EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

There is no informations about how much funding can be received.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program is a Loans and Capital investments

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program?

EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program is funded by Export Development Canada (EDC), Government of Canada

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program?

You can contact Export Development Canada (EDC) or by phone at 1-800-229-0575.

Q: Where is the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program available?

The EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program is available across Canada.

Q: Are women eligible for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program?

Yes, women are eligible to apply for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program.

Q: Are Indigenous Peoples eligible for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program?

Yes, Indigenous Peoples are eligible to apply for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program.

Last Update: July 29, 2025

Canada

Equity capital for diverse exporters

At a glance

Eligible Funding

No Condition

Timeline

Open Date : April 28, 2022

Financing Type

Loans and Capital investments

Eligible Industries

All industries

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Canadian exporting businesses owned and led by people identifying as women, Indigenous, Black, and other dimensions of diversity can get help to address the lack of equitable access to capital and create more opportunities for growth.

Financing terms and conditions

Export Development Canada (EDC) has committed $200 million in total to invest as equity capital in eligible companies.

Activities funded

Raising equity funding (from Seed to Series B rounds) to support international growth.
Expanding commercial revenue with significant export growth potential.
Involving co-investment or partnership with other venture funds to support further business development.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 30,000

Establishing export channels for a small bee farm's products

$ 40,000

Expanding an NPO’s eco-friendly product line to international markets

$ 50,000

Launch a digital platform to showcase Indigenous artwork internationally

$ 30,000

Implementing a software solution to streamline export documentation for a financial cooperative

$ 30,000

Creating a unique Black-owned coffee brand for international markets

Eligibility

The company must be Canadian and owned and/or strategically led at the C-suite level by individuals identifying as women, Indigenous, Black, other racialized peoples, LGBTQ2+, or people living with disabilities.
Diverse members of the C-suite must have equity ownership consistent with other C-suite members.
The company should be experiencing accelerating commercial revenue growth towards C$500,000, with significant export growth potential.
The company must demonstrate a commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors.
The company must be currently raising, or have recently raised, equity funding (Seed to Series B rounds) to support international growth.

Who is eligible?

Canadian exporting businesses owned or led by people identifying as women, Indigenous, Black, or other diverse groups (including LGBTQ2+ or people living with disabilities)
Companies demonstrating significant export growth potential

Who is not eligible

This grant context does not explicitly list types of companies or industries that are not eligible to apply. As such, no specific exclusions can be identified based on the information provided.

Eligible geographic areas

Businesses operating in Canada.

Selection criteria

- Company led or founded by women and/or other diverse management teams - Raising or have recently raised equity funding (Seed to Series B funding rounds) - Support international growth - Canadian company owned or strategically led at the C-suite level by diverse individuals - Diverse members of the C-suite have equity ownership consistent with other C-suite members - Commercial revenue growth accelerating towards C$500,000 with significant export growth potential - Commitment to establishing a diverse board of directors

How to apply

Initial Eligibility Assessment

Review EDC's requirements and ensure your company meets the eligibility criteria, focusing on diverse leadership and international growth potential.
Ensure the company demonstrates accelerating commercial revenue growth and significant export growth potential.

Prepare Investment Proposal

Compile a comprehensive proposal detailing your company’s current financial status, growth strategies, and international ambitions.
Include information about your diverse management team and board of directors.
Highlight previous funding rounds and current fundraising status (Seed to Series B).

Submit Proposal to EDC

Email your investment proposal and any supporting documents directly to EDC or submit through their designated application portal.
Ensure all documents are formatted as required by EDC’s standards.

EDC Review Process

EDC will assess your proposal based on its commercial viability, alignment with EDC’s strategy, and adherence to corporate standards including ESG criteria.
Be prepared to provide additional information or clarifications if requested by EDC during the review process.

Final Decision and Notification

Receive notification of EDC’s decision regarding your proposal.
If successful, engage in further discussions to finalize the terms of investment and partnership.

Additional information

EDC participates as a co-investor or syndicate partner alongside other venture funds, not as a sole investor.
Investment decisions are made solely at EDC's discretion based on commercial considerations and alignment with EDC’s strategy and corporate standards, including ESG.
No grants or subsidies are provided under this program; support is exclusively through equity capital.
Applicants may be asked for specific information, such as company overview, past 12 months' revenue, term sheet, use of proceeds, and export profile.

Documents and links

EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program

Contacts

1-800-229-0575

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.

What is the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program?

How much funding can be received?

What is the deadline to apply?

Is the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Who are the financial supporters of the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program?

Who is eligible for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program?

To be eligible for the EDC — Inclusive Trade Investments Program program, you must: Canadian for-profit company owned or led at the C-suite level by diverse individuals (e.g., women, Indigenous, Black, racialized peoples, LGBTQ2+, or people with disabilities) Currently raising or recently raised equity funding (Seed to Series B) to support international growth Accelerating commercial revenue growth towards $500,000 with significant export potential