OCI — Ready 4 Market (R4M)
grant_single|update January 24, 2025
ON, Canada
Ontario pre-seed fund for early-stage tech start-ups
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Health care and social assistance
grant_single|grantors
- Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Ready 4 Market (R4M) is Ontario's pre-seed investment fund providing up to $250,000 for early-stage Ontario-based start-ups with competitive intellectual property. The program aims to support these start-ups in commercializing transformative technologies to become scalable businesses, focusing on long-term competitiveness, IP strength, and market readiness.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
This grant provides co-investment opportunities to amplify funding rounds for eligible early-stage companies. The financing modalities are designed to support and de-risk startup growth, ensuring alignment with private investors.
- Investments of up to $250,000.
- Total funding rounds ranging from $500,000 to $2 million through combined resources with private sector co-investors.
- Co-investing alongside angel investors and other private sector financiers.
grant_single_labels|projects
The Ready 4 Market (R4M) fund is tailored to support innovative, early-stage Ontario-based technology start-ups with a strong intellectual property foundation. The focus is on projects that demonstrate transformative potential and scalability in technology sectors.
- Projects involving the commercialization of transformative technologies with competitive intellectual property.
- Initiatives aimed at preparing start-ups for investment readiness and customer acquisition.
- Projects that seek private sector co-investment to complement public funding.
- Development activities that ensure the scalability of technology solutions.
- Businesses that showcase a unique value proposition in the tech industry.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 250,000
Building an IoT-based smart irrigation system for urban farming
$ 250,000
Launching a software platform for remote telehealth consultations targeting elderly patients
$ 250,000
Developing AI technology to streamline logistics for ecommerce platforms
$ 250,000
Introducing a blockchain-based platform for supply chain transparency in the fashion industry
$ 250,000
Developing biodegradable packaging solutions for the agricultural sector
$ 250,000
Developing a virtual reality training program for healthcare professionals
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for the Ready 4 Market grant is determined based on specific criteria targeting early-stage technology companies within Ontario.
- The applicant must be an early-stage start-up based in Ontario.
- The start-up must have intellectual property originating from an Ontario-based academic institution or be part of a campus incubator/accelerator.
- The company must be incorporated for no more than five years, either as Ontario or Canadian for-profit incorporation, with principal operations in Ontario.
- The company must have raised less than $1 million in third-party capital.
- The investment sought should be part of a pre-seed or seed investment round, with total round sizes ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.
- There must be private sector co-investment involved.
- The market size of the company's addressable market must be at least $100 million.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
The Ready 4 Market (R4M) fund is designed for early-stage Ontario-based technology companies with strong intellectual property (IP) that are raising pre-seed and seed investments. Companies must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply:- Originated from academic institutions such as universities, colleges, or research hospitals, and could be part of a campus incubator or accelerator. Companies spun out from these institutions are also eligible.- Must be a for-profit corporation incorporated for no more than five years and have their principal operations in Ontario.- Should have raised less than $1 million in third-party capital to be eligible for their first R4M investment.- Require a minimum addressable market size of $100 million and must demonstrate long-term competitiveness, a unique value proposition, and the capacity to scale.- Need private sector co-investment since R4M requires co-investment to de-risk the company's business opportunity.- Undergo a rigorous due diligence and selection process conducted by R4M, which evaluates companies based on their growth potential and business scalability.These criteria ensure that the fund targets businesses with a strong foundation and high potential for growth, thereby maximizing the impact of investments and fostering economic development in Ontario.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant does not specify ineligible companies or industries by their status or main activity. Additionally, the program has limited explicit restrictions outlined.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
Ready 4 Market supports early-stage companies in Ontario by co-investing in the commercialization of transformative technologies. Companies benefit from de-risking investment opportunities, strategic growth support, and access to further investments.
- Co-investment in early-stage start-ups focused on transformative technologies.
- Support for companies with strong intellectual property based in Ontario.
- Assistance in becoming investor and customer ready.
- Facilitation of scalable business growth in various technology sectors.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The Ready 4 Market (R4M) fund is specifically designed for Ontario-based early-stage technology companies to ensure regional innovation and economic growth. Eligible companies must have their principal operations located in Ontario.
- Ontario, Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for the Ready 4 Market grant are rigorously conducted based on a detailed set of criteria to ensure the competitiveness and scalability of the funded companies.
- Long-term competitiveness of the company.
- Strong intellectual property holdings.
- Unique value proposition of the technology or product.
- Capacity for scaling the business.
grant_single_labels|apply
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grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Ready 4 Market (R4M) is Ontario’s leading pre-seed investment fund, co-investing with angel and other investors in early-stage Ontario-based start-ups with competitive IP. The fund targets a minimum addressable market size of $100M, with investment sizes ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.
- R4M supports early-stage technology companies raising pre-seed and seed investment rounds.
- Investments are up to $250,000, with total round sizes ranging from $500,000 to $2 million.
- Eligibility criteria include a minimum addressable market size of $100M.
- Private sector co-investment is required.
- Companies undergo a rigorous due diligence and selection process.
- Companies are evaluated on long-term competitiveness, strong IP, unique value proposition, and capacity to scale.
- OCI has invested in over 200 companies to date.
- OCI supports early-stage companies that are raising pre-seed and seed investments.
- Companies must be incorporated for no more than five years and have their principal operations in Ontario.
- Companies that have raised less than $1 million in third-party capital are eligible for their first R4M investment.
- OCI Ready for Market (R4M) Portfolio companies are not eligible for investment via the Life Sciences Innovation Fund (LSIF).
Apply to this program
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