(TORONTO, ON) February 7, 2022– Today, Canadian Business and the Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship (BII+E) are proud to release the inaugural New Innovators List. The ranking of 50 companies celebrates trailblazing Canadian organizations that are challenging the status quo and redefining what it means to be truly innovative—with great products and services, progressive leadership, and forward-thinking social and environmental initiatives.

Companies applied for consideration in August and September 2021 via an online application. They were then evaluated by Canadian Business and the BII+E research team using several qualitative and quantitative criteria related to innovation, environment, impact intentionality and diversity, equity and inclusion. A long list of top performers was considered by a panel of judges to determine 50 winners.

“Recognition in the New Innovators List allows Canadian companies to showcase the important work they are doing to advance product and service offerings in their sector, while also quantifying and giving third-party legitimacy to the progressive, value-led ways they run their business,” said Charlotte Herrold, editor-in-chief, Canadian Business.

The New Innovators list recognizes an overall Top 10 New Innovators, plus an additional 40 companies that excel in the following categories:

• Environment: Planet-first businesses that show how green is good
• Innovation: Businesses that foster a culture of challenging and improving the status quo
• People: Companies that prioritize—and track—diversity, equity and inclusion
• Impact Intentionality: Firms really think through what they do and how it affects the world

The Top 10 New Innovators include:

1. Shopify

2. Chandos Construction

3. Iris R&D Group

4. Cheekbone Beauty

5. Brane Inc.

6. YLaw

7. WeUsThem

8. Xesto

9. Gusto 54

10. Kinova

“My purpose in life has always been to make things better for people, especially for those who need it the most. It is acknowledgements like the New Innovators List that give me the drive to wake up every day, fight as hard as I can and not give up,” said Leena Youssefi, founder of YLaw, ranked number 6 on this year’s list.

The full list is available at canadianbusiness.com/newinnovatorslist2022 and in the Winter 2022 print issue of Canadian Business on newsstands February 17, 2022.