Innovative Solutions Canada challenge stream (MINERVA UAS deconfliction)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- 21 Oct 2026
- For whom
- Eligible Canadian small businesses developing prototypes for federal challenges.
- Where
- Canada (federal)
Funding / Canada
Not closed · checked 16 Sep – 10 Oct 2026
Open funding for startups in Canada
56 grants and accelerators and 1 loan: 10 with a closing date, 8 rolling, 39 with no deadline found. A program whose closing date has passed is left out. Amounts and terms are the program's own words; a fact I did not find says not found.
Programs open to founders anywhere: 22 — see them.
Not sure which fit you? Free grants finder →
Grants and accelerators (56)
With a closing date (10)
McGill Engine Chwang Seto Innovation Fellowships
- Amount
- $60,000 · cash · Up to CAD $60,000 grant
- Deadline
- 25 Oct 2026
- For whom
- McGill principal investigators commercializing a technology (TRL4 to TRL6+) with a PhD student or postdoc working full-time for one year; spinoff pathway.
- Where
- Montreal, Quebec
Creative BC Video Games Early Stage Growth Program
- Amount
- cash · Grants up to CAD 50,000 per studio (CAD 300K programme budget)
- Deadline
- 2 Nov 2026
- For whom
- B.C.-based new video game companies (game studios) establishing their foothold in the market.
- Where
- British Columbia
Appel de projets Primo-adoptants (Quebec)
- Amount
- up to $75,000 · cash · Up to $75,000 per company for the project period (max 18 months); 60% of eligible expenses
- Deadline
- 4 Nov 2026
- For whom
- Startups with head office in Quebec, incorporated less than 5 years, supported by an eligible incubator or accelerator
- Where
- Quebec
Techstars Anywhere — Spring 2027
- Amount
- $220,000 · investment · Standard Techstars terms
- Deadline
- 18 Nov 2026
- For whom
- Remote-first, 3 in-person offsites; North American time zones; robotics, energy, applied/physical AI
- Where
- Remote (North American time zones)
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE)
- Amount
- cash · up to 75% of total eligible Project Costs depending on stream
- Deadline
- 27 Nov 2026
- For whom
- Alberta-based for-profit SMEs developing health technologies (including digital health) that need clinical evidence.
- Where
- Alberta
Alberta Innovates AICE (Accelerating Innovations into CarE)
- Amount
- cash · Non-dilutive funding up to CAD 300,000 (Validate stream), up to 75% of project costs
- Deadline
- 27 Nov 2026
- For whom
- Alberta-based for-profit health technology SMEs needing evidence to validate and reach market; non-dilutive, 25% applicant contribution required.
- Where
- Alberta
NEXT AI
- Amount
- investment · There is no cost to participate in Next AI.
- Deadline
- 9 Dec 2026
- For whom
- Canadian AI founders; companies owned in majority by Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
- Where
- Ontario / Quebec / virtual
NGen GenoMAKE collaborative projects
- Amount
- cash · NGen will reimburse up to 50% of eligible project costs.
- Deadline
- 18 Dec 2026
- For whom
- Consortia with minimum two Canadian industry partners including one SME
- Where
- Canada
Zensurance Small Business Grant
- Amount
- $10,000 CAD · cash · $10,000 CAD grant
- Deadline
- 18 Dec 2026
- For whom
- Small businesses actively operating and registered in Canada, revenue up to $1M; some provinces excluded.
- Where
- Canada
Rolling (8)
District 3 Innovation Hub programs (Concordia University)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- District 3 is accepting applications on an on-going basis.
- For whom
- Startups building or expanding in Quebec; programs are free, take no equity, and require in-person participation
- Where
- Montreal, Quebec
DMZ Incubator (Toronto Metropolitan University)
- Amount
- $1M+ · credits · Access $1M+ in tech credits, discounts and resources to grow faster.
- Deadline
- We formally onboard Incubator startups two times per year (fall and spring), with applications open year-round.
