Halifax business consultancy Imaginal Ventures and British Columbia-based national cleantech accelerator Foresight Canada are collaborating to launch Foresight’s eight-month accelerator program in the Atlantic Provinces.

Participating companies in the Atlantic Canada Cleantech Scale-up and Investment Challenge will compete for the chance to be one of five to pitch to a mix of accredited and unaccredited investors from across Canada, with a $100,000 investment up for grabs. Foresight is aiming for 10 cohort members the first time out.

Founded in 2013, Foresight has served more than 930 companies, which have raised about a combined $1.4 billion of funding.

The programming on offer will focus particularly on scaling young companies, as well as on investor readiness, and Foresight advises founders to budget two to five hours of their time per week. Participation is free thanks to funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and NRC-IRAP.

To be eligible, startups must present a viable business model and be looking to build an innovative clean technology product.

The application deadline is March 17, and Imaginal Ventures and Foresight are hosting an online information session Feb. 28 at 1:00 p.m. ADT.

Interested founders can register for the information session here.