If you’re a Canadian incorporated SME, start-up company, or academic research institute, you can get a contribution of up to $25,000 for the cost of an external consultant or other service provider that will help develop a business or commercialization plan.
The Fast-Track to Financing Program supports projects that help to create strong business or commercialization plans to attract public financing or private investment to support the development, and eventual market entry, of natural product or technologies.
This program is open to Canadian SMEs or start-up companies and academic research institutes.
SMEs or start-up companies: The intent of the program is to develop strong business or commercialization plans that demonstrate the market and/or growth potential necessary to attract private capital or public funding.
Academic research Institutes: The intent of the program is to develop strong commercialization plans to attract public funding, secure industry partnerships, licensing opportunities, and/or create start-up companies.
The Program supports the costs of engaging one or more experts (external consultant or other service provider) to assist in strengthening or revising the business or commercialization plan. This could include all or a subset of the following components:
- Market, Customer, & Competitive Analysis
- Value Proposition
- Regulatory Plan
- IP Plan
- Financial Plan
- Production Plan
Successful applicants will receive a contribution of up to 40% of the costs of the expert(s), to a maximum of $25,000. The applicant is required to contribute at least 60% of the cost over the project period.
The applicant may have a preferred expert(s) at the time of application or may begin their search after the application is submitted. A summary of the qualifications of the expert(s) and the statement of work(s) (SOW) must be submitted to NPC for review prior to final approval.