Toronto Small Business Grants (2023): 56 Grants, Loans & More for Entrepreneurs in the GTA

The GTA is arguably the best place in Canada to own, run, or grow a small business, with the country’s largest population and economy, and many Toronto small business grants.

The sheer number of financial incentive programs available to help you is impressive. You can find grants for every sector, loans for every field, and tax credits for multiple purposes.

There are even whole organizations dedicated to helping you succeed as an entrepreneur, even if instead of offering funding they offer other such necessary business components as mentorship, professional advice, and meeting space.

While many funding programs are available at both the federal and provincial levels, there’s even more available only for those entrepreneurs located in the GTA. The best part is, you can take financial incentives from different programs at different government and private levels and stack them together to build up a much bigger pot than you probably thought you could. Does it get any better?

Here’s everything you need to know about all the financial incentives available only for you if you’re located in the GTA…

City of Toronto Mandate

The City of Toronto’s mission is to serve a great city and its people.

The City of Toronto’s vision is that of:

  • A caring and friendly city that values and celebrates its communities.
  • A clean, green and sustainable city that maintains and improves the health of the environment for present and future generations.
  • A dynamic city well positioned to succeed in the world economy.
  • A city that invests in quality of life – socially, economically, culturally and environmentally – to make Toronto a desirable place to live, prosper and visit.

City of Toronto Priorities

The City of Toronto’s priorities include:

Corporate Priorities:

  • Financial sustainability, and
  • A well-run City.

Strategic Priorities:

  • Maintain and create housing that’s affordable,
  • Keep Toronto moving,
  • Invest in people and neighbourhoods, and
  • Tackle climate change and build resilience.

You can learn about City of Toronto’s priorities by reading its Corporate Strategic Plan

What Can Toronto Small Business Grants Be Used For?

Toronto small business grants can be used to pay for many aspects of starting or running a business. Here are some of the uses that are covered by programs in our grants database:

  • Starting a business in Toronto
  • For your businesses’ retrofitting projects that deliver energy savings
  • For making capital improvement projects that will help save energy
  • Purchasing new and/or automated equipment that will lead to productivity improvements and energy savings
  • Covering the costs of construction and or redevelopment of sustainable industrial and commercial buildings

And that’s just a sample! See the section below with a complete list of grants available for Toronto small businesses.

How Much Grant Money Can I Get for My Toronto Small Business?

In our database we currently have grants ranging from $500 to $5,000,000.

Am I Eligible for a Toronto Small Business Grant? Common Eligibility Criteria

Two of the most common questions we get asked at Ontario Business Grants are “Am I eligible?” and “How do I qualify?”.

We analyzed the Toronto small business grants in our grants database, and these are the most common qualifications we identified:

  • Be companies using energy-efficient equipment
  • Be businesses using natural gas for key equipment and processes
  • Have demonstrated environmental and economic benefits for Canadians
  • Have projects developing or redeveloping commercial and industrial buildings
  • Be industrial or commercial businesses, registered and incorporated in Canada

Note: these are just the most common eligibility criteria – there are many grants with different requirements.

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    Toronto Small Business Grants: Current Grants Available

    Now we get to the good stuff! In the table below we list the grants currently available to Toronto small businesses.

    To learn more about each program, just click the program name and you’ll be taken to a web page that provides detailed information on the program, including eligibility, the dollar amount of the program, and how to apply for the grant:

