SFU VentureLabs

• The company must be a science, cleantech, deeptech or technology-based startup or venture.
• The business should have found, or be close to finding, product–market fit and be preparing to commercialize, grow or scale.
• The applicant should be an innovation‑driven startup located in, or operating within, the regions served by SFU VentureLabs (e.g. Vancouver and Western/Northern Canada for programs like AccelerateIP).
• The project or activities must relate to building and scaling the business (mentorship, commercialization, business model development, IP protection, marketing, or similar growth objectives).

Who is eligible?

• Science-based companies
• Cleantech companies
• Deeptech companies
• Science and technology-based new ventures that have found product-market fit
• Innovative startups in BC, Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories seeking intellectual property support (through AccelerateIP)

Who is not eligible

Some types of companies may not be eligible for this grant:

• Non-technology-based companies
• Companies not located in the specified regions (BC, Yukon, Nunavut, Northwest Territories)

Eligible expenses

• Legal costs for developing an intellectual property (IP) strategy, covered up to $25,000 under the Strategy stream.
• Legal implementation costs for protecting, managing, and leveraging intellectual property (e.g., filings and related legal work), covered up to $60,000 under the Implementation stream.

Eligible geographic areas

• Startups located in British Columbia, Yukon, Nunavut, or the Northwest Territories (for the AccelerateIP financial support program delivered through SFU VentureLabs and partners).

There are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The program provides financial support for protecting, managing, and leveraging intellectual property of startups.

• Education and Awareness: Gain foundational IP training
• Strategy: Get 1:1 mentorship and up to $25,000 of eligible costs covered for legal strategy development
• Implementation: Access financial support to cover up to $60,000 of eligible legal implementation costs

• SFU VentureLabs is an accelerator that supports science, cleantech, and deeptech companies that have found product–market fit and are looking to commercialize, grow, and scale.
• Participants can access core accelerator services such as mentorship, intellectual property support, marketing support, and coworking space through various VentureLabs programs.
• VentureLabs provides a technology and innovation community environment, including exposure to entrepreneurs-in-residence, investors, guest lecturers, and peer founders.
• VentureLabs is supported by partners including SFU Innovates, the Government of British Columbia, and the Government of Canada, indicating public-sector backing for its activities.