Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Initia Foundation

Founded in 1991, Fondation Initia began as a catalyst for knowledge transfer between academia and Quebec’s food industry. Over the past three decades, it has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to food science students and assisted hundreds of organizations in solving technical challenges – a testament to its early impact on innovation in the sector. Today, guided by a renewed vision to accelerate Quebec’s food prosperity and self-sufficiency, the foundation has become a cornerstone for the province’s next generation in the agri-food field. It plays a key role in uniting stakeholders across the industry around the common goal of uplifting emerging entrepreneurs and future food professionals. In doing so, Fondation Initia aligns itself with Quebec’s broader goal of food autonomy, ensuring that scientific innovation and entrepreneurial initiative translate into a stronger, sustainable food industry for the province.

The foundation serves as a hub connecting the food entrepreneurial ecosystem – bringing together industry leaders, scientists, academics, and up-and-coming business innovators to create an environment where more groundbreaking companies can take root and thrive. Leveraging the collaboration of experienced board members, renowned industry ambassadors, and a wide network of partners, Initia possesses the insight and expertise to guide entrepreneurs and students as they turn their visions into reality. Its central position in the ecosystem, coupled with unparalleled knowledge of the agri-food sector and strong partner support, gives the foundation a unique capacity to identify the needs of the “relève” (the rising generation) and to foster conditions for their success. Notably, nearly 50 volunteers – including industry executives on the board and seasoned mentors – actively contribute to Initia’s initiatives, amplifying its impact through their collective commitment.

The foundation pursues its mission through several key initiatives:

As the mandated manager of these financial support initiatives, Fondation Initia channels crucial resources into Quebec’s food entrepreneurship landscape. One cornerstone program provides annual financial awards to outstanding new food enterprises and entrepreneurs, shining a spotlight on innovation and leadership in the sector. Through this initiative, emerging companies can earn grants of up to $10,000 along with in-kind support from the foundation’s industry partners – such as consulting services and mentorship – to help accelerate their development. These honors are presented at a high-profile yearly gala event that brings together hundreds of stakeholders from the food industry, ensuring that the award recipients gain visibility and integration into the wider business network. In recent editions, the foundation has distributed well into the six figures in prize funding each year, underscoring the significant scale of this financial support for the next generation.

At the same time, Fondation Initia administers academic scholarship programs that nurture innovation at its source. These scholarships recognize the excellence and engagement of college and university students in food science and related disciplines, and they provide financial aid to graduate students carrying out research projects deemed highly relevant to the industry’s priorities. By investing in promising young researchers, the foundation helps ensure that scientific advancements continue to feed into new products, processes, and startups in the agri-food sector. This academic support guarantees a pipeline of highly qualified talent and fresh ideas, which is crucial for the competitiveness and sustainability of the food industry in the long run.

Beyond financial aid, Fondation Initia offers hands-on guidance to entrepreneurs through a comprehensive mentorship program. Developed specifically for the food sector by industry insiders, this program pairs new business founders with seasoned mentors who are experts in various facets of the industry. These mentors volunteer their time to share hard-won knowledge and strategic advice, forming trust-based relationships in which entrepreneurs feel heard, supported, and encouraged. The mentorship provides far more than business consulting – it often becomes a source of motivation and confidence for the entrepreneur, helping them navigate challenges and build resilience in the critical early stages of their venture. Fondation Initia leverages its expertise to ensure an optimal match between mentors and mentees, aligning their needs, interests, and profiles so that the guidance is as impactful as possible. Dozens of experienced professionals from across the food supply chain (manufacturing, retail, agriculture, etc.) are mobilized as mentors, reflecting a broad network mobilized in support of the next generation.

By surrounding entrepreneurs with this human-centered support – in addition to financial assistance – the foundation provides a 360° support system that significantly boosts the young businesses’ chances of lasting success and growth.

Such collaborations illustrate how the foundation works hand-in-hand with other ecosystem players to reach entrepreneurs across different communities. For example, a recent partnership with Saint-Hyacinthe Technopole has enabled local agri-food startups to benefit from Initia’s tailored mentoring, demonstrating the foundation’s commitment to personalized support for food entrepreneurs province-wide. By tapping into regional networks and resources, Initia ensures that even more entrepreneurs can access experienced guidance, thereby strengthening the overall fabric of support available to new food businesses.

Through this combination of financial backing, expert mentorship, and network-building, Fondation Initia serves as a catalyst for Quebec’s food entrepreneurial ecosystem. Its initiatives collectively help ensure the diversity and long-term viability of the province’s food industry by equipping the next generation with the resources, knowledge, and connections needed to thrive. To date, the foundation has invested over $500,000 in scholarships and awards for emerging food entrepreneurs and scientists, directly contributing to the sector’s future and to Quebec’s food autonomy goals. By working in concert with public and private partners, Fondation Initia not only helps individual projects come to fruition, but also fortifies the ecosystem as a whole – fostering an environment where Quebec’s agri-food innovation and entrepreneurial spirit can continue to flourish for years to come.