    Grants for Toronto Small Businesses

    Name of ProgramAmountType
    Enbridge Gas – Building Automation: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program, Commercial Custom Retrofit Program, and Industrial Custom Engineering Program$200000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Enbridge Gas – Audits, Studies & Assessments: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program$40000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Enbridge Gas – Audits, Studies & Assessments: Industrial Studies & Assessments$10000Grant
    Enbridge Gas – Audits, Studies & Assessments: Commercial Custom Audits & Studies$5000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Enbridge Gas - Retrofits & Custom Projects: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program, Commercial Custom Retrofit Program, and Industrial Custom Engineering Program$200000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Enbridge Gas - New Construction: Affordable Multi-Family Housing New Construction$200000Grant
    Enbridge Gas - New Construction: Savings by Design Commercial & Multi-Residential$30000Grant
    United Way Greater Toronto - ESE Idea AcceleratorN/AAccelerator, Grant
    Enbridge Gas – Boilers: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program, Commercial Custom Retrofit Program, and Industrial Custom Engineering Program$100000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Medicine by Design and Health Innovation Hub – Building a Biotech Venture$25000Entrepreneurship Program, Grant
    BFN Accelerate (at University of Toronto) - BFN Accelerate Programno fixed amountAccelerator, Grant, Loan
    Entrepreneurship Hatchery (University of Toronto) - Start@UTIAS Hatchery$50000Grant, Incubator
    Enbridge Gas - New Construction: Savings by Design Residential$100000Grant
    Enbridge Gas - Equipment Upgrades: Multi-Unit Residential In-Suite Fixed Incentive Program$50000Grant
    Enbridge Gas - Equipment Upgrades: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program$200000Grant, In-Kind Support
    Enbridge Gas - Equipment Upgrades: Fixed Incentive Program: Air Curtain, Condensing Make-up Air, & Dock Door Seal$100000Grant
    City of Toronto - Corporate Tree Planting Incentiveno fixed amountGrant
    City of Toronto – Eco-Roof Incentive Program: Cool RoofsNo Fixed AmountGrant
    City of Toronto – Eco-Roof Incentive Program: Green Roof Structural Assessment Grant (SAG)$1000.00Grant
    City of Toronto – Eco-Roof Incentive Program: Green Roofs$100000.00Grant
    United Way Greater Toronto - Catalyzing Grant$7500 Grant
    Ignite Capital Pitch Competition$15000Grant & Loan

    Other Types of Funding for Toronto Small Businesses

    Our goal is for this guide to be a complete source of funding information for Toronto Small businesses. So, in this section you’ll find all the other money programs (besides grants) that are available to Toronto entrepreneurs:

    Loans for Toronto Small Businesses

    • Government Loans for Toronto Small Businesses

    A loan might not sound as good as a grant, but many loans for Toronto small businesses have a low interest rate. While they might not be free money, if you don’t qualify for a grant, a low-interest loan is probably the next best thing.

    The programs below include municipal government loans:

    Government Loans for Toronto Small Businesses

    • Rebates for Toronto Small Businesses

    A rebate is a partial refund made to a business by a government, utility company, etc. Common rebates include tax rebates, energy rebates, etc.

    In the table below you’ll find rebates currently available for Toronto small businesses:

    Rebates for Toronto Small Businesses

    • Investment Programs for Toronto Small Businesses

    An investment is a form of financing where capital is provided in exchange of ownership in the company.  It is an alternative to conventional methods of raising capital (loans, issuing stocks, selling bonds) and the good thing about it is that you do not have to make monthly payments. Common investment includes private equity and venture capital.

    Here is the investment program currently available for Toronto small businesses:

    Investment Programs for Toronto Small Businesses

    Name of ProgramAmountType
    The Entrepreneurship Hatchery (University of Toronto) – LaunchLabno fixed amountEntrepreneurship Program, Investment
    The Entrepreneurship Hatchery (University of Toronto) – Hatchery NESTno fixed amountEntrepreneurship Program, Investment
    • Competitions for Toronto Small Businesses

    Competition usually refers to pitch competition, a contest where entrepreneurs give a pitch (a short and compelling presentation of their business concept) to a panel in the hope of winning a cash prize or investment capital.

    Here are the competitions currently available for Toronto small businesses:

    Competitions for Toronto Small Businesses

    • In-kind Support Programs for Toronto Entrepreneurs

    In-kind support refers to non-cash resources provided to support businesses. In kind-support can take various forms: access to coaching, mentorship, investors, logistical and technical resources (space, equipment, computers, internet and software, free testbed), training programs, business advice and counseling. Entrepreneurship centres, accelerators and incubators provide valuable in-kind support to new and existing Toronto entrepreneurs.

    Accelerators for Toronto Entrepreneurs

    Accelerators for Toronto Entrepreneurs

    Other In-Kind Support Programs for Toronto Entrepreneurs

    Best Toronto Small Business Grants, Loans & More

    While there are lots of good programs available, below we highlight some of the best grants, loans, rebates & more for Toronto small businesses:

    Best Government Grants for Toronto Small Businesses

    City of Toronto – Eco-Roof Incentive Program: Green Roofs

    Businesses can play a large role in reducing Toronto’s environmental footprint simply by installing a green roof. You could also reduce your own energy bills every year when you do so!

    You could get an incentive of $100/ m2 installed and up to $1,000 to cover the structural assessment you’ll need to have done when you choose a green roof. Green roofs support vegetation growth.

