BDC business loans
Business financing with product-specific underwriting and terms. Direct lending typically requires revenue history; earlier founders may fit BDC partner programs.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Startup funding resources
Choose a funding route, prepare the evidence and use TorontoStarts workshops and program listings to take your next step.
Choose your next step
- Write down how much capital you need, what it will pay for and the milestone it should reach.
- Compare timing and obligations: grant eligibility, loan repayments or investor ownership. Use the relevant comparison below.
- Build your evidence: customer demand, financial assumptions and a clear use of funds. Use the readiness exercises before approaching funders.
Resources you can use
Grants
Compare programs, work through eligibility examples and download the application workbook.
Loans
Compare repayments, security, guarantees and fees before accepting a loan.
Tax credits
Compare federal and Ontario credits and organize claim evidence.
Angel investors
Find individuals and networks, then read their public profiles.
Venture capital
Search venture firms and compare their stated stage and focus.
Crowdfunding
Watch the TorontoStarts workshops and compare platforms, fees and campaign budgets.
Pitch deck
Study annotated slides and download the editable deck template.
Valuation
Work through valuation and dilution with the reusable worksheet.
Funding pathway finder
Match your capital need, stage and sector to existing funding records.
Investor readiness
Identify missing evidence and complete the linked exercises.
Funding programs (19)
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Lender-delivered financing for eligible business assets and working capital. Interest, a 2% registration fee, security and possible personal guarantees must be included in the cost comparison.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
CanExport SMEs
2026–27 funding covers up to 50% of eligible export-project costs. The intake closed August 31, 2026 at noon Eastern; the official page has not announced the next intake.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Up to $50,000
Federal SR&ED investment tax credit
15% basic ITC; qualifying corporations can earn 35% within their expenditure limit. Eligibility, refundability and assistance adjustments must be assessed for the claim year.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Futurpreneur Startup Program
Loan financing up to $75,000 including BDC financing, with up to two years of mentorship, for eligible Canadian citizens/permanent residents aged 18–39. Prepare a business plan and 24-month cash flow. The application route is available; no fixed deadline is stated.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Up to $75,000
Invest Ontario Fund
Invest Ontario Fund provides tailored grants or loans for eligible high-impact investment projects in Ontario. Verify current fit and intake with the official source before applying.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
NOHFC Invest North – Launch
Conditional contribution up to 50% of eligible project costs, maximum $200,000, for eligible new Northern Ontario businesses. Owner works full time and contributes at least 15%. Sector exclusions apply; not a Toronto-location grant. Official application route available, no fixed Launch deadline stated.
- Geography
- Northern Ontario
- Amount
- Up to $200,000
NRC IRAP
Project-specific innovation support for incorporated, for-profit Canadian technology companies with up to 500 employees. Funding is assessed individually.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Ontario Business-Research Institute Tax Credit
20% refundable credit on qualified expenditures under an eligible contract with an eligible research institute. Ordinary R&D contracting does not automatically qualify.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Ontario Creates Screen Marketing and Discoverability
For eligible screen projects with prior Ontario Creates Production investment. Linear content: up to 75%, maximum $25,000; interactive: up to 50%, maximum $50,000. Continuous submissions close December 16, 2026 at 5 p.m. Eastern. This is not a general software grant.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Up to $50,000
Ontario Innovation Tax Credit
8% refundable credit for qualifying Ontario SR&ED corporations, subject to eligible expenditure and expenditure-limit rules.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Ontario Job Grant
Ontario Job Grant helps eligible Ontario employers pay for approved third-party employee training. Verify current fit and intake with the official source before applying.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Up to $10,000
Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit
3.5% non-refundable credit on eligible Ontario SR&ED expenditures; unused credit can generally carry back three years or forward twenty.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Amount not publicly stated
Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII)
Interest-bearing loans of $150,000–$500,000 for innovative, high-growth SMEs in southern Ontario. No application fee and no early-repayment penalty. Contact the regional office through the official postal-code lookup; no fixed intake deadline is published.
- Geography
- Southern Ontario
- Amount
- $150,000 to $500,000
Starter Company Plus
Starter Company Plus offers grant support for eligible applicants in Ontario. Verify current fit and intake with the official source before applying.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Up to $5,000
Summer Company
Seasonal award and mentoring for eligible Ontario students aged 15–29. Toronto applications are closed now; the City announces January 25–May 21, 2027 for its next intake. Other local providers set their own dates.
- Geography
- Ontario
- Amount
- Up to $3,000
WEOC National Loan Program
Loans up to $50,000 for eligible businesses over 50% women-owned, with gross annual revenue up to $2 million. Applicants must be 19+, Canadian citizens/permanent residents living in Canada. Start with a regional loan partner; no fixed deadline stated. Repayable financing, not a grant.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Up to $50,000
Women Entrepreneur Growth Financing (WEOC/BDC)
Announced pilot combining up to $50,000 from WEOC with up to $150,000 from BDC, subject to approval. Planned for late 2026, but applications have not opened and final eligibility/application terms are not yet published. Keep separate from the available National Loan Program.
- Geography
- Canada outside Quebec
- Amount
- Up to $200,000
Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund
Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund provides loans through approved delivery organizations to women starting or growing businesses in Canada. Verify current fit and intake with the official source before applying.
- Geography
- Canada
- Amount
- Up to $50,000