How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 250000% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Accelerate Fund?

Accelerate Fund is funded by Yaletown Partners

What are Accelerate Fund's eligibility criterias?

The startup must be Alberta-based with a head office and more than 50% of employees located in Alberta. The startup must be private and incorporated. The startup should operate within specific sectors such as information and communications technology, energy technology, life sciences, agriculture, or biotech.

Accelerate Fund

Last Update: January 24, 2025

AB, Canada

Early investment and coaching for Alberta startups

Accelerate Fund at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $250,000

Timeline

Continuous Intakes

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Health care and social assistance

Grant Providers

Yaletown Partners

Status

Open

Overview of the Accelerate Fund program

If you’re a technology startup seeking early-stage capital for growth, but not yet venture-capital-round ready, you could get funds to match those of an angel investor, as a first step in preparing for your launch. You can also get support in the form of

Financing terms and conditions

The Accelerate Fund provides a structured financing approach tailored to support Alberta tech startups' growth through co-investment opportunities. While the primary focus is on early-stage tech companies, the fund encourages collaboration with other investors.

Initial investment of $250,000 in the first financing round with a new company.
Requires matching dollars from angel or private co-investors, creating a multiplier effect of two to three times the original investment.
Opportunity for involvement in deals with multiple investors, including venture capital funds and private investors.
Support in attracting additional investors such as formal angel groups, super-angels, family funds, and individual angel investors.

Eligible projects & activities

The Accelerate Fund supports Alberta-based technology startups seeking early-stage growth financing. It focuses on projects within the tech industry, especially those demonstrating proven product demand and early growth potential.

Funding for information and communications technology projects.
Investment in energy technology startups.
Support for life sciences companies.
Financing projects in the agriculture sector.
Backing for biotech enterprises.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 250,000

Creating a B2B healthcare technology platform for patient data management

$ 250,000

Creating a fintech platform that offers microloans to small businesses

$ 250,000

Developing an AI-driven legal tech platform for automating legal documents

$ 250,000

Developing an IoT device to monitor environmental conditions for smart farming

$ 250,000

Developing a blockchain-based supply chain management system for agriculture businesses

$ 250,000

Research and development of a renewable energy storage solution for residential use

Eligibility criteria of the Accelerate Fund program

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific criteria related to the company's location, sector, and stage of development.

The company must be a tech startup based in Alberta.
The head office and more than 50% of employees must be located in Alberta.
The company must be private and incorporated.
The company should operate in the information and communications technology, energy technology, life sciences, agriculture, or biotech sectors.

Who is eligible?

The Accelerate Fund III is open to Alberta-based tech startups that are in the early stages of growth and are not yet ready for a venture capital round. To be eligible, these startups must be private, incorporated, and have their head office and more than 50% of their employees located in Alberta. The fund specifically targets industries in information and communications technology, energy technology, life sciences, agriculture, and biotech sectors.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity. The restrictions ensure that the funds support dynamic sectors in Alberta's tech ecosystem.

Companies not incorporated or headquartered in Alberta.
Businesses with less than 50% of employees based in Alberta.
Industries outside B2B sectors in information and communications technology, energy technology, life sciences, agriculture, and biotech.
Startups beyond the early-stage growth phase or already VC-round ready.

Eligible expenses

This grant supports projects that involve early-stage growth financing for Alberta-based tech startups. The focus is on fostering entrepreneurship in various B2B sectors that demonstrate proven product demand and are on the brink of expansion.

Early-stage growth financing for tech startups headquartered in Alberta.
Investment in private, incorporated tech enterprises with more than half of their workforce in Alberta.
Co-investment opportunities with angel investors and venture capital partners.
Support for startups in information and communications technology, energy technology, life sciences, agriculture, and biotech sectors.
Mentoring and strategic advisory services provided by experienced technology entrepreneurs.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to tech startups located primarily in Alberta, Canada. Eligible companies must have their headquarters and a majority of employees based in this region to qualify for funding.

Companies must have a head office in Alberta.
More than 50% of employees must be located in Alberta.

Eligibility criteria of the Accelerate Fund program

The evaluation and selection criteria for projects under this grant are not explicitly outlined in the given context. The focus is on investing in Alberta-based tech startups in early stages and enhancing engagement with angel investors and co-investors.

How to apply to the Accelerate Fund program

Preliminary Engagement

Visit the Accelerate Fund website to understand the fund's purpose and criteria for investment.
Engage with a representative from Yaletown Partners or the A100 for guidance and to discuss eligibility.

Gather Required Information

Prepare company details including proof of Alberta headquarters and majority of employees based in Alberta.
Collate all relevant financial documents and business plans demonstrating early-stage growth and product demand.

Secure Matching Investment

Find and secure commitments from angels or private co-investors to match or exceed the requested amount.
Document all co-investor commitments to align with the fund requirements.

Application Preparation

Prepare a detailed pitch deck that outlines the technology, growth potential, and team expertise.
Include detailed descriptions of your target market and competition analysis.

Submit Application

Complete the application form on the Accelerate Fund III portal or submit it by email, as per the instructions on their website.
Ensure that all required documents, including financials and co-investor confirmation, are attached.
Review the application thoroughly before submission to avoid any errors.

Application Review and Confirmation

Await confirmation from Accelerate Fund III that your application has been received and is under review.
Prepare for any follow-up queries or requests for additional information during the review process.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The Accelerate Fund III requires matching funds from angel or private co-investors, enhancing investment impact through a multiplier effect.
Yaletown Partners, the fund's manager, conducts due diligence and oversees investment decisions, providing significant expertise to potential applicants.
Beyond capital, the fund offers mentorship and industry connections via experienced technology entrepreneurs from the A100 and Yaletown Partners.
Accelerate Fund III encourages collaboration and co-investment with other venture capital funds, formal angel groups, and individual investors.
The fund has a typical investment size of $250,000 for the first round of financing with a new company.