    City of Toronto – Eco-Roof Incentive Program: Cool Roofs

    Businesses can play a large role in reducing Toronto’s environmental footprint simply by installing a cool roof. You could also reduce your own energy bills every year when you do so!

    You could get an incentive of $2 to $5/m2 when you choose a cool roof. Cool roofs reflect the sun’s rays and reduce heat build up.

    City of Toronto – Corporate Tree Planting Incentive 

    The Corporate Tree Planting Incentive offers tree planting services to eligible industrial, commercial and institutional landowners on a cost-shared basis. This includes a site visit by TRCA staff, supply, delivery and installation of plant materials.

    Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Retrofit Program

    Get even more money to make your business more energy efficient and save you money with this program from IESO’s Save on Energy.

    This one has 2 options: the prescriptive track and the comprehensive track. The prescriptive is your best bet for quick projects and upgrades such as improved lighting, though the minimum incentive amount is $500. The comprehensive track is a better fit for larger, more comprehensive projects with lots of components. This one will get you an incentive of up to 50% of project costs.

    Chances are you qualify since most buildings are eligible: commercial, industrial, food services, agricultural, and more.

    Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Energy Performance Program

    Sign up to continually improve your energy usage and you could be rewarded for it with this program.

    As long as you’re not an industrial or manufacturing business, you could receive a pay-for-performance financial incentive, plus a modelling incentive of $1,500 for each enrolled building, up to a maximum of $15,000 for 10 approved buildings.

    You get to choose which improvements and investments to make to achieve your improved energy efficiency, and your payments end up equal to 20% of the annual baseline electricity consumption of your building(s).

    Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Small Business Program

    The Save on Energy Small Business program is designed to help small businesses across Ontario make equipment improvements to reduce their energy consumption, at no cost. Leveraging the success of the former Small Business Lighting program, this new and improved program offers small businesses direct-install incentives on an expanded range of equipment – both lighting and non-lighting.

    Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) – Save on Energy – Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP)

    IESO’s Save on Energy Industrial Energy Efficiency Program (IEEP) supports industrial customers across Ontario in improving their industrial processes and implementing system optimization projects. The program offers organizations up to $5 million in financial incentives for each large, complex industrial energy-efficiency project accepted into the program.

    Best Municipal Government Loans for Toronto Small Businesses

    City of Toronto – Energy Retrofit Loans

    Saving money anywhere you can is important nowadays, so don’t overlook your energy usage as a source of savings.

    Do your part as a building owner to help Toronto reach their goal of net zero emissions by 2050 and access this low-interest loan to do so.

    You can borrow up to 100% of project costs and get 20 years to pay it back. Which will be much easier to do when you’re saving money from all those energy-efficient upgrades you made that will pay for themselves in the end. In more ways than one!

    Eligible upgrades could include improvements to such things as:

    • lighting retrofits
    • high-efficiency boilers, chillers, and HVAC
    • building envelope improvements
    • building automation systems and controls
    • heat pumps
    • renewable energy projects
    • energy storage
    • fuel switching

    Best Rebates for Toronto Small Businesses

    City of Toronto – Capacity Buyback Program

    Saving money anywhere you can is important nowadays, so don’t overlook your water usage as a source of savings.

    This program from the City of Toronto offers a free water audit to help you find ways to save water in your building(s) and gives you a one-time rebate of 30 cents/L of water saved on an average day.

    City of Toronto – Sewer Surcharge Rebate Program

    You could qualify for this rebate if you’re a Toronto business and you reduce the amount of indoor-use water you put into the city’s sewage system (from cooling towers for example). Take a look here to see if your business could qualify.

    The size of your rebate will be based on the percentage of water not returned to the sanitary sewer system and will be applied to the sewer portion of the water rate.

    City of Toronto – Toronto Heritage Property Tax Rebate Program

    The Heritage Tax Rebate Program offers rebates to eligible heritage properties to provide matching funds for eligible conservation work.

    Enbridge Gas – Distributor Discount Program: HVAC

    The Distributor Discount Program: HVAC program offers instant discounts on high-efficiency commercial HVAC equipment. Enbridge Gas is offering rebates on the best energy-saving equipment on the market.

    Best Non-profit Grants for Toronto Small Businesses

    Business in the Streets (BITS) – BITS Bucks

    Being a young entrepreneur is a double-edged sword. You’ve got the knowledge, the ideas, and the drive but you’re missing the experience and the credit rating only time can give you.

    But that’s what BITS Bucks is for. It offers young entrepreneurs grants and microloans up to $5,000 to help them build or grow their business.

