eCo-op Grants and Financing
Typically, students participating in eCo-op are not paid. You will grow the value of your business – we consider this your compensation. There are, however, funding opportunities that may be available for your business venture through federal, provincial, and local government and private agencies. Some of these include:
Futurpreneur Canada
- Financing up to $60,000
- Futurpreneur can finance up to $20,000 per business
- Business Development Bank of Canada can provide additional financing of up to $40,000
- Access an expert business mentor for up to two years
Starter Company Plus
- Access to a grant of up to $5,000
- Get one-on-one guidance from a Small Business Enterprise Centre advisor (Invest Ottawa)
- Participate in business workshops, seminars or networking events
- topics range from writing a business plan to budgeting to marketing campaigns
- Talk to a mentor with experience in starting, expanding or buying a small business
Entrepreneurs Summer Company Grant
- Up to $3,000 in start-up money to kick-off a new summer business (May – August)
- up to $1,500 up front to help with start-up costs
- up to $1,500 when you successfully complete the program requirements
- Advice and mentorship from local business leaders to help get the business up and running
Accelerator Centre Jumpstart
- Up to $30,000 in seed capital – funds must be matched by grant recipients
- 7 months of one-to-one mentorship from the AC’s team of in-house experts (learn business fundamentals such as IP creation and protection)
- Access to market research
- Connections to investors
Youth Accelerator Fund
- Grants available up to $250,000
- Some of the key requirements of the program include:
- Ownership of Intellectual Property (IP)
- Incorporated or to be Incorporated Business
- Located in Ontario
- Work related to the business takes place in Ontario
- IP has a distinctly competitive edge over currently available technology
- Demonstrate the capability, knowledge and skills to take the technology through the commercialization stage
SmartStart Seed Fund
- Up to $30,000, including up to $7,500 for entrepreneurship skills training and professional advisory services within the seed funding amount
- Seed financing and funding for entrepreneurship skills training to help grow start-up companies and make them investment- and customer-ready
- Funds are released on a reimbursement basis at interim and final reporting
Mitacs
- Up to $5,000 to connect with a host incubator in an eligible new target market
- Canadian start-ups receive a travel grant to support up to half of eligible business travel costs
Additional Funding Resources:
Government of Ontario – Entrepreneurship funds and resources for people under 30
Government of Canada – Business grants and financing
Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs – Financing your business
Mentor Works – Small business funding for Ontario companies
If you have questions about these resources please contact the Office of Applied Research.