ADHD and entrepreneurship in Canada

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.

Table of Contents

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.