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Too Long, Didn’t Read
- RBC and Futurpreneur are helping young Canadians turn their business ideas into reality through access to financing, mentorship and practical resources.
- Entrepreneurs like Andreane Viau of Cycled and Maria Munoz of Planted Souls demonstrate how early financial support can help launch businesses and support long-term growth.
- Since 2020, the RBC Rock My Business Start-up Awards have provided $480,000 to 48 young entrepreneurs across Canada, including eight recipients in 2026.
- RBC and RBC Foundation recently announced a renewed commitment of more than $70 million over five years to Futurpreneur, helping more young and Indigenous entrepreneurs start and grow businesses across Canada.
Turning Ideas into Opportunity
When Montreal entrepreneur Andreane Viau recognized a gap in women’s health and nutrition research, she saw an opportunity to make a difference.
That idea led her to create Cycled Inc., a hormonal-intelligence platform that combines women’s cycle phase and symptoms to deliver personalized, science-backed nutrition recommendations.
“For decades, nutrition research has been conducted without taking the female menstrual cycle into account,” said Viau. “Cycled puts this information in women’s hands so they can understand their hormones and take control of their energy, mood and health.”
Viau participated in Futurpreneur’s free Rock My Business workshop series, supported by RBC Foundation, which helps aspiring entrepreneurs develop the skills and confidence to launch their businesses and prepare for the changing world of work.
Viau represents one of 48 young Canadian entrepreneurs across Canada who have received the RBC Rock My Business Start-Up Awards since 2020 — a program that has provided $480,000 to its recipients, including eight in 2026.
As one of this year’s recipients, Viau received $10,000 to help launch Cycled, with plans to invest the funding in marketing initiatives to attract users to the platform.
“The RBC award is going entirely into Cycled’s launch,” said Viau. “First, a launch campaign with content creators and our community to bring in our first users, then a paid acquisition campaign. Concretely, it accelerates us toward our first milestone: 3,000 paying subscribers within 90 days of launch.”
From Opportunity to Lasting Impact
While Andreane Viau is preparing to launch Cycled, the experiences of past RBC Rock My Business recipients demonstrate how early support can help entrepreneurs turn their ambitions into growing businesses.
For Maria Munoz, that journey began in 2021, when she received a $10,000 RBC Rock My Business Award to help launch Planted Souls.
Specializing in custom plant designs for homes, offices, events and workshops, Planted Souls has continued to evolve since launching in 2021, adapting its services to meet the changing needs of its clients.
While Planted Souls has since transitioned away from its original storefront, Munoz credits the RBC award helping her create an experience that established lasting relationships with customers and other businesses.
“I am proud of how much Planted Souls has grown and evolved over the past five years,” said Munoz. “When I started, I had an idea of what I wanted the business to be, but I have learned to be open to change and let me clients guide that journey. I have listened to what people are looking for and have found ways to adapt my services and explore different opportunities. I am proud of my ability to pivot, keep learning, and find new ways to grow.”
Munoz continues to reflect on the importance of that early recognition and support.
“The funding was valuable to my business in that it helped me make my storefront experience that much more magical for my customers, now turned clients,” said Munoz. “Although the business has transitioned away from a storefront location, Planted Souls has continued to work with and maintain long lasting business relationships with clients and other small businesses that were brought in through the shop.”
Building on a Longstanding Collaboration
Stories like those of Viau and Munoz highlight the role that access to funding, mentorship and business resources can play in helping young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality.
For 30 years, Futurpreneur Canada has helped young Canadians launch and grow their businesses, providing financing, mentorship and resources to support them along their entrepreneurial journeys.
As Futurpreneur celebrated its 30th anniversary in October, RBC announced a renewed commitment of more than $70 million over five years, building on its longstanding collaboration with the organization.
Through this expanded collaboration, RBC and Futurpreneur aim to equip more than 25,000 young and Indigenous entrepreneurs with skills and training, while supporting the launch of more than 2,350 businesses through financing and mentorship.
Sean Amato-Gauci, Group Head, RBC Commercial Banking, visited Futurpreneur National Offices, to celebrate RBC’s renewed commitment. Through the expanded partnership, RBC and Futurpreneur aim to support the launch of more than 2,350 businesses.
“Canada’s future depends on a new generation of young entrepreneurs building and growing their businesses right here at home,” said Sean Amato-Gauci, Group Head, RBC Commercial Banking. “Through this collaboration with Futurpreneur, we’re providing the financing, mentorship, and practical support they need to succeed — because the founders we back today will be the leaders who carry Canada forward for years to come.”
Looking to the Future
As Canada faces a generational shift in business ownership, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is increasingly important. With 76% of Canadian business owners planning to retire over the next decade1, helping young Canadians access the resources to start or take over businesses will play an important role in Canada’s economic future.
To help more young Canadians access support at different stages of their entrepreneurial journeys, RBC’s expanded collaboration with Futurpreneur will help support three key programs:
Together, these initiatives will help more young Canadians overcome barriers to entrepreneurship, pursue their ambitions and build businesses that contribute to stronger communities and Canada’s economy.
- Under 30 (U30) Startup Program: Helping young entrepreneurs turn their ideas into businesses through access to financing, mentorship and practical resources.
- Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program: Providing tailored financing, mentorship and culturally relevant business support to help young Indigenous entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
- RBC Rock My Business Workshops and Awards: Helping aspiring entrepreneurs build financial literacy, develop business plans and access funding to bring their ideas to life.
Learn more about RBC’s expanded partnership with Futurpreneur.
RBC support for charities and nonprofits is provided by Royal Bank of Canada and RBC Foundation, which are separate entities and make their funding decisions independently.
FAQ
RBC and RBC Foundation has a longstanding collaboration with Futurpreneur Canada to help young entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. In October 2026, RBC and RBC Foundation announced a renewed commitment of more than $70 million over five years to expand access to financing, mentorship, skills training and other business resources.
The RBC Rock My Business Start-Up Awards recognize aspiring young entrepreneurs who have participated in Futurpreneur’s free Rock My Business workshop series, supported by RBC Foundation. Each year, eight recipients receive funding to help bring their business ideas to life. Since 2020, the awards have provided $480,000 to 48 entrepreneurs across Canada.
Through the expanded collaboration, RBC , RBC Foundation and Futurpreneur aim to equip more than 25,000 young and Indigenous entrepreneurs with skills and training, while supporting the launch of more than 2,350 businesses through financing and mentorship. The collaboration will support the Under 30 Startup Program, Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program and RBC Rock My Business Workshops and Awards.
With 76% of Canadian business owners planning to retire over the next decade, supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs is increasingly important. RBC and RBC Foundation’s renewed commitment of more than $70 million over five years is intended to support new business creation, economic growth and stronger communities as that generational shift in ownership takes place.
Over $2 trillion in business assets are at stake as majority of small business owners plan to exit their business over the next decade. Source: Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
