Torys the Top Tech Law Firm Choice for Canadian Startups

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PALO ALTO, California, January 27, 2021 — Founder Institute, the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator, announces a new Canadian legal partnership with the international business law firm Torys LLP to help progress the Canadian startup tech ecosystem.

Founder Institute is also the largest pre-seed accelerator in Canada, launching more new incorporated tech startups than any other accelerator, as they launch over 100 startups a year across the country. The accelerator conducted a legal sponsorship bid process in late 2020 where Torys was selected as the successful law firm.

Founder Institute worked with alumni graduate Sponsor Circle to complete the national search for a firm with a Canadian office. The requirements were they needed a partner who understood the needs of tech startups and shared a vision of building a vibrant startup community across Canada.

We worked with Founder Institute to identify the top 30 law firms with offices in Canada. Using our platform we had firms submit their proposals for what they could do to help build the Canadian tech ecosystem," said Sponsor Circle founder Mary Beth Kyer. "Without question, Torys proved they understood the startup landscape better than any other firm.

Mary Beth Kyer

Firms were requested to submit proposals on why they were the best-suited law firms to represent the needs of tech startups. Legal firm priorities included the ability to understand intellectual property (IP) requirements for both hardware and software startups, the coordination of large fundraising rounds, and the need to help startups quickly scale globally.

Many law firms pretend they understand the unique needs of emerging and high growth technology companies but few can actually prove they do," says Founder Institute Waterloo-Toronto Director, Jordan Jocius. "It was really important for us to identify an international full-service law firm that shared the vision of seeing Canada as among the best places in the world to launch a startup. By investing in the grassroots Canadian tech ecosystem, I predict that Torys will become the best law firm in the country in a decade.

Jordan Jocius

As part of the Canadian partnership, Torys has launched a new incorporation portal specifically for Founder Institute startups with special resources available and a seamless incorporation process. The partnership will make Torys the largest new incorporation law firm for emerging and high growth technology companies in the country.

For full-service legal support, from incorporation and building an IP strategy right through to raising financing rounds and beyond, Torys LLP is positioned to help tech startups," says Ryan Unruch, Counsel at Torys. "We are excited to be the exclusive legal partner for Founder Institute from Western Canada to the Innovation Corridor, Toronto, and beyond.

Ryan Unruch

Torys LLP is an international business law firm with offices in Toronto, New York, Calgary, Montréal and Halifax. They are more than legal advisors and act as strategic partners in helping founders determine when to raise money, how much to raise, how to achieve the right economic structure, how to think about board and control issues, and how to navigate successfully through the different stages of growth.

Want to learn more about the Founder Institute program? Founder Institute will be hosting several free startup online events in Toronto over the coming weeks, where you can learn from top entrepreneurs from the comfort of your home:

From Idea to Startup Team: Meet Your Future Co-Founder: 8:00pm, Apr 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394677
Founder Institute Online Information Session: https://FI.co/infosession
Stuck Without a Startup Idea? Build One That Fits You: 8:30pm, Apr 07, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394696
How Multiple Pivots positioned Checkbox as the ‘Legal Front Door’ for Corporations: 8:00pm, Apr 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394707
Real Startup Lessons From FI Alumni Across the World: 12:00pm, Apr 14, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394751
How to Go From Raw Idea to Polished Pitch using AI: 12:30pm, Apr 20, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395706
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Pitch Live and Get Feedback from Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, Apr 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395539
Turn Your Expertise Into an Audience on LinkedIn: 12:00pm, Apr 27, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394625
How to Overcome the Fear of Starting Your Own Company: 12:00pm, Apr 28, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394622
How to Get Your First 10 Customers Without a Marketing Team or Budget: 12:30pm, May 04, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394943
How to Choose the Right Startup Idea Before You Build: 8:00pm, May 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394963
[Restricted] VIP Pitch Lounge: Get Unfiltered Feedback from Global Investors & Advisors: 12:00pm, May 26, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395396
Inside the Founder Institute: Real Stories From Alumni: 12:00pm, Jun 02, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394994
Startup Advisors 101: How to Find Advisors and Maximize their Impact: 8:30pm, Jun 08, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/394654
Turn Startup Hesitation Into Action: A Founder Mindset Framework: 8:00pm, Jun 15, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395046
Stop Guessing, Start Raising: An Investor Q&A : 8:00pm, Jul 06, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395075
Stop Overthinking and Build a Great Startup Idea: 12:00pm, Jul 20, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395099
From Idea to Action: The Startup Mindset : 8:30am, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395131
Meet FI Alumni Founders: High-Growth Startups Panel : 12:00pm, Aug 10, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395157
Build a Startup Idea Investors Won’t Ignore: 8:00pm, Aug 18, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395184
What Makes Investors Say Yes: Startup Funding AMA: 12:00pm, Sep 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395209
Break the Idea Loop and Decide What to Build: 8:00pm, Sep 21, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395232
From Idea to Traction: Lessons From Global FI Alumni: 8:30pm, Oct 05, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395258
From Dreamer to Doer: Build the Founder Mindset: 12:00pm, Oct 13, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395283
From Founder to Funded: Interactive Q&A with Top Startup Investor: 12:00pm, Nov 03, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395304
From “Maybe” to Momentum: Building a Great Startup Idea: 8:00pm, Nov 17, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395327
From First Idea to First Funding: Global Alumni Stories: 12:00pm, Dec 01, 2026 (America/New_York): https://FI.co/e/395355

See all upcoming events

Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 200+ cities worldwide, the Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute's industry-leading post-programs.

Media Contact:
Jordan Jocius, Director, Founder Institute Waterloo-Toronto Corridor
Founder Institute
jordan.jocius@fichapter.com

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