Applications are currently open for Stream 2 of ventureLAB’s 2026 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund. Supported by the Regional Municipality of York, the funding opportunity is designed to help early-stage Canadian companies developing innovative agri-tech, agri-food, and clean-tech solutions. The initiative aims to accelerate commercially promising ventures while supporting social, economic, and environmental sustainability in York Region and beyond.
Funding and Program Benefits
Seven qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs will be selected to receive funding under Stream 2.
• Funding Amount: Each selected venture will receive CAD 10,000.
• Matching Contribution: Recipients must demonstrate access to matching funds equal to the amount requested. A company requesting CAD 10,000 must therefore contribute an additional CAD 10,000.
• Use of Funding: Applicants must explain how the funding will accelerate company growth and support innovation and sustainability in York Region.
• Fund Disbursement: Approved funding will be issued within 30 business days after the recipient signs the Funding Agreement.
• Reporting Requirement: Recipients must submit a Final Project Report demonstrating the completion and impact of the funded activities.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must satisfy the following eligibility requirements:
• The company must be incorporated and based in Canada.
• The company must operate in York Region, be actively engaged in the region, or be willing to work with a York Region innovation partner for at least six months after receiving the funding.
• The venture must have between one and 99 employees.
• The founding team must include at least one business co-founder and one technical co-founder.
• The company must have a Minimum Viable Product or be at the validation stage with initial customer traction.
• The venture must be able to match the CAD 10,000 contribution provided by the fund.
• Sole proprietors are not eligible to apply.
Eligible Innovation Areas
Applicants must be developing an innovative solution or service in agri-tech, agri-food, or clean technology. Eligible areas may include, but are not limited to:
• Precision agriculture.
• Robotics and artificial intelligence applications in agriculture.
• Vertical farming.
• Food-value-chain automation.
• Smart food product development.
• Food ecosystem sustainability.
• Decarbonization technologies.
• Electric vehicle solutions.
Application Requirements
Applicants must complete the official online application form and provide the required supporting documentation.
• Company Pitch Deck: A pitch deck must be attached to the application.
• Financial Statements: Applicants must provide their most recent financial statements, dated no more than 12 months before submission.
• Funding Impact: The application should clearly demonstrate how the proposed use of funds will accelerate the company’s growth and contribute to innovation, economic development, and sustainability in York Region.
• Application Limit: Applicant organizations are limited to one application per project during each funding round.
Ineligible Activities and Expenses
The fund does not support:
• Regular maintenance or ongoing operating expenses.
• Regularly scheduled capital expenditures or asset replacement.
• Refinancing of existing debt.
• The acquisition of land or buildings.
• Applications submitted by sole proprietors.
Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be assessed by a review committee comprising representatives from ventureLAB, York Region, and relevant innovation stakeholders. The evaluation will consider:
• The venture’s business viability and potential for growth and scaling.
• The strength of its value proposition, founding team, target market, financing strategy, business model, and customer traction.
• The proposed use of the funding and its expected impact on the business.
• The potential economic and community benefits for York Region, including intellectual property development, revenue generation, job creation or retention, diversity, and inclusion.
• The clarity, completeness, and overall quality of the application.
Application Timeline
• Applications Open: 13 July 2026.
• Application Deadline: 14 August 2026.
• Review Period: August to September 2026.
• Applicant Notification: October 2026.
• Winner Announcement: October 2026.
For comprehensive information about the funding opportunity, eligibility requirements, and application process, prospective applicants should visit the official ventureLAB Entrepreneurship and Innovation Fund webpage and access the Stream 2 application portal.