, founder of Origami Customs, is redesigning what inclusive fashion looks like. This Montreal-based brand and its community program are changing lives by delivering custom-made gender-affirming wearables to people facing financial and systemic barriers.
Episode 3:
Preserving Queer History with Raegan Swanson of The ArQuives
Release Date: June 17, 2025
As Executive Director of The ArQuives, Raegan Swanson is safeguarding Canada’s queer histories and making space for future stories to be told. Tune in for a conversation on archives, identity, and intergenerational knowledge-sharing.
Episode 4:
Leading with Purpose with Elizabeth Murphy and Dr. Colum Connolly
Release Date: June 25, 2025
In our final Pride Month episode, we speak with two mission-driven leaders from New Brunswick. Dr. Colum Connolly and Elizabeth Murphy share how they’ve woven inclusion, funding advocacy, and community-building into the heart of their work.
This Pride Month, join us in listening, learning, and lifting up 2SLGBTQIA+ voices, not just in June, but all year long. Follow along on our podcast, social media, and sign up for our newsletter to hear stories that inspire change, action, and community.