This statement serves as a cautionary notice to consumers regarding the business practices of Canada Startups org, a company that presents itself as a grant assistance platform for Canadian entrepreneurs and small businesses. I am compelled to share my personal experience to prevent others from falling victim to what appears to be a calculated and misleading operation.
In January 2025, I was contacted via email by a representative identifying himself as Justin Fletcher, who promoted government grants and funding opportunities through Canada Startups org. Based on assurances provided during a follow-up conversation with another individual, Noah Walker, I was led to believe that my restaurant business was a strong candidate for multiple grants. Noah explicitly stated that a one-time payment of $588.73 would grant me full access to their services, including personalized assistance with grant applications and business plan development.
Following payment made via American Express on January 30,2025, I received access to a member portal. However, I was soon informed that additional fees would be required to access essential services, contradicting prior commitments. Attempts to seek clarification or support were met with evasiveness—Justin Fletcher consistently avoided direct communication, and Noah failed to provide meaningful assistance. At this point, it became evident that the company operated under false pretenses.
When I attempted to use their business plan builder, I was prompted to make further payments for "professional assistance." Despite repeated requests for guidance, I was told to proceed independently or pay extra, again, in direct conflict with initial representations. This experience raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the organization.
Upon conducting further research, including reviewing public feedback and online consumer reports, I found numerous complaints echoing my experience. Realizing the potential fraud, I immediately contacted my credit card provider and initiated a chargeback, which was successful. Only after this action did Justin Fletcher begin to respond to my emails, making additional promises—none of which were fulfilled.
It is deeply troubling to see Canada Startups org using fabricated testimonials and inflated review statistics on their website. Notably, their claimed customer feedback does not align with reviews posted on third-party platforms such as Google, where the credibility of their operations is increasingly in question. I will be formally reporting this matter to Google and the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery for further investigation into false advertising and deceptive marketing practices.
I urge fellow entrepreneurs to exercise extreme caution when approached by Canada Startups org or any affiliate using similar tactics or names. A truly legitimate funding assistance service should be willing to charge based on performance or a percentage of successfully obtained grants, not upfront fees with no deliverables.
We, as hardworking individuals striving to build honest businesses, must stand united against entities that exploit our ambitions and financial vulnerabilities.
Please remain vigilant, verify every offer thoroughly, and never hesitate to request performance-based agreements.