8 grants every Canadian founder should know about
The federal and provincial programs that pay actual money to small Canadian businesses.
Published January 22, 2025 · 10 min read
Most Canadian founders think grants are for academics or biotech moonshots. They are not. There is real, non-dilutive money available for normal small businesses. Here are eight you should know about, in rough order of how broadly applicable they are.
Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
CDAP was the biggest no-brainer for digital transformation: up to $15,000 for e-commerce platforms, inventory systems, cybersecurity, and point-of-sale upgrades. It is closed now. The Boost Your Business Technology stream stopped accepting new applicants on February 19, 2024 and the program ended March 31, 2025.
The money did not disappear, it scattered to provincial digital adoption programs, CanExport, and BDC digital loans. If you are searching for CDAP today, read our guide on what replaced it. We keep it on this list because founders still look for it by name.
Canada Job Grant
If you are training employees, the federal government will cover up to two-thirds of the cost. Works for new hires you are upskilling and for existing staff. The training has to be from an external provider, not internal training.
Each province administers its own version. Application is through your provincial labour ministry. The catch is that you have to apply before the training begins.
CanExport SMEs
If you sell internationally or want to, this funds your international business development. Market research, trade show attendance, legal advice for foreign contracts, translation. Up to $50,000 covering 50 percent of eligible costs, with total project budgets between $20,000 and $100,000.
Surprisingly easy to qualify if you actually have an export plan. You need to be a Canadian SMB with international sales ambition. Note the 2026-27 rule that combined government support cannot exceed 75 percent of project costs.
Mitacs Accelerate
If your business needs technical research, Mitacs matches you with a graduate student or postdoc and covers half the cost of the internship. $10,000 per four-month placement.
Great fit for any tech-adjacent business: data science projects, engineering problems, materials research. The student gets supervised by their faculty advisor while working on your problem.
Futurpreneur Canada
If you are 18 to 39 and starting a business, this provides a $25,000 collateral-free loan plus matched mentorship for two years.
Not a grant technically: it is a loan. But the terms are favourable and the mentorship has serious value if you do not already have a network of experienced operators around you.
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Canada's flagship innovation program. Funds salary costs for technical staff working on R&D projects. Up to $50,000 in the SME stream, much more in larger streams.
You need to be doing genuine innovation. Not 'we are using new software.' Real product, process, or service development. The first step is talking to a local Industrial Technology Advisor.
Provincial scale-up funds
Every regional development agency has its own version. FedDev Ontario for southern Ontario. PrairiesCan for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. PacifiCan for BC. ACOA for Atlantic Canada. FedNor for northern Ontario.
These provide interest-free or low-interest repayable contributions to high-growth businesses for technology adoption, productivity improvements, and expansion. Amounts vary but typically range from $50K to $500K.
Canada Carbon Rebate for Small Businesses
Direct refund to small businesses for a share of federal fuel charge proceeds. Automatically calculated. Requires no application. Quietly returns thousands per year to qualifying CCPCs in carbon tax provinces.
If you file your T2 on time and maintain CCPC status, this just shows up. Verify your accountant is tracking it.
None of these are secret. They are all published on government websites. The reason businesses miss them is that the websites are bad, the program names are bureaucratic, and nobody tells you they exist. Take the Deductly quiz to see which of these (and others) your business specifically qualifies for.