Fuel the Founders

Fuel the Founders is a screened mentorship night for founders between idea stage and about $1M in revenue. Startup Grind Toronto, Futurpreneur, and YSpace (York University) put mentors in one room for short Fuel Stops on fundraising, growth, ops, talent, and legal, then open networking with mentors still in the mix. If you are building early and want named institutional mentors rather than an open pitch bar, this is the downtown evening. Three named hosts in one Futurpreneur office is the product: Startup Grind Toronto’s community graph, Futurpreneur’s founder support, and YSpace’s York University entrepreneurship lane. Three hosts share one Futurpreneur office near Union Station: Startup Grind Toronto, Futurpreneur, and YSpace (York University).

Capacity is framed around about 100 spots. Attendance is free and approval-required. Bring a concrete ask for the Fuel Stops - fundraising, growth, ops, talent, or legal - so the short rotations have something to work with. Approval is not automatic. Guest rules live on the Luma page.

Thursday, August 13, 2026, 6:00-8:30 PM at Futurpreneur, 33 Yonge Street #1100, Downtown Toronto, near Union Station. Confirm live approval status on Luma before you commute. Union Station access is straightforward; still leave buffer for office-tower check-in. Same day as NEXT Canada Venture Day in the Discovery District - that is the morning pitch program; this is the evening mentor room.

Apply on Luma and wait for the yes before blocking the night. If you are past about $1M in revenue or only hunting investors with no ask, the Fuel Stop format will feel mismatched. The ~100-spot cap is real; a late application after the room fills is a no even when the night is free. About 100 spots and host approval mean a free ticket is still a screened seat.