    United Way Greater Toronto – Catalyzing Grant

    Does starting a social enterprise catch your interest?

    Well, you can’t know if you don’t know what one is, so the definition of a social enterprise is a business that creates inclusive employment for those who face barriers to entering and staying in the job market such as those with disabilities, newcomers to Canada, and those with a criminal record.

    Thanks to the funding partnership between United Way Greater Toronto, the City of Toronto, the Ministry of Community and Social Services: Ontario Disability Support Program, and the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, this program will give you money to do just that with the Catalyzing Grant.

    Best Non-profit Loans for Toronto Small Businesses

    Access Community Capital Fund – Business Loans

    The Business Loans provide affordable loans plus free business coaching services.

    Fondation Franco-Ontarienne – Micro-credit Funds

    With support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and in partnership with the Prescott-Russell Community Development Corporation (SDCPR), the Franco-Ontarian Foundation (Foundation) supports Francophone entrepreneurs girls from Southern Ontario (Windsor to Hawkesbury). The micro-credit program provides borrowers with repayable financial assistance, offered in the form of loans.

    Best Non-profit Investment for Toronto Small Businesses

    ArchAngel Network – StarForge Fund

    The StarForge fund invests in innovative, early-stage B2B Canadian companies with disruptive technologies, significant scale-up potential, and valuation advantages over the U.S. market. The fund aims to drive returns for investors through actively sourcing deals mostly within the Toronto-Waterloo start-up ecosystem and growing portfolio businesses by leveraging the power of alliance networks in North America.

    Best Utility Grants for Toronto Small Businesses

    Enbridge Gas – Equipment Upgrades: Fixed Incentive Program: Air Curtain, Condensing Make-up Air (MUA), & Dock Door Seal

    The Fixed Incentive Program is designed to offset the cost of upgrading equipment to energy-efficient natural gas technology, whether replacing end-of-life equipment or planning to buy new equipment. This program provides three incentives, including:

    • Air curtains;
    • Condensing MUAs;
    • Dock door seals.
    Enbridge Gas – New Construction: Savings by Design Commercial & Multi-Residential

    The Savings by Design Commercial and Multi-Residential program gives project teams free access to industry experts, technical tools and financial incentives to help build high-performance, resilient and sustainable buildings. The program has three components: Integrated Design Process (IDP), Energy Performance, and Commissioning.

    Enbridge Gas – Retrofits & Custom Projects: Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program, Commercial Custom Retrofit Program, and Industrial Custom Engineering Program

    Enbridge Gas offers a range of programs and incentives for retrofit projects that deliver energy savings—from straightforward upgrades to custom projects in commercial, multi-residential, affordable multi-family housing and industrial buildings. An incentive for every retrofit is provided through the following programs:

    • Affordable Multi-Family Housing Program;
    • Commercial Custom Retrofit Program;
    • Industrial Custom Engineering Program.
    Enbridge Gas – Audits, Studies & Assessments: Commercial Custom Audits & Studies

    The Commercial Custom Audits & Studies program is designed to uncover energy-efficiency potential with an energy audit. An energy audit can be a blueprint to identify and quantify potential energy-saving measures on key systems and equipment. This program will provide incentives to offset the cost, and expert help to map out a plan to achieve ongoing savings, year after year.

    Enbridge Gas – Audits, Studies & Assessments: Industrial Studies & Assessments

    The Industrial Studies & Assessments program is offered to customers that uncover energy-saving opportunities in their facilities. From equipment and processes to complex systems, evaluating the facility’s energy performance can help determine the financial benefits of investing in energy-efficient improvements.

    Best Competitions for Toronto Small Businesses

    Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE) (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Innovation Boost Zone (IBZ): Raise

    IBZ’s Raise is a nine (9)-week hybrid program designed to help startups become investor-ready. From determining their company’s best financing option to nailing their pitch, they’ll have everything they need to approach investors with confidence.

    The Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship (Humber College) – BMO Launch Me Entrepreneurship Program & Competition

    The BMO Launch Me Competition was created to support students and recent grads with seed funding to get their venture ideas off the ground. Contestants with the overall strongest business plan and pitch will have the opportunity to win a portion of funding for their startups.

    The funds will be distributed in three categories:

    • BMO Women Innovators Competition: For women-identifying entrepreneurs;
    • BMO Groundbreaker Competition: For all current students;
    • BMO New Graduate Startup Competition: For Humber graduates (within ~2 years graduation).
    The Forge, McMaster University – Startup Survivor Program and Pitch Competition

    Startup Survivor is a 4-month innovation program culminating with a pitch competition in October, open to McMaster students and recent alumni. Throughout the summer, The Forge will be giving out up to $75,000 cash to the teams competing in the 6 challenges.

