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Source verified July 12, 2026
Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program
National accelerator for women and nonbinary scale-ups
Latest source updateLast Update: July 12, 2026Latest change: Rhyze Up now adds a technology-driven innovation requirement and raises support from $5,000-$10,000 to $5,000-$12,000.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: July 12, 2026
Latest change: Rhyze Up now adds a technology-driven innovation requirement and raises support from $5,000-$10,000 to $5,000-$12,000.
Rhyze Up eligibility and funding updated
The Rhyze Up! program page now says applicants must be a technology-driven innovation, alongside the existing requirements for women-led or women-owned or nonbinary-led or nonbinary-owned companies incorporated in Canada with fewer than 500 staff and at least $200,000 in annual recurring revenue. The support description also changed from $5,000-$10,000 to $5,000-$12,000, and the traction-phase subsidy and client contribution changed from $5,000 and $1,400 to $5,600 and $1,200. On the application form, the guidance text was revised to ask applicants to fill out the application rather than complete it in detail, and the FAQ link now points to a June 2026 PDF instead of the previous FAQ document.
Funding available
$ 5,000 - $ 12,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Overview
Rhyze® Up! is a national accelerator for women- and nonbinary-led, owned, co-led, or co-owned companies across Canada, designed to help businesses scale through mentorship, project implementation, leadership coaching, and education. Approved Traction Phase projects receive a $5,600 subsidy, with a $1,200 client contribution plus applicable taxes.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Improve governance or administrative structure
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 12,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Guelph
- Ontario
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 200,000 minimum revenue
Organisation size
- 500 employees maximum
Audience
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Project implementation to address one or more key challenges identified in Discovery.
- Artificial intelligence gap analysis and readiness assessment.
- Technical challenges for new or existing products or services.
- Strategic marketing, strategic sales, and key account management to reach new customers or clients.
- Process efficiency and optimization, demos or pilots of new technologies or products, talent recruitment, and growth or expansion projects.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit companies.
- Women-led, women-owned, nonbinary-led, nonbinary-owned, co-led, or co-owned companies.
- Companies incorporated in Canada.
- Companies employing less than 500 staff.
- Technology-driven innovation companies.
Who is not eligible
- Consultants.
- Solo entrepreneurs with local service or retail outlets.
- Businesses unable or unwilling to scale.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Projects focused on direct sales, sales prospecting, promotion, public relations, or direct marketing to customers or clients.
Selection criteria
- Other eligibility criteria may be used to determine which companies are the best fit for the program, including review by the program’s funder, NRC-IRAP.
How to apply
- Review the target client section and the FAQ before filling out the application.
- Apply through the online application form.
- Complete the application in detail and provide information about yourself and your company.
- Boundless will be in touch within two business days.
Processing and Agreement
- Each accepted company has an initial call with the program manager.
- Mentor fit is determined using the mentor skills and sector experience matrix, the completed intake form, and the initial call, and you remain the ultimate decision-maker on what to focus on.
- At the end of Discovery, the mentor provides a list of high-impact, high-return project recommendations.
- The program uses its internal roster of vetted mentors and industry specialists; outside consultants cannot be used.
- All projects, hours, and meetings must be completed by the end of the fiscal year in March, and accepted participants must complete all Boundless Accelerator surveys up to and including 2 years post-program completion.
Additional information
- The program is supported in part by the National Research Council Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP).
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program Program
What is the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program?
Rhyze® Up! is a national accelerator for women- and nonbinary-led, owned, co-led, or co-owned companies across Canada, designed to help businesses scale through mentorship, project implementation, leadership coaching, and education. Approved Traction Phase projects receive a $5,600 subsidy, with a $1,200 client contribution plus applicable taxes.
How much funding can be received?
Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program Funds up to $12,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program program?
To be eligible for the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program program, you must:
For-profit companies that are women-led, women-owned, nonbinary-led, nonbinary-owned, co-led, or co-owned.
Companies incorporated in Canada, employing less than 500 staff, and generating at least $200,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR).
Women or nonbinary individuals must have decision-making authority.
What expenses are eligible under Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program?
Project implementation to address one or more key challenges identified in Discovery.
Artificial intelligence gap analysis and readiness assessment.
Technical challenges for new or existing products or services.
Strategic marketing, strategic sales, and key account management to reach new customers or clients.
Process efficiency and optimization, demos or pilots of new technologies or products, talent recruitment, and growth or expansion projects.
Who can I contact for more information about the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program?
You can contact Innovation Guelph by email at none or by phone at 519-265-4495.
Where is the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program available?
The Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Innovation Guelph — Rhyze Ventures Program is a Grant and Funding