STACKT has been named to Fast Company’s prestigious list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025.
STACKT has secured an impressive #4 ranking in Fast Company’s Economic Development category, the only Canadian company to land on this year’s list, a recognition of its groundbreaking role in creative placemaking.
“We’re thrilled to be recognized on Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025 as a testament to our pursuit of innovating urban spaces and amplifying local voices,” said Matt Rubinoff, founder and president of STACKT.
“This recognition comes after exciting growth for STACKT, highlighted by the launch of our Canadian expansion with STACKTˣ and the addition of new events, businesses, and partnerships at our Toronto flagship. STACKT isn’t just about making use of empty city spaces, it’s creating spaces that amplify commerce and the community for the greater good.”
This transformative moment marks a pivotal milestone as STACKT starts the expansion beyond its Toronto flagship, launching STACKTˣ across Canada, a small business accelerator platform that’s reshaping the future of commerce and empowering Canadian small businesses.
STACKTˣ empowers entrepreneurs by tackling key challenges like access to retail space and professional networks. Through monthly storefront grants, exclusive networking events, partner perks, and educational resources, the platform equips businesses with the tools they need to thrive. With over 11,000 entrepreneurs on the horizon, STACKTˣ is fueling innovation that strengthens the Canadian economy. Since its inception, the platform has awarded 30 small business grants, helping diverse businesses take their first step into physical retail and amplifying its impact across Canada.
Beyond the launch of STACKTˣ, STACKT market continues to strengthen its ecosystem with purpose, hosting over 300 events in 2024 and welcoming over 1,000 businesses to its flagship location in the heart of downtown Toronto. The company also secured a 10-year lease with the City of Toronto last year, solidifying its role in supporting Canadian businesses and celebrating diverse cultures. Through these initiatives, STACKT demonstrates its ongoing dedication to community engagement, inclusivity, and local business development.
STACKT creates innovative ecosystems that drive a new way of thinking. From large-scale public spaces to satellite pop-ups, STACKT designs concepts that provide inspiration, opportunity and connection. The community is made up of innovators, entrepreneurs, creators, collaborators, and consumers alike. STACKT’s award-winning Toronto flagship, STACKT market, animates over 100,000 square feet with art, retail, events and public space.
The flagship downtown Toronto location opened in 2019 at the intersection of Front and Bathurst in the King West neighbourhood.
Rubinoff said the property is about the size of a city block with about 25 retail units on 100,000-square-foot site.
“Those are constantly turning over. Some businesses are in for as short as a week, so in total, we host over a thousand businesses in a year. Outside of those retail units, we also have space for vendor markets, activations, or businesses working within the brewery. On weekends with a market going on, we could have over a hundred businesses on site at any time,” he said.
Also open now, is STACKTˣ at the Byward Market in Ottawa, which is the brand’s expansion project and small business accelerator program. It was launched there last year, early summer.
Rubinoff said the concept is coming to both Calgary and Vancouver this year.
“We haven’t released the specific dates yet, but they’re both on track for this year,” he said.
“STACKTˣis a small business accelerator program that’s reshaping the future of commerce and empowering Canadian small businesses. We address key challenges, such as access to retail space and professional networks. Through STACKTˣ, we offer monthly storefront grants, exclusive networking events, partner perks, and educational resources to equip businesses with the tools they need to thrive and scale. Since the inception of the program, we’ve awarded 30 small business grants, offering free space for businesses to test physical retail, along with other support services. The program is growing, and we’re on track to have over 20,000 entrepreneurs in the community by the end of this year.”
Rubinoff said the company looks for high foot traffic locations. These are different from the flagship where it has 100,000 square feet. These are one-unit spaces designed to be modular retail applications with a small footprint, but they give the company the ability to set up in a variety of locations. The high foot traffic provides tons of exposure for the brands inside.
“We see the STACKTˣprogram scaling. We’ve committed to these markets, but we’re looking at national expansion. We expect more of these units to appear, and there’s a lot of excitement behind the program. Municipalities, landlords, and developers are eager to partner with us. It’s been successful for both sides. It’s a great way to animate downtowns and main streets, and at the same time, we’re giving businesses the opportunity to test physical retail space they might not otherwise have access to. Many are then going on to sign longer-term leases, helping revitalize these areas.”