    The HUB at UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough) – UTSC Startup Competition

    The UTSC Startup Competition is providing seed money award to residents in The Hub – promising students and recent alumni – who have taken concrete steps to create new businesses and launch a new business initiative.

    University of Toronto Entrepreneurship – UTE Startup Prize

    The University of Toronto Entrepreneurship (UTE) Startup Prize is an annual business pitch competition offering $60,000+ in prizes to recognize, reward, and accelerate the University of Toronto’s most innovative startups.

    Best In-kind Support Programs for Toronto Entrepreneurs

    Have a look at the in-kind support programs below! Some of them provide both in-kind support and funding.

    Incubators

    Seneca College – HELIX (Incubator)

    HELIX, Seneca’s on campus innovation and entrepreneurship incubator, invites Seneca students, graduates, faculty and staff, along with members of the community, to explore and develop their entrepreneurial mindset. HELIX provides the tools needed to design and launch a scalable startup or to innovate from within an existing organization as an intrapreneur. Supports for entrepreneurs include coaching/mentorship, co-working space, networking introductions and events, guest speaker presentations, funding application assistance, enhanced experiential learning opportunities and ecosystem engagement.

    The Entrepreneurship Hatchery (University of Toronto) – Start@UTIAS Hatchery

    Start@UTIAS and the University of Toronto (U of T) Entrepreneurship Hatchery have formed an alliance to provide UTIAS (University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies) students, including alumni, an effective program to create a startup business. It is a process designed for UTIAS students or recent graduates with the goal of feeding into either the NEST or LaunchLab stream.

    The Forge, McMaster University – The Forge Business Incubator

    The Forge Business Incubator, an 8-month incubation program funded by McMaster University, is serving novel and scalable startups in the Hamilton, Greater Toronto, and Niagara Regions. Launched in 2015, The Forge works hands-on with entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas from ideation and validation to growth. The Forge is sector agnostic and offers cohort-based programming.

    The Imagination Catalyst (OCAD University) – The Imagination Catalyst Business Incubator

    The Imagination Catalyst Business Incubator is OCAD University’s free, one-year business incubator program that supports up to 25 startups. Aspiring startup companies are invited to join a motivated group of fellow entrepreneurs who are creating, building, designing, making and inventing innovative products, services and companies.

    The Innovation Studio at The Creative School (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Future Makers Incubation Grant

    The Future Makers Incubation Grant aims to support 8 entrepreneurs, small businesses and/or independent creators in the GTA to explore new possibilities through digital transformation, innovation, and/or the development of new entrepreneurial models within the creative industries.

    York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) – Incubator Program

    YEDI accepts 15 entrepreneurs per cohort. Accepted students undergo a free, intensive 16-week program, including formal academic lectures by YEDI instructors, workshop-based training in entrepreneurship, and mentorship by key industry leaders. At the end of the incubator, entrepreneurs will have a professionally developed business plan, an executive summary, and a proper business model that is ready to pitch and potentially bring to the market. Upon successful program completion, participants receive a formal certification from YEDI.

    Accelerators

    BFN Accelerate (at University of Toronto) – BFN Accelerate Program

    The BFN Accelerate, a classic cohort-based accelerator model, is designed to be complementary to other opportunities within the University of Toronto (U of T) Entrepreneurship community and can be completed concurrently with initiatives delivered by U of T’s accelerators. Its structured program delivers education and workshops tailored to Black entrepreneurs, including workshops/sessions with an emphasis on market and customer research, MVP product development, competitor analysis, beta testing, revenue generation and product-market fit.

    Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Catalyst Cyber Accelerator Program

    Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, a three-and-a-half-month program, is the first and only commercial accelerator of its kind in Canada, and is designed to help early-stage cybersecurity companies grow into industry leaders.

    United Way Greater Toronto – ESE Idea Accelerator

    The ESE Idea Accelerator program supports individual entrepreneurs and organizations to develop new, high-potential, employment social enterprises ideas. Employment social enterprises are businesses that create inclusive employment opportunities for people facing barriers to the labour market. The program offers participants the chance to strengthen their ESE ideas through four interactive workshops and peer support. Participants may also have the opportunity to pitch for a ‘Catalyzing Grant’ of up to $7,500.

