Building businesses differently: ADHD and entrepreneurship in Canada

Canada is undergoing a period of economic transformation marked by uncertainty, trade tensions and global challenges. As Canada’s Bank for entrepreneurs, it’s our job to make sure every business owner can achieve their full potential so that Canada can maintain its economic vitality.  

It’s with this in mind that we launched the 2025 edition of the annual Survey on the Mental Health of Canadian Entrepreneurs, where, for the first time ever, we asked questions about ADHD and its symptoms, with the goal of gaining a better understanding of the link between entrepreneurship and ADHD.  

We strongly believe this data can help us and other partners better serve the numerous entrepreneurs who live with ADHD or ADHD symptoms. We also hope it can help these entrepreneurs build upon their strengths and overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.  

In a time of significant change, we hope that this research can help more Canadians pursue and succeed with their dream of entrepreneurship.  

The prevalence of ADHD in Canadian entrepreneurs

The prevalence of ADHD among Canadian entrepreneurs appears to be slightly higher than for the general population. On a base of 1,463 entrepreneurs, 7% had received a professional ADHD diagnosis. However, when including those that had symptoms associated with ADHD but didn’t receive a diagnosis, this number rose to one in four entrepreneurs (24.8%). There was no significant difference between men and women.  

There was a much higher prevalence of ADHD among Indigenous entrepreneurs, with 14% having received a formal diagnosis. When adding those who had symptoms associated with ADHD, the number goes up to 38%.  

Our survey also showed that 44% of entrepreneurs under the age of 45 reported ADHD symptoms, compared to 13% of those over 45. This disparity may reflect lower diagnostic rates among older generations due to limited awareness of ADHD when they were younger.  

7% of Canadian entrepreneurs received a professional ADHD diagnosis

Source: BDC, 2025 Survey on the Mental Health of Canadian Entrepreneurs (n=1,463)

Note: Those who preferred not to answer were excluded from the calculation base. Results were weighted by region, number of employees and number of years in business to be representative of the Canadian small and medium-sized businesses population.

Note: The terms “disorder” and “symptoms” are used in the article to reflect the language commonly adopted by medical professionals. At the same time, we recognize that there is growing advocacy to reframe how ADHD is described from a “disorder” to a matter of cognitive regulation. Such approaches aim to reduce stigma and promote a more inclusive understanding—viewing ADHD as a unique cognitive style rather than a problem to be fixed.

What is ADHD?

To better understand these results, we spoke with four entrepreneurs that have been diagnosed or have symptoms of ADHD, as well as with Megan Rafuse, Therapist, Cofounder and CEO of Shift Collab, and an entrepreneur who has been diagnosed with ADHD.

Rafuse explains that ADHD is a form of neurodiversity. Neurodiversity recognizes that everyone’s brain works a little differently with different ways of thinking, processing information or feeling, some of which are not recognized as “typical.”

ADHD, in particular, can significantly impact how the brain manages attention, impulse control and executive functioning—particularly the areas responsible for planning, focusing, and follow-through. People with ADHD tend to demonstrate:

• creativity
• adaptability
• quick thinking
• comfort with risk
• strong big picture thinking and pattern recognition

But, they may also often experience:

• impulsivity
• high energy
• distractibility
• time blindness
• emotional sensitivity or feeling easily overwhelmed
• difficulty with follow-through

It is also important to note that ADHD exists on a spectrum. No two individuals with ADHD experiences it the same way—symptoms, challenges and strengths can vary widely. As Rafuse puts it, it is like wearing glasses. “We may wear glasses, but our prescriptions, our needs and the struggles we face are different.” 

Is there a link between ADHD and entrepreneurship?

The connection between ADHD and entrepreneurship remains understudied and often misunderstood, though it has gained attention in recent years through media and academic research.

While there aren’t proven causal relationships between ADHD and entrepreneurial ability, the overlap is hard to ignore: Many traits associated with ADHD—high energy, visionary thinking, adaptability, impulsivity, risk tolerance, creativity and, hyperfocus—mirror qualities celebrated in successful founders.

