“Our mission is clear: to empower employers to scale with strength, clarity, and confidence.”

Founded in 2016, Startup + Rise Up was established with a singular objective: to set the standard for excellence in People and Talent practices and to equip growing organizations with the knowledge and systems required to attract, hire, and retain exceptional talent.

In an increasingly competitive global market, talent acquisition remains one of the most critical determinants of success for Canadian businesses—yet many organizations lack the foundational infrastructure needed to execute effectively. Our purpose is to bridge that gap, ensuring companies have the strategic frameworks and operational capabilities required to succeed.

What We Do

End-to-End People & Talent Solutions for Growing Tech Companies

We work hands-on with founders and leadership teams to build the core People infrastructure needed for sustainable scale.

01. Talent Strategy & Hiring

  • Hiring plans aligned with business goals

  • End-to-end recruitment for key roles

  • Candidate experience & employer brand design

  • Onboarding systems that increase long-term retention

02. People Operations

  • Foundational HR frameworks, policies & processes

  • Performance, feedback & growth frameworks

  • Total rewards & compensation guidance

  • Culture, values & employee engagement programs

03. Leadership Support

  • Organizational design and workforce planning

  • Coaching for founders and new managers

  • Guidance on navigating People challenges

  • Ongoing advisory throughout the growth journey

04. Building Your Internal People Team

Once the foundation is established, we help you hire and develop your own internal People Operations team—ensuring long-term scalability and continuity.

Our Approach

Embedded. Strategic. Hands-On.

We operate as an extension of your team—not as an external vendor.
Our approach is built on:

  • Deep alignment with your business strategy

  • Hands-on execution, not just advice

  • Tailored solutions (never generic playbooks)

  • A focus on long-term sustainability

  • A commitment to People-first growth

Whether you're hiring your first team member or scaling to 100, we ensure every step of growth is intentional and supported.

Why Toronto

Powered by World-Class Talent

Toronto’s culture, diversity, and innovation ecosystem make it one of the strongest tech hubs in North America. But its greatest strength—and what truly fuels its success—is its talent.
We’re proud to help companies tap into this vibrant, world-class talent market.

Why Partner With Us

Experience + Execution = Results

✔ Proven track record with early-stage and scaling tech companies
✔ Deep expertise in Talent, People Operations & Organizational Design
✔ Strategic thinking paired with hands-on delivery
✔ Flexible engagement models (Contract, Fractional, Recruitment)
✔ Long-term partnership mindset

Call to Action

Build the Team That Builds Your Company

Ready to scale with confidence?
Let’s design the People & Talent foundation your company needs to grow.

Contact our team at hello@startupriseup.ca