The 2024 Spark Nova Scotia competition is open and seeking people with innovative business ideas to vie for up to $50,000 in startup funding. 

Training sessions start April 30 and run throughout May. They are open to people with a business idea for an innovative product or service. After training, entrants will have until May 24 to apply for the competition.  A total of $90,000 is available in each of three regions, with up to $50,000 of that amount possible for each regional winner.

“Anyone with a business idea should register for training. It’s free and it just might spark something,” said Erinn Smith, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations in a statement.  

Spark is tailored for rural, coastal, and academic communities in three regions: Cape Breton; Northern N.S., and Southwestern N.S. Each area has distinct pitch competitions, judges, and funding pools. 

Spark N.S. is an initiative of Nova Scotia’s CBDCs, funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the Government of Nova Scotia. 

Winners will be announced June 17 at the Nova Centre in Halifax. 

You can find more information and applications here.