Similarly, people with ADHD may find it hard to fit within systems, structures and ways of operating that were not built for how their brains work. Greater impulsivity and difficulty focusing often make it harder for someone with ADHD to sit all day at a desk or work on repetitive tasks.

“I was very lucky, I suppose, to not have a structure that I had to adhere to that was imposed upon me by someone else, because I've always been self-employed. I suppose that's maybe why 25% of entrepreneurs report ADHD symptoms. They found that's a place they can excel since they don't have to answer to some rigid structure that will never serve them,” says Silken Laumann, a former Olympic athlete and Founder of Unsinkable.

Rafuse notes that there can be a lot of shame and guilt that comes from not fitting in within standard school systems and workplaces. This can lead individuals to question whether they can succeed within traditional employment and push them towards entrepreneurship.

Peter Neal, Co-Founder of Neal Brothers Foods, relates to this observation. He often had negative experiences with teachers because his learning style differed from his peers—a pattern that made the prospect of entering a highly structured workforce daunting.

“The idea of working for someone would have had me in that situation [school] again—feeling embarrassed and shameful. I'd rather control the narrative,” says Neal.

An entrepreneurial advantage

All the founders we spoke with cited risk-taking and pattern recognition as among their strongest skills.

“When I make difficult decisions, it's usually coming from a very well-informed place because of my ability to feel things so deeply and think through things so critically in parallel without getting paralyzed,” says Sheena Brady, Founder of Tease Tea and Founders Fund.

Laumann and Neal echoed this, noting their ability to recognize and resolve issues within their business before others have had the chance to realize something was wrong.

People with ADHD also often report high ideation and strong emotional engagement, which can be invaluable in sales, leadership and storytelling. Laumann explained that entrepreneurs with ADHD are often highly motivated to prioritize what matters most and are equally willing to let go of what doesn’t.

Another recurring theme was hyperfocus: Bursts of deep work on high-interest tasks. Although people with ADHD can struggle with inattentiveness, they also have the ability to hyperfocus on things that interest them. Neal, for example, says that hyperfocus allows him to shine in times of crisis.

People with ADHD tend to feel most engaged when there is momentum, something new or exciting or a problem to solve.

The kryptonite to ADHD’s superpowers

While ADHD traits can empower entrepreneurs with creativity, energy, and resilience, they also come with significant challenges.

Our survey reveals that entrepreneurs with formally diagnosed or self-identified ADHD report lower mental health satisfaction than peers without symptoms. Of entrepreneurs with a diagnosis, 39% felt dissatisfied with their mental health, compared with 30% of entrepreneurs with ADHD symptoms and 16% of entrepreneurs with no symptoms.

39% of entrepreneurs diagnosed with ADHD feel dissatisfied with their mental health 

Source: BDC, 2025 Survey on the Mental Health of Canadian Entrepreneurs (n=1,479)

Note: Dissatisfaction is associated with answers between 0 and 6 on a scale of 10.

Note: Those who preferred not to answer were excluded from the calculation base.

Entrepreneurs who experienced ADHD symptoms, were also more likely to experience mental health struggles weekly, including:

• feeling depressed and underperforming relative to their expectations (71% vs. 29% for those with no symptoms)
• feeling mental health challenges interfere with their ability to work (66% vs. 22%)
• feeling tired, low or little energy (77% vs. 51%)

Many also expressed a desire to seek support from a mental health professional (61% vs. 17%).

Source: BDC, 2025 Survey on the Mental Health of Canadian Entrepreneurs (n=1,510)

Note: Those who preferred not to answer were excluded from the calculation base.

ADHD can be both an asset and an obstacle for entrepreneurs

The entrepreneurs we spoke with often described their ADHD traits as both assets and obstacles. Brady called them her “superpowers and kryptonite,” noting that her ability to recognize patterns and think critically can sometimes lead to overthinking and analysis paralysis.

Jake Karls, Co-Founder and Rainmaker of Midday Squares shared that his motivation fluctuates dramatically, driving intense focus on parts of his business for short bursts, followed by emotional crashes: “That obsessiveness leads to great things, but it also leads to depressive periods… It’s like a big zigzag rather than a straight line.”

