A charity-run coworking facility aimed at supporting Vancouver's early-stage founders opened its doors in Mount Pleasant on November 30, drawing a sold-out crowd of 200 attendees to its launch event.

North House, which spans 8,000 square feet, is operated by the League of Innovators Charity and positions itself as a central hub for founders in the earliest phases of building their companies. The space features flexible workstations, meeting rooms, and phone booths, alongside programming designed to connect entrepreneurs with mentors, potential employees, and investors.

The launch event featured appearances from several notable figures in the startup world, including Lean Startup author Eric Ries, Hootsuite founder Ryan Holmes, SmartSweets founder Tara Bosch, and Daniel Dubois, who co-founded Handled.

Ries developed a startup methodology that has been translated into more than 30 languages. Holmes co-founded the League of Innovators Charity and has supported Canadian entrepreneurship through programs that have graduated 2,500 alumni. Bosch, who sold SmartSweets for $400 million CAD and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for Food & Beverage, now runs an initiative called Bold Beginnings. Dubois, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree for Consumer Tech, has built and sold two companies and currently works as a general partner at a $100 million seed fund.

According to Rob Ironside, executive director of the League of Innovators, the space addresses a need for a centralized location where Vancouver's founders can work, connect, and learn from experienced entrepreneurs.

"Vancouver benefits from a strong pipeline of founders and high-growth startups, but these teams still need a central place to build, meet and learn from those who have done it before," Ironside said.

The facility has already attracted more than ten early-stage companies as founding residents, with additional ventures on a waitlist. The space is located in the former Hootsuite office.

The opening comes amid growth in Canada's coworking sector, which was valued at approximately $285 million USD in 2023 and is projected to more than triple by 2030, according to Next Move Strategy Consulting.

The launch event included a silent auction that drew support from various business leaders and investors, with proceeds going toward programming and staffing to support young founders in Vancouver.

The League of Innovators is a national charity that has worked with more than 15,000 young entrepreneurs across Canada. The organization reports that its programs and alumni have contributed to more than $1 billion in enterprise value creation.