Open
SFU VentureLabs
Scale-up support for science, cleantech and deeptech startups
Last Update: March 4, 2026
Funding available
$ 60,000
Timeline
- Open continuously
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Overview
SFU VentureLabs delivers the AccelerateIP program, which offers up to $25,000 to cover eligible legal costs for IP strategy development and up to $60,000 to cover eligible legal implementation expenses. This funding supports innovative startups in protecting, managing, and leveraging their intellectual property through education, mentorship, and direct financial support for legal work.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop workforce skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 60,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- $ 20,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Next steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Projects to protect, manage, and strategically leverage a company’s intellectual property through specialized legal support.
- Initiatives to develop an intellectual property strategy with expert mentorship tailored to an innovative startup.
- Activities to implement an intellectual property strategy, including legal work required to put IP protections in place.
- Educational projects that build internal capabilities and awareness around intellectual property within a startup.
Eligibility
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).
Additional information
- 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.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the SFU VentureLabs Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the SFU VentureLabs. 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 SFU VentureLabs?
SFU VentureLabs delivers the AccelerateIP program, which offers up to $25,000 to cover eligible legal costs for IP strategy development and up to $60,000 to cover eligible legal implementation expenses. This funding supports innovative startups in protecting, managing, and leveraging their intellectual property through education, mentorship, and direct financial support for legal work.
How much funding can be received?
SFU VentureLabs Funds up to $60,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the SFU VentureLabs program?
To be eligible for the SFU VentureLabs program, you must:
Innovative startup operating in science, cleantech, deeptech or technology-based sectors.
Company has found or is close to finding product–market fit and is preparing to commercialize and scale.
Located in or engaging with the technology and innovation community served by SFU VentureLabs.
What expenses are eligible under SFU VentureLabs?
Projects to protect, manage, and strategically leverage a company’s intellectual property through specialized legal support.
Initiatives to develop an intellectual property strategy with expert mentorship tailored to an innovative startup.
Activities to implement an intellectual property strategy, including legal work required to put IP protections in place.
Educational projects that build internal capabilities and awareness around intellectual property within a startup.
Who can I contact for more information about the SFU VentureLabs?
You can contact Simon Fraser University VentureLabs by email at accelerateip@venturelabs.ca.
Where is the SFU VentureLabs available?
The SFU VentureLabs program is available the province of British Columbia.
Who are the financial supporters of the SFU VentureLabs?
SFU VentureLabs is funded by Simon Fraser University VentureLabs
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