Beyond the traits themselves, one of the most persistent challenges Rafuse sees in her practice is the internal dialogue. Recurring themes include feelings of guilt, self-doubt and frustration, sentiments that were shared among some of the entrepreneurs we interviewed.

How to succeed as an entrepreneur with ADHD

1. Get a professional diagnosis if you suspect you have ADHD

All the founders we spoke with told us that recognizing they have ADHD reframed lifelong patterns as neurodivergent rather than personal struggles, enabling them to adopt strategies that worked with their brains instead of against them.

“I had a full psychological evaluation done around my learning styles to understand what I can use to support me. It came back with the attention deficit disorder diagnosis and a lot of really great insights into the strengths of who I am and how I think, which was quite affirming in a lot of ways,” highlights Laumann.

“Back in school, I was loud, always agitated, not paying attention for more than like a couple of seconds. I wanted to keep busy. I was bored. And I was getting bad grades because professors thought I was doing it purposely. Now I think that was related to ADHD,” explains Karls.

Rafuse emphasizes the importance of getting a professional diagnosis, which can open the door to treatment options like medication. Medical professionals have improved their understanding of ADHD, leading to more people being diagnosed. However, seeing a psychologist can be expensive, which is a barrier for some.

2. Adapt your work to your strengths

Entrepreneurs can design roles around their strengths and interests, schedule their day according to their priorities and create personalized systems. Many entrepreneurs told us about finding ways of working that matched their cognitive style.

Neal, for example, works from different provinces, depending on the time of year. He also credits his brother and co-founder for handling routine operations, giving him time to focus on areas in which he excels.

Karls uses a similar strategy—travelling every seven to 10 days and working in different locations help him stay focused. He likes to schedule a full day of meetings during his trips to stay productive and avoid a routine. “I’ll go back-to-back even if it’s draining. I just feel like I have to, otherwise I get bored. I thrive in dynamic environments,” he explains.

Brady uses timers and calendars to stay on track. Meanwhile, Laumann credits her executive assistant for help with the nitty-gritty details, allowing her to remain focused on higher-level strategy and vision.

Traditional roles frequently specialize, but entrepreneurship generalizes. On any given day, founders may move from operations to marketing to human resources. For some entrepreneurs with ADHD, that breadth is not a burden—it’s a preference.

“The way that we are easily distracted is sometimes an advantage because when you're an entrepreneur, you have to have your peripherals on 20 things on any given day, because you’re wearing so many hats,” says Brady.

3. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help

Entrepreneurs shared how therapy and coaching helped them better understand how they operate, manage certain symptoms and deal with grief related to the diagnosis. Those who sought professional help in our survey reported that it:

• reduced anxiety
• improved stress management
• enhanced personal growth
• reduced depression

Entrepreneurship can be quite isolating and even more so when you are struggling with your mental health. Our survey found that 38% of SME owners with ADHD symptoms identified isolation as a source of stress for them, compared to 17% among those with no symptoms.

Another key element from the interviews was the importance of relying on people they can count on. Whether that means delegating some of the tasks with which they struggle or getting some understanding and empathy when they do something differently.

A strong support system can make a meaningful difference, easing the isolation that often accompanies both entrepreneurship and ADHD.

“Talk about ADHD to the people around you that matter,” says Neal. “Explain to them that you’ve got some real strengths and some weaknesses. Communicating and having the people close to you be aware of it is important so they can understand you better.”

“You are worthy of the life that you want to build. Entrepreneurship is really hard as is, and entrepreneurship with ADHD is probably harder, but find yourself that support system. No one does it on their own and you don’t have to,” says Rafuse.

Next step

Explore BDC’s resources for entrepreneur well-being, including research, personal stories and practical advice.

Acknowledgement

We want to thank the interviewees immensely for taking the time sharing their experience and knowledge so openly and genuinely. This study would not have been possible without their collaboration.

Special thanks to Carine Chammah-Bergevin, Arnaud Franco, Genevieve Michaud, Isabelle Simard, Samuel St-Pierre Thériault, Jean Philippe Nadeau, Jason Patuano, Dani Law and Joanne Photiades for their contributions to this article.