1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
This grant may no longer be accepting applications.
The description indicates applications may be closed. Check the funder's website to confirm availability before applying.
Visit funder's website →Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) is a grant program from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that co-invests with private sector investors in funds-of-funds and venture capital funds to support the growth of Canada's VC ecosystem and foster access to capital for innovative Canadian companies. VCCI investments are managed by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).
The program is not currently accepting applications. Budget 2025 announced $1 billion for a new Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative (Growth VCCI) starting in 2026–27, with three investment streams: a funds-of-funds stream targeting pension fund participation, a life sciences stream, and an emerging manager stream supporting managers in strategic sectors and outside traditional VC hubs.
Eligible beneficiaries are primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada, with a focus on equity-deserving entrepreneurs.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative The Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative is not currently accepting applications.
Through the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI), the Government of Canada co-invests with private sector investors in funds-of-funds and venture capital (VC) funds to support the growth of a vibrant and sustainable Canadian VC industry, and to foster access to VC for innovative Canadian companies. VCCI investments are managed by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Current global trade uncertainty is impacting investors, companies, and the flow of VC investments. The Government of Canada is committed to building a venture capital ecosystem that ensures homegrown innovators have the capital they need to grow and contribute to a more resilient Canada.
Budget 2025 announced that the government would be providing $1 billion on a cash basis, starting in 2026-27, for the new Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative (Growth VCCI).
Through this program, the government will invest alongside the private sector through three streams: Funds-of-funds stream, focused on leveraging more private venture capital by incentivizing pension funds and other institutional investors; Life sciences stream, focused on VC fund managers that target support for Canadian life sciences companies to innovate and grow; and Emerging manager stream, focused on supporting emerging fund managers, including those focused on strategic sectors and those located outside traditional VC hubs.
These investments in Canadian VC will drive innovation and help build the next generation of Canadian anchor firms and fund managers, supporting economic growth and strengthening Canada’s strategic and sovereign capabilities. Further information will be made available as the program is developed. Learn about the VCCI, as well as previous programs (VCCI 2021, VCCI 2017 and the Venture Capital Action Plan [VCAP]).
Program results and impacts Access annual reporting on program performance and impacts. Learn about the fund managers who have received investments under VCCI and VCAP.
Venture and Growth Capital Catalyst Initiative- Discussion guide: Funds-of-Funds Stream Minister Valdez announces new investments to spur innovation and help diverse entrepreneurs scale their business Minister Valdez announces new investments to help diverse entrepreneurs grow their businesses To learn more about the VCCI program, please contact capital@ised-isde. gc. ca .
Additional Business Supports Please note that VCCI does not make direct investments into companies. For additional business support, please see the following resources: Accelerated Growth Service
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Canada, with a focus on equity-deserving entrepreneurs. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Funding amounts vary based on project scope and sponsor guidance. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
The AI Sovereign Compute Infrastructure Program (AISCIP) supports the design, construction, and operation of a national public AI supercomputing system in Canada. With approximately CAD $890 million allocated over seven fiscal years starting FY2026-27, this initiative is a core pillar of Canada's broader Sovereign AI Compute Strategy. The program funds hardware installation, data centre operations, and systems administration for high-performance AI-optimized compute infrastructure with Canadian data residency requirements. Successful applicants must demonstrate rapid deployment capability, scalable design, Canadian governance with data residency control, and broader economic benefits including domestic supply chain strengthening. This is distinct from the separately-funded AI Compute Access Fund, which subsidizes researcher access to existing compute resources. An informational webinar is available for prospective applicants.
Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) is a grant program from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) that funds Canadian small businesses to develop and validate innovative prototypes addressing government-set challenges. The program has two streams: the Challenge stream, where small businesses compete for funding to prove feasibility and build prototypes (up to $150,000 in Phase 1, up to $1 million in Phase 2); and the Testing stream, where the government purchases innovations for real-world testing. Eligible applicants are Canadian small businesses meeting specific challenge criteria. Active challenge areas include space communications, broadband networks, defence interoperability, and infrastructure maintenance. Individual challenge deadlines vary.
The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a Canadian federal initiative from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), co-developed with the Black business community, investing $189 million over five years to address systemic barriers facing Black business owners and entrepreneurs. The program has three components: the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund (loans up to $250,000 through FACE and BDC), the Ecosystem Fund (delivered by regional development agencies to support Black-led nonprofits and business organizations), and a Knowledge and Research component to improve data on Black entrepreneurship in Canada. Eligible applicants are Black entrepreneurs and business owners across Canada.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs (Phase I) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit in agriculturally-related areas. This can include app development for agricultural technology, rural development, and smart farming. Phase I aims to demonstrate technical feasibility.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs Phase I (FY 2025) is sponsored by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The USDA SBIR/STTR programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Projects dealing with agriculturally-related manufacturing and alternative and renewable energy technologies are encouraged across all SBIR/STTR topic areas.
Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is sponsored by NOAA. This program provides seed funding to small businesses for research and development of innovative technologies across NOAA's mission areas, including climate change adaptation and mitigation, coastal resilience, and extreme weather events. Phase I awards fund a six-month period for conducting feasibility and proof of concept research.