- For whom
- Seed-stage software-based, revenue-generating, venture-backable startups with a full-time founder and an in-house technical lead
- Where
- Toronto, Ontario
Mitacs Elevate
- Amount
- cash · An award valued at $60,000 per year with a minimum stipend of $55,000
- Deadline
- rolling (accepted all year round)
- For whom
- Canadian for-profit companies and other partner organizations hosting postdoctoral fellows on R&D projects
- Where
- Canada
Mitacs Entrepreneur International (MEI) travel grant
- Amount
- cash · Travel grant of up to CAD 5,000
- Deadline
- Year-round applications; submit at least four weeks before travel
- For whom
- Incorporated for-profit Canadian start-ups housed 3 months to 4 years in an eligible university-linked incubator or accelerator, with planned business travel to a host incubator abroad.
- Where
- Canada (start-ups housed in university-linked incubators)
Velocity (University of Waterloo)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Applications accepted all year round
- For whom
- Founders in every industry, with every technology and business model; full-time focus on the startup is required
- Where
- Waterloo, Ontario
ventureLAB Accelerate AI
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Open - rolling reviews
- For whom
- AI/ML ventures incorporated, based and operating in Canada with fewer than 500 employees
- Where
- Canada
Volta AI Residency
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Applications open year-round, no cohort deadline
- For whom
- Atlantic Canada AI startups (a founder in NS, NB, PEI or NL, 20+ hours/week, software not regulated life sciences) working toward first $1M ARR.
- Where
- Halifax, Nova Scotia (Atlantic Canada)
Web Summit Vancouver 2027 — PITCH
- Amount
- prize · Stage pitch to investors; paid exhibitor package
- Deadline
- rolling intake
- For whom
- Exhibiting startups that raised under CA$5M and kept their business model for 3 years
- Where
- Vancouver, Canada
No deadline found — check the page (38)
Accelerate Okanagan Market Diversification
- Amount
- $10,000 · cash · Approved companies will receive 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $10,000.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Small and medium businesses in BC's Southern Interior expanding into extra-provincial or international markets.
- Where
- British Columbia (Southern Interior)
AccelerateIP (New Ventures BC)
- Amount
- up to $60,000 · cash · Receive up to $60,000 in funding supports to implement key IP protections.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Tech startups in BC, Yukon, NWT or Nunavut with fewer than 500 employees that own or have rights to their IP in Canada
- Where
- BC, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut
Altitude Accelerator Investor Readiness Program
- Amount
- investment · Time 8 weeks Format Hybrid Pace Accelerated Cost Free
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- High-potential technology startups looking to raise a seed round; invite-only 8-week program.
- Where
- Ontario (Western GTA)
Blue Action Canada — OceanTech Accelerator
- Amount
- Free, no equity; C$345K in deals and perks
- Deadline
- open; no deadline published
- For whom
- Ocean and maritime startups from Canada or entering the Canadian market; 12 weeks
- Where
- British Columbia, Canada
Boundless Accelerator Rhyze Up!
- Amount
- credits · Companies will receive $5000-$12,000 in support for business scale-up services.
- Deadline
- Open - limited spots each cohort
- For whom
- Women- or nonbinary-led or owned incorporated Canadian businesses with $200,000+ annual recurring revenue
- Where
- Canada
Canadian Technology Accelerators (CTA)
- Amount
- Free, no equity; travel at own cost
- Deadline
- by cohort: Oct 16 – Nov 9, 2026
- For whom
- High-growth Canadian companies with a market-ready MVP and traction
- Where
- Canada → 12 international hubs
Centech Acceleration Program
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Call of projects open until December 1, 9 AM (year not stated on page)
- For whom
- Free 12-week program in Montreal for deeptech, medtech and edtech startups with a realistic, commercializable project involving a significant technological advance.
- Where
- Montreal, Quebec
Co.Labs Co.Learn (Saskatchewan tech incubator)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Saskatchewan-based founders with a scalable technology product idea; at least one co-founder in Saskatchewan, 10 hrs/week on the startup. Free, no fees or equity.
- Where
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Communitech AI@Work
- Amount
- cash · wages will be shared between Communitech and the business.
- Deadline
- Winter 2027 applications open, no closing date listed
- For whom
- Companies matched with students from Waterloo, Laurier and Conestoga; company is employer of record
- Where
- Waterloo Region, Ontario
Foresight Canada Acceleration Programs
- Amount
- credits · No, we do not take any equity in the companies that go through our programs.
