Can you stack BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund and NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)?
Yes. BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund and NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) can be combined. They fund different things, so the trick is simple: apply to each separately and never claim the same dollar twice. Together they reach up to $50K+ in potential value.
BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund
A BDC Capital venture fund that invests directly in women-led technology companies across sectors and backs other women-focused funds. It predates and complements the newer Thrive platform and provides both capital and a support network to growth-stage female tech founders. This is equity investment for venture-scale businesses, not debt or grant money.
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Canada's flagship innovation program. Funds salary costs for technical staff working on R&D projects that create or improve products, processes, or services.
How to stack them
- 01Confirm you meet each program's eligibility on its own. BDC Women in Technology Venture Fund and NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) are assessed separately.
- 02Apply to each program through its own application. There is no combined form.
- 03Allocate distinct costs to each program. You cannot claim the same dollar of expense under both, but you can fund different parts of the same project.
- 04Track both deadlines and keep the paperwork separated, so each claim stands on its own.
Stacking rules vary by program and change over time. Confirm the current rules with each program, or take the quiz and we will flag the combinations you qualify for.