The programs we’re investing in
$20 million to accelerate AI startup Together, let’s enrich Canada’s AI ecosystem
The Acceleration program puts funding on the table to help finance the growth of AI startups and SMEs across Canada. The program funds initiatives that:
promote the growth of startups applying AI to value chain
strengthen collaboration between Canada’s top AI incubators and accelerators
attract additional venture capital and investment in AI to Canada
encourage top AI talent to establish their business in Canada
support the emergence of new global AI leaders
Accelerate AI
Description
ventureLAB’s Accelerate AI program (VAAI) supports growing and scaling Canadian AI hardware and software startups in the supply chain industry. Through tailored, streamlined support, participating ventures will accelerate their development and commercialization journeys, receiving support in four key areas: attracting and retaining talent, customer acquisition, access to capital, and technology development. Based in York Region, Canada’s second-largest tech cluster, the VAAI leverages the region’s existing strengths and expertise to further expand Canada’s AI leadership.
Business stage
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Services
- Co-work / office space; Laboratory space / maker space; Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding; Regulatory assistance;
- Intellectual property education and assistance;
- Practical prototype / MVP development assistance;
- Other
Accelerate AI
Corporate Innovation Program
Description
This is a 6-months corporate accelerator program for AI Supply Chain Startups at the Seed/Series A stages. The goal of the program is to accelerate the collaboration between AI-based Supply Chain startups and corporations to drive value in today’s chase for innovation. By matching corporations and startups in 5 different streams of the supply chain industry, we hope that they will come out of the program stronger as a company to compete in their market.
Business stage
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Mature – Stable profit from year to year
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding;
- Regulatory assistance;
- Intellectual property education and assistance
Corporate Innovation Program
Propel Virtual Accelerator
Description
As Atlantic Canada’s virtual accelerator for ICT start-ups, Propel ICT Inc. (Propel) works with founders in three stages of the development of their ventures: Stage 1 (3 months) – validation of problem/solution fit; Stage 2 (3 months) – identification and profiling of target ideal early adopter customers; and Stage 3 (6 months) – development and validation of a repeatable, scalable sales process. Programming consists of a combination of curated content housed in Propel’s learning management platform combined with coaching and mentorship provided by a business coach assigned to each founder https://www.propelict.com
Business stage
Discovery – Clearly articulated and plausible problem/solution statement and the capacity to test it
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding;
Propel Virtual Accelerator
Propulsion
Description
Un programme d’accompagnement personnalisé pour les entreprises qui ont une technologie qui trouve des solutions aux problèmes des chaînes d’approvisionnement.
Business stage
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
Propulsion
Description
Le programme Scale AI Québec du CEIM s’adresse aux start-ups québécoises, en pré-démarrage ou à l’étape de commercialisation, qui développent des produits et services innovants, grâce à l’IA, lesquels ont des applications pour les chaînes d’approvisionnement. Le programme d’incubation et d’accélération du CEIM répond aux besoins spécifiques des start-ups grâce à une formule éprouvée qui augmente considérablement leurs chances de succès et leur performance, notamment en commercialisation.
Business stage
Discovery – Clearly articulated and plausible problem/solution statement and the capacity to test it
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Services
- Co-work / office space; Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support
Scale AI Québec
Supply AI Program
Description
With a focus on AI-powered supply chains the DMZ is introducing a specialized remote program to support Canada’s entrepreneurs in the place they call home. The DMZ’s Supply AI program incubates and accelerates AI startups that are otherwise limited by geography, and works to increase Canada’s capacity to support the growth of AI ventures.
Business stage
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding;
- Regulatory assistance;
- Intellectual property education and assistance;
- Practical prototype / MVP development assistance
Supply AI Program
Supply Chain AI
Description
Build Canada’s next generation of high-growth supply chain AI companies through the following key initiatives in combination with business advisory services and access to customers, talent and investors: 1. High profile Supply Chain AI event held at MaRS 2. Co-working spaces through MaRS Beta space 3. MaRS PR Accelerator Services 4. Capital and Talent Intensive programs 5. Market Intelligence Insights
Business stage
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Services
- Co-work / office space;
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Other
Supply Chain AI
Supply Chain AI West
Description
The Supply Chain AI West program empowers startups and early-stage founders to incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning toward creating AI-powered supply chains through access to training and advisement services from the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii). Program participants will accelerate their AI-based supply chain solutions through educational programming, project advisement and access to Amii’s world leading research group.
Business stage
Discovery – Clearly articulated and plausible problem/solution statement and the capacity to test it
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Services
- Co-work / office space;
- Laboratory space / maker space;
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Practical prototype / MVP development assistance
Supply Chain AI West
Supply Chain Stream
Description
The Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage science- and technology-based companies. In partnership with HEC Montréal, CDL-Montreal will run a program mainly focused on artificial intelligence and data science to capitalize on Montreal’s expertise in the sector.
Business stage
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Mature – Stable profit from year to year
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions
Supply Chain Stream
The Holt Xchange
Description
Backed by Holdun, The Holt Xchange is Canada’s most active seed fintech investor. We track over 10,000 early stage fintechs globally and solicit the ones that present a best match with our Advisor network (i.e. individuals who represent financial institutions, institutional investors or experts). To date, we’ve received over 1,500 applications from close to 75 countries, in which we then invest up to $130K in the top 1% of applications globally.
Business stage
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Services
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding;
- Regulatory assistance;
- Practical prototype / MVP development assistance
The Holt Xchange
Volta AI
Description
Volta aims to launch a program (Volta AI) where eligible AI supply chain focused ventures are given additional access to programming and funding opportunities facilitated and administered by Volta. Eligible ventures will receive support to attend focused programming, workshops, consulting, and global events. Ventures will also gain access to experts and investors in the AI space. Volta AI’s goal is to accelerate the early growth of new ventures by augmenting existing resources and building new programming that founders can take advantage of. Also, Volta AI aims to attract more AI supply chain focused ventures to the Atlantic Canadian ecosystem and provide them with the required connections and support to create added value for their venture.
Business stage
Validation – A minimum viable product and evidence that it solves a real problem for an identified market
Efficiency – Initial traction in a receptive enough market to build a business in
Scale – Evidence that a scalable sale and marketing process has been established, accelerating revenue/customer growth
Services
- Co-work / office space;
- Business coaching / consulting / mentoring / leadership development;
- Trade and export support;
- Networking events and key introductions;
- Access to funding;
- Intellectual property education and assistance
