Closed
Source verified October 2, 2026
Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program
Money for innovation and commercialization enhancement
Get notified when Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program reopens
Latest source updateLast Update: September 28, 2026Latest change: Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program now sets a March 1, 2027 completion-and-claim deadline, and the application form adds stricter quote-upload instructions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 28, 2026
Latest change: Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program now sets a March 1, 2027 completion-and-claim deadline, and the application form adds stricter quote-upload instructions.
SFEP deadline and application instructions updated
The Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program now requires approved projects to be completed and claims submitted by March 1, 2027, replacing the prior six-month-from-approval completion period. The application form also now says the application will not be sent to committee unless all quotes are attached, and it explicitly rejects PNG and JPG uploads for project quotes.
Funding available
$ 10,000
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Ontario, Canada
Overview
Receive funding to cover up to 50% of eligible project costs to demonstrate the potential of your business to