- Deadline
- Three Acceleration cohorts every year
- For whom
- Canadian-incorporated cleantech ventures (or in process); most programs require NRC IRAP client status
- Where
- Canada
Futurpreneur Core Startup Program
- Amount
- up to $75,000 · cash · We offer young entrepreneurs up to $75,000 in startup loan financing and up to two years of mentorship.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 to 39 starting a business
- Where
- Canada
Genesis Evolve (Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Next cohort begins Winter 2027; Apply now open
- For whom
- Early-stage founders in Newfoundland and Labrador with a tech idea to test; seven-week customer validation cohort. Fee $200, free for current students.
- Where
- St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Genesis Membership (Newfoundland & Labrador)
- Amount
- $150 · investment · Membership is $150 a month and includes a desk.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Tech founders in Newfoundland & Labrador at any stage.
- Where
- Newfoundland and Labrador
Innovate BC Integrated Marketplace Early-Stage Demonstration Call
- Amount
- $500,000 · cash · Up to 40% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $500,000.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- B.C.-based SMEs piloting technology at TRL 6 or higher with a B.C. pilot partner
- Where
- British Columbia
Innovate BC Tech Co-op Grants
- Amount
- up to $20,000 per year · cash · Get up to $20,000 per year in funding to hire co-op students.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- B.C. technology and non-tech employers hiring co-op students
- Where
- British Columbia
Innovation Factory client programs
- Amount
- investment · we do it all for free, and take no equity in your business
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Ontario technology start-ups and scaling companies; free advisory, no equity taken.
- Where
- Ontario (Hamilton)
Invest Nova Scotia Accelerate
- Amount
- $30,000 · cash · $30,000 in non-dilutive, non-repayable funding, disbursed on a reimbursement basis via claim of eligible expenses.
- Deadline
- Intake closed now; opens twice per year (January and June)
- For whom
- Nova Scotia technology start-ups, majority-owned by Nova Scotia-based founders, with under $1M cumulative revenue and under $250K equity raised
- Where
- Nova Scotia
Invest Ottawa IO Ignition
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Early-stage Ottawa startups building a tech or tech-enabled product; 10-week program, 20 companies per cohort.
- Where
- Ontario (Ottawa)
Lab2Market Launch Ontario - Spring 2027
- Amount
- $10,000 · cash · Access $10,000 in stipends at no cost to participants.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Ontario graduate researchers (Master's, PhD, postdoc) with research-based ventures; 50+ customer interviews; Mitacs eligibility; full-time commitment.
- Where
- Ontario (virtual, delivered by Toronto Metropolitan University)
Made in Saskatchewan Technology (MIST) Program
- Amount
- cash · Up to CAD 30,000 non-repayable grant
- Deadline
- Intake deadline October 31 (next intake period)
- For whom
- Saskatchewan tech startups (under 50 staff, under CAD 1M recurring revenue) piloting novel technology with a public-sector partner; grant matched 1:1 by the partner.
- Where
- Saskatchewan
Mission from MaRS Better Buildings Adoption Accelerator
- Amount
- cash · a special-purpose grant ranging from $10,000–$25,000
- Deadline
- Next cohort opens late 2026
- For whom
- Canadian-incorporated, majority Canadian-owned SMEs, 1+ year old, TRL 6 to 9
- Where
- Canada
Mitacs Accelerate
- Amount
- cash · This research award provides leveraged funding of $15,000 CAD per four- or six-month internship
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- For-profit and not-for-profit organizations in Canada, including eligible intern-owned start-ups at approved incubators, partnering with an academic supervisor and a student or postdoc intern
- Where
- Nationwide
Mitacs Business Strategy Internship
- Amount
- cash · The award provides either $10,000 or $15,000 per intern to allow them to undertake a four-month internship project with a partner organization in Canada.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- For-profit companies, hospitals, municipalities and eligible not-for-profits in Canada hosting a student intern on a business project.
- Where
- Canada (federal)
NBIF Breakthru Pitch Competition 2027
- Amount
- investment · CAD investment opportunities of $150,000, $100,000 and $50,000 (equity, subject to NBIF due diligence)
- Deadline
- Applications close Monday, November 9
- For whom
- Technology-driven entrepreneurs committed to building and growing a startup in New Brunswick; founder program plus pitch competition for NBIF equity investment.
- Where
- New Brunswick
NBIF Innovation Voucher Fund
- Amount
- cash · 80% of project costs, up to CAD $80,000 (projects $10,000 to $100,000), non-repayable, paid to the research partner
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- New Brunswick-registered companies under 500 employees with 24 months operating history, funding R&D work with a research organisation; ICT is a priority industry.
