Oct 9, 2026
Scaling with speed, technology and secure AI: how L-SPARK empowers Canadian founders to build for the long haul
L-SPARK's Elza Seregelyi shares how Canadian owners can transition to rapid scale, leverage sovereign AI and build for long-term growth.
Authored by TELUS Business
Transitioning from early growth to rapid scale requires the deliberate alignment of product, capital, technology and execution. For Canadian business owners navigating an evolving economy, the primary challenge extends beyond finding the next customer. Building the infrastructure for sustainable growth requires a proper strategic foundation and experienced advisors can accelerate that progress.
That’s where L-SPARK plays a pivotal role. As one of Canada's leading corporate accelerators, L-SPARK helps high-potential B2B SaaS, tech and AI companies bridge the gap between early momentum and enterprise readiness. Through structured executive advisory, go-to-market mentorship and initiatives like the TELUS Sovereign AI Accelerator, L-SPARK provides founders with the critical tools needed to build and scale competitive businesses.
Elza Seregelyi, Program Director at L-SPARK, shares her perspective on scaling businesses, adopting AI securely and how Canadian owners can turn momentum into long-term market leadership.
What’s the biggest operational shift companies face when moving from steady growth to rapid scale?
Elza: The first shift is mindset. Founders often start with a bottom-up, incremental view of growth, for example, planning to grow sales by an extra 10%. To really scale rapidly, founders need a more top-down approach and must ask themselves where they want to be in 1, 3 or 5 years. The next question is, what do I need to do differently in order to get there? How do my product, team, technology and processes need to evolve? Then, develop a plan to make it happen.
It can feel like a big shift when moving from founder-led hustle to repeatable, data-driven processes. In the early stages, growth often depends on adaptability and a lot of personal effort from the founders. While that effort does not really decrease, scaling involves finding product-market fit and then developing repeatable processes and technology that support your growth. Successful founders leverage experienced advisors early to navigate challenges and scale faster.
"Scaling isn't just about moving faster. It’s about learning and iterating."
How do accelerator networks and ecosystem mentorship help de-risk growth for small and medium businesses?
Elza: No founder should have to figure out the challenges of scaling entirely on their own. Being part of an accelerator like L-SPARK gives companies access to experienced leaders who have navigated many of the same challenges and can provide practical guidance along the way. They also have broad networks and can be a great source of introductions.
Whether it is refining a go-to-market strategy, structuring enterprise contracts or developing an AI strategy, the right mentorship helps founders avoid common pitfalls and make better decisions faster. Timing can be critical, so speed matters. An experienced mentor brings valuable experience and perspective to the table, while giving founders the confidence to pursue ambitious growth opportunities.
AI is top-of-mind for every business owner right now. Where are companies winning with AI, and where are they getting stuck?
Elza: Virtually any business can benefit from applying AI in meaningful ways to automate workflows, perform analysis or forecasting, or perhaps incorporate AI features to add value to their products. This can have an immediate impact on productivity and revenue.
Where many companies often get stuck is moving from idea to implementation. It is okay not to get everything perfect right away, as some experimentation will be necessary. As long as appropriate guardrails are in place, teams can continue to iterate and identify what works best for them.
Data-intensive businesses and companies building proprietary AI models face distinct operational challenges. Beyond requiring high-performance compute resources and secure development environments, they must often comply with strict customer privacy demands and complex data residency regulations in sectors like healthcare. For these businesses, fully sovereign compute infrastructure is essential.
That’s one of the reasons we partnered with TELUS to launch the TELUS Sovereign AI Accelerator. It gives Canadian founders access to high-performance, secure compute infrastructure in Canada, along with L-SPARK advisory support. This allows companies to build, train and deploy AI solutions while keeping their data and IP fully in Canada.
What advice would you give Canadian owners navigating today's business climate?
Elza: Today's market rewards speed, focus and disciplined execution. Winning in this climate requires clear visibility into your key metrics, strategic adoption of AI tools to optimize workflows and active engagement with the Canadian business ecosystem to accelerate growth.
Programs like #StandWithOwners exist because small businesses are the backbone of the Canadian economy. When we support local companies with funding, technology and networking opportunities, the entire ecosystem grows stronger. Founders should never hesitate to seek advice, build partnerships and utilize available resources. However, remember that you own the vision, which means the final decisions always rest with you. As you scale, take time to share your story and support the next generation of entrepreneurs following in your footsteps.
"The true value of business and innovation ecosystems goes far beyond capital. It’s about access to the expertise, credibility and relationships that can help a company keep moving forward."
Your business, boosted.
L-SPARK proves that combining bold ideas with dedicated advisory support and sovereign infrastructure empowers Canadian businesses to compete and win on the global stage. Since 2020, TELUS Business has committed close to $7 million to champion Canadian small and medium businesses through #StandWithOwners by providing funding, technology and national exposure to help them thrive.
