Innovacorp is offering mentoring and tens of thousands in non-dilutive financing to Nova Scotian startups through four programs, whose entry deadlines are rapidly approaching.

The Nova Scotia government’s venture capital group has opened applications for its four main programs for helping early-stage companies – Sprint, Accelerate, Startup-Yard and the Blue Green Challenge. Here are the details:  

Sprint | Deadline: Sept. 9.

Award: Up to $25,000 and business guidance to tackle short-term technical and/or business milestones

Number of awards available: Four or five

Sector: Any technology sector, but deep technology is favoured.

Start-up stage:

    •    You’ve identified a large market pain and established a company around a customer-validated problem.

    •    You have a strong technical or business founder.

    •    You’re ready to complete a proof of concept or prototype and validate your technology.

Accelerate Program | Deadline: Sept. 9.

Award: $50,000 and a six-month, cohort-based program that includes co-working space, advice from experts and coaches, monthly workshops and market intelligence services

Number of awards available: Eight

Sector: Any technology sector, but deep technology is favoured.

Start-up stage:

    •    You’ve completed your proof of concept or prototype and validated your technology.

    •    You’ve done market research and thorough competition analysis.

    •    You’re ready to build your business model and strengthen your team as you move closer to investment readiness.

Start-Up Yard at COVE | Deadline: Sept. 20.

Award: $22,500 and access to workspace at Start-Up Yard, mentoring, workshops and experts

Number of awards available: Five

Sector: Ocean technology

Start-up stage:

    •    You have a strong technical or business founder.

    •    You have an innovative solution to an ocean industry problem.

    •    You have completed or are ready to complete a proof of concept or prototype.

    •    You’re ready to conduct market research and customer discovery.

Blue-Green Challenge | Deadline: Oct. 3.

Awards: $5,000 for round one; $10,000 in round two, and business guidance

Number of awards available: 20 for round one; 4 for round two

Sector: Ocean technology and agricultural technology

Start-up stage:

    •    You have a strong technical or business founder.

    •    You’re tackling a big problem in the ocean and/or agricultural sectors.

    •    You have or are proposing an innovative solution to a problem.

Disclosure: Innovacorp is a client of Entrevestor.