- Where
- New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador Business Growth Program
- Amount
- $200,000 · cash · up to 50 per cent of eligible costs to a maximum of $200,000 over 24 months
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Growth-focused innovative firms in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Where
- Newfoundland and Labrador
North Forge Founders Program
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- Apply before November 2 for the cohort starting January 2027
- For whom
- Canada-resident founders building tech, STEM, advanced manufacturing or innovative products (software included), from idea to scale; Manitoba applicants prioritised.
- Where
- Winnipeg, Manitoba (online, Canada-resident founders; Manitoba prioritised)
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises that develop and commercialize innovative, technology-driven products or services
- Where
- Nationwide
NRC IRAP youth employment funding
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Incorporated, for-profit Canadian SMEs (500 or fewer FTE) hiring young graduates for 6-12 month placements.
- Where
- Canada (federal)
Ocean Supercluster Core Technology Leadership Program
- Amount
- cash · Co-funding up to 40% of eligible costs on projects of at least CAD 1 million
- Deadline
- Continuous intake
- For whom
- Consortia developing made-in-Canada ocean technology; minimum project value CAD 1 million, project must end by October 2027.
- Where
- Canada (ocean sector consortia)
OCI Collaborate 2 Commercialize (C2C)
- Amount
- cash · Individual proposals can request from $20,000 up to $50,000 from NSERC Alliance grants and from $20,000 up to $50,000 from OCI C2C
- Deadline
- targeted calls; AI call window closed September 15, 2026
- For whom
- Ontario for-profit companies (2+ years incorporated, 5+ FTEs) partnering with a publicly funded Ontario university or college
- Where
- Ontario
Ontario Centre of Innovation Digital Modernization and Adoption Plan
- Amount
- up to $15K · cash · Receive up to $15K in support to develop a custom DMAP
- Deadline
- Open - first-come, first-served while funds last
- For whom
- Ontario-based for-profit SMEs with 1 to 499 employees
- Where
- Ontario
Platform Calgary Alberta Catalyzer
- Amount
- investment · Alberta Catalyzer Partner Program 4 to 8 weeks No cost
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Pre-accelerator for people launching and growing tech-enabled startups; 4 to 8 weeks, virtual and in-person.
- Where
- Alberta (Calgary)
Propel e-Accelerator
- Amount
- investment · Thanks to our funders there is no cost to participate.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Tech startups based in Atlantic Canada.
- Where
- Atlantic Canada
Starter Company Plus
- Amount
- up to $5,000 · cash · You can also apply for a grant of up to $5,000.
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- People 18 or older, Ontario residents and Canadian citizens or permanent residents, not in full-time school, starting, expanding or buying a small business in Ontario
- Where
- Ontario
Startup Canada Equal Slice Pitch Competition (with Pizza Hut)
- Amount
- prize · Share of a CAD 100,000 cash grant pool per competition year
- Deadline
- Virtual National Pitch Competition on 24 November 2026; applications close when spots are filled
- For whom
- Equity-deserving / underserved Canadian entrepreneurs who pitch their business; two competitions a year share a CAD 100,000 cash grant pool.
- Where
- Canada (underserved/equity-deserving entrepreneurs)
TELUS Sovereign AI Accelerator (L-SPARK)
- Amount
- credits · Participating companies will receive compute credits from the TELUS AI Factory
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- High-potential Canadian AI startups and scaleups building compute-intensive products that need reliable GPU availability
- Where
- Nationwide (L-SPARK, Ottawa)
Vector Institute FastLane
- Amount
- not found on the page
- Deadline
- no deadline on the page
- For whom
- Canadian-incorporated AI startups and SMEs with a technical team and a functional MVP; pre-revenue allowed
- Where
- Canada (virtual/Ontario)
Loans you repay (1)
No deadline found — check the page (1)
Canada Small Business Financing Program
- Amount
- up to C$1.15M
- Deadline
- No closing date — ask your bank, caisse populaire or credit union
- For whom
- Small businesses or start-ups operating in Canada with gross annual revenues of C$10 million or less (not farming)
- Where
- Canada
This list is information, not advice or an offer. Programs change: open the program's page before you apply. A program is not listed once its deadline has passed or when its link was found dead on two checks in a row.
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