    Entrepreneurship Programs

    Centre for Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CEIE) (Toronto Metropolitan University) – Innovation Boost Zone (IBZ): Lab2Market Program

    IBZ’s Lab2Market Program is a 16 week program to help researchers validate their ideas with the purpose of finding business/commercial value. The program is based on similar programs that have found success in other parts of the world, but with a Canadian twist.

    Centre of Entrepreneurship (COE) (Centennial College) – Business Innovation and Transformation Program

    COE’s Business Innovation and Transformation Program supports SMEs operating in the Greater Toronto Area who are looking to accelerate their business and increase their profitability.

    Program streams:

    • Business Model Design and Customer Development Stream – Experiential program for developing an actionable strategic roadmap and building the business for early-stage enterprises.
    • Innovation and Growth Strategy Development Stream – Business advisory program for Business Model Innovation, strategy design and deployment for growth based on the need of individual local businesses.
    • Digital Strategy and Solutions Stream – Advisory program for organization transformation, innovation and productivity (digital strategy transformation, data-driven decision-making, process, system and organization optimization & restructuring)
    • Market Readiness Stream – A go-to-market strategy development program for technology commercialization.
    The Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship (Humber College) – Innovate & Create Entrepreneurship (ICE) Program

    The Innovate & Create Entrepreneurship (ICE) is a 12 weeks program aimed to bring one’s idea down to earth and get ready to launch. Applicants explore business basics, innovation skills, marketing, finances and more with experts and entrepreneurs who can guide their journey. Every session is practical, hands-on, and focused on taking the applicant’s idea to the next level.

    The Entrepreneurship Hatchery (University of Toronto) – LaunchLab

    The Hatchery Launch Lab provides support for graduate student- and faculty-level research-based startups. Teams benefit from a process whereby a strong advisory board helps them define a business model, determine financial projections, and hone an investor-ready pitch. The goal of this stream is to enable teams to sustain themselves while they complete the steps necessary to define a business model for their technology and attract investment.

    York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) – Youth Program & Venture Fair

    The Youth Program provides accepted students a free, 4-month program, including formal academic lectures by Schulich Executive Education Centre instructors, workshop-based training in entrepreneurship, and mentorship by key industry leaders. At the end of the program, entrepreneurs will have a professionally developed presentation deck and a proper business model that is ready to pitch and potentially bring to the market.

    Upon successful program completion, participants:

    • receive a formal certification from YEDI;
    • will present their businesses or not-for-profit projects at the exclusive Venture Fair. The Venture Fair provides a concrete opportunity for participants to showcase their business to an investor audience, as well as create industry partnerships that will take their venture to the next level in development and success.

    Other In-kind Support Programs

    Health Innovation Hub (H2i) (University of Toronto) – Professional Services Vouchers

    H2i’s Professional Services aim to help existing clients pay for professional services related to their startup ventures. This is the applicant’s chance to seek out needed services from a lawyer, engineer, designer or other service providers and have H2i cover some or all of the cost.

    University of Toronto and Toronto Acceleration Innovation Partners (TIAP) – University of Toronto Early-Stage Technology (UTEST) Program

    Get yourself up to $100,000 to start up your research-based tech business when you take part in this 12-month accelerator program. But you’ll have to be a University of Toronto student, recent graduate (within 2 years), or faculty member to participate!

    During this program, mentoring, business strategies, and incubation space are also available for you at the University of Toronto St. George Campus. And when you graduate from the program, you could even access an additional $500,000 in follow-up investments.

    The Bottom Line

    So what are you waiting for? As an entrepreneur, not only do you have access to a multitude of grants and other financial incentive programs at both the federal and provincial levels, but as an entrepreneur located in the Greater Toronto Area, you have access to oodles more programs!

    Kick-start your business, whether you’re just starting out or growing exponentially is your goal. And don’t forget to take advantage of all the additional nonmonetary benefits organizations like regional innovation centres or small business enterprise centres can offer you on your entrepreneurial journey.

    The key here is simply to take advantage of everything at your disposal. Apply for as many grants as you possibly can, utilize every low-interest loan you can find, and remember to claim every available tax credit to achieve your goals faster. And don’t dismiss that which offers benefits other than money…they could end up being more integral to your success than any funding!

    City of Toronto Contact

    Toronto City Hall:

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    Phone: 311
    TTY: 416-338-0TTY (0889)
    Outside city limits phone: 416-392-CITY (2489)
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