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CFIR · Research

Applied research.

Published open-access by CFIR for the Canadian entrepreneurial community.

What we do.

CFIR funds applied research into entrepreneurship. It’s authored at YEDI and published open-access, free for anyone to read.

Virtual Economics · 2026

AI & startup success

A survey of 68 Canadian startups building on artificial intelligence, and where the effect actually lands.

CC BY 4.0 Marat Ressin · YEDI

About this research
POSITIVE EFFECT REPORTED · 68 STARTUPSBusiness processesOperating profitInvestment attractionForecasting accuracyCustomer base81%76%72%68%64%INSIDE THE COMPANYOUT IN THE MARKETStrongest inside operations, softest in the market.Self-reported effect of AI adoption · 68 Canadian startups

Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies in Education · May 2026

Business education & founder outcomes

A study of 148 YEDI graduates, examining which factors track how their ventures go on to perform.

CC BY 4.0 Marat Ressin · YEDI

About this research
BUSINESS OUTCOME · BY FACTORworsebetterGenderoverlapFamily incomeoverlapGradesoverlapWork experienceoverlapResponsiblemanagementapartlowerhigherOnly responsible management pulled them apart.Each row: the outcome split two ways by that factor · 148 graduates

Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship · August 2025

Venture capital & Canadian innovation

How the concentration of venture capital across the provinces co-moves with firm survival and patent activity.

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Marat Ressin · YEDI

About this research
VENTURE CAPITAL · BY PROVINCE QCNLBCNUNTNBNSSKABPEYTMBON Four provinces hold most of the capital. Concentrated Thin capital

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