Shape the Future of TechPlace
TechPlace Startup Member Pulse
Since 2017, TechPlace has been Burlington’s front door for entrepreneurs, innovators and growing businesses, and you’re part of the community that made it one of Halton Region’s leading innovation hubs. The economy has changed since then: commercialization, talent, productivity and new technologies like AI are reshaping how companies grow and compete. We are refreshing our Innovation & Entrepreneurship Strategy for the next decade, and we want it built on what startups actually experience. This survey takes about 7 minutes: how you win customers, where you’re headed, and what would help you grow. Responses are confidential and reported only in aggregate.
Where is your company today?
*
Idea or pre-revenue
Early revenue
Scaling (growing team and revenue)
Established and expanding
How many people work at your company, including founders?
1–4
5–19
20–49
50+
Where is your company based?
Burlington
Elsewhere in Halton
Hamilton
Elsewhere in Ontario
Outside Ontario
What do you build? Select all that apply.
Software / SaaS
Hardware or devices
Platform or marketplace
Tech-enabled services
AI / MLS
Industrial Technology
Data / Analytics Solutions
Cybersecurity
Other
Other product – please explain
Who are your customers? Select all that apply.
*
Businesses (B2B)
Consumers (B2C)
Government and public sector (B2G)
Other Startups and Entrepreneurs
Non-profit Organizations and Charities
Distributors, Wholesalers and Resellers
Channel Partners/System Integrators
International Customers/Export Markets
Not yet selling/still validating the target market
Other
Which industries do you serve?
Health and life sciences
Advanced manufacturing and industrial
Clean tech and energy
Logistics and mobility
Financial and professional services
Retail, tourism and hospitality
Education and Research
Agriculture and Food
Consumer Products and Retail
Public sector
Other
Other industry – please explain
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Next
Winning customers
Where are you in landing your first paying customer?
Haven't started talking to buyers yet
In discovery conversations
Running a free pilot or trial
Close to a first sale
I already have paying customers
Who are you targeting as your first customers?
Small or mid-size businesses
Large enterprises
Public sector
Consumers
How did you land your first paying customer?
My own network
Introduction through TechPlace or another innovation organization
Introduction from an investor, mentor or another founder
Cold outreach or marketing
A pilot or proof of concept
An accelerator, competition or government program
Other
Other way – please explain
What type of organization was your first paying customer?
Small or mid-size business
Large enterprise
Public sector
Consumer
Other
Where was your first paying customer located?
Burlington or Halton
Hamilton
Elsewhere in Ontario
Elsewhere in Canada
Outside Canada
What has made it hardest to win customers, or your first customer? (choose up to 2)
Finding the right buyer or getting a meeting
Proving the product works, or it isn't ready yet
Security, compliance or IT testing (e.g. SOC 2)
Buyers see us as too small, too new or unproven
No local presence or support
Concerns about AI (privacy, accuracy, trust)
Slow procurement
Price
Other
Other challenge – please explain
What would most help buyers say yes to a business like yours? (choose up to 2)
A scoped pilot with a clear exit
Code escrow or a documented handover plan
Help getting security or compliance ready
A first public-sector customer as a reference
Real operating challenges from the City or a corporate to pilot against
Introductions to the right decision-maker
Problem-focused sector sessions with buyers in the room
None of these
What would help instead?
Roughly what share of your revenue comes from customers in Burlington and Halton?
None
Under 10%
10–25%
25–50%
Over 50%
How long does it usually take to close a new customer?
Under a month
1–3 months
3–6 months
6–12 months
Over a year
What's the biggest thing holding back your next stage of growth?
Finding customers beyond our own network
Moving from small to larger customers
Expanding outside Ontario or Canada
Hiring the right people
Raising capital
Our own operations and processes
Other
Other growth barrier – please explain
In the next 12 months, are you planning to...? (select all that apply)
Hire
Raise capital
Enter the US or another international market
Launch a new product
Need more or different space
None of these
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Next
AI and your market
How does AI show up in your company?
It's the core of our product
Our product includes AI features
We help other businesses adopt AI
We use AI to run our own operations
We don't use AI
From your conversations with customers and prospects, how ready are established businesses in this region to adopt AI?
Not interested
Interested but don't know where to start
Experimenting
Actively buying
Don't know
What holds those businesses back most? (choose up to 2)
Not knowing where to start
Skills on their team
Cost
Privacy, security or trust concerns
Their data isn't ready
No clear return on investment
Leadership isn't convinced
Other
Other barrier – please explain
Which sectors offer the biggest opportunity over the next decade, including for AI adoption? (choose up to 2)
Health and life sciences
Advanced manufacturing and industrial
Clean tech and energy
Logistics and mobility
Financial and professional services
Retail, tourism and hospitality
Software and digital services
Public sector
Other
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Other sector – please explain
You and TechPlace
How often do you come to TechPlace in person?
Weekly or more
A few times a month
Monthly or less
Rarely or never
What keeps you from coming more often?
Location or commute
I work remotely or have my own office
I don't know what's on
Events don't fit my stage or sector
Timing doesn't work for me
I didn't find enough value when I came
Other
Other reason – please explain
In the past year, what have you gained through TechPlace (includes staff, programming partners, other members, or event attendees)?
Workspace
Advice from other founders
An introduction to a customer, partner or investor
Mentors, advisors or programs
Business with another member
Credibility or a referral
Nothing beyond the space
Other
Other gain – please explain
Did you know these co-location programming partners are based at TechPlace?
Rows
Didn't know
Knew, but haven't connected with them
Have used their services or met with them
Innovation Factory
Angel One Investor Network
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Looking ahead
Which supports would help you most in the next 12 months? (choose up to 3)
Finding customers: validation, introductions and pilot partners
A peer founder or CEO circle
Mentors who stay with you and hold you accountable
Investor readiness and capital connections
Security, privacy and compliance readiness
Talent: co-op students and skilled hires
Scaling up: new markets, export and growth planning
Affordable space
Other
Other support – please explain
What should TechPlace focus on most?
Bringing the community together
Connecting founders to customers, talent and capital
Building innovation and AI know-how
Providing workspace
Leading the regional innovation agenda
Other
What should municipal or regional government do to better support innovation and entrepreneurship?
Staying involved (optional)
Would you be open to a 20-minute follow-up conversation?
Yes
No
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Email
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