Invest Nova Scotia — Export Accelerator for Diverse-Owned Businesses

• Completed Export Strategy Canvas
• Valid Supplier Diversity Certification, if applicable

Who is eligible?

• Diverse-owned businesses

Who is not eligible

• Franchisees
• Games of chance operations and bingo halls
• Real estate developers, agents or brokers; licensed liquor establishments whose primary business is alcohol sales, except production breweries, brew pubs, wineries and distilleries
• Distributors, agents or traders including retailers, except where value-added products or services are part of the deliverables or for the purpose of selling Nova Scotia products/services abroad; associations; professional service providers unless certified and representing a unique and/or strategic opportunity with potential economic benefit, incremental sales outside of Nova Scotia and/or job creation
• Businesses eligible to receive funding under the Creative Industries Fund; tourism operators; publicly funded organizations; non-revenue-generating not-for-profit organizations

Eligible expenses

• One-on-one consulting and advisory services
• Matchmaking and buyer/partner introductions

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Program resources and funding cannot be applied to support the work of any other third-party matchmaker or business development consultant the company is currently engaged with for this project.

• Priority in the competitive selection process will be given to businesses that possess a valid Supplier Diversity Certification.

• Complete the application form via the submission form page.
• If this is your first time applying to a program with Invest Nova Scotia, contact Tamasha Fernando to request your Customer Number.
• Submit the application online through the Invest Nova Scotia submission page by 3:00 PM (ADT) on or before July 14, 2026.
• Include the completed Export Strategy Canvas with the application; Supplier Diversity Certification is optional.

• The Invest Nova Scotia selection committee reviews all complete applications received by the deadline.
• Incomplete applications, or those missing requested follow-up information within 3 business days of notification from Invest Nova Scotia, are automatically declined.
• Promising applicants may be invited to a short discussion upon initial review.
• The selection committee coordinates the timing of these discussions directly with finalists.
• Successful applicants receive an Export Accelerator for Diverse-Owned Businesses Letter of Offer and Agreement outlining the program's terms and conditions, and must return the signed Agreement and pay the CAD 200.00 participation fee before it is executed by Invest Nova Scotia.

• Each cohort serves up to 10 businesses over 8 weeks.
• Information collected in connection with the Program is subject to the Nova Scotia Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
• Approved applicants must consent to public announcements and the release of Program information, including company name, sector, region, and total Program funding amount, to the media and public.
• Businesses must complete the feedback survey and participate in Invest Nova Scotia’s annual corporate data collection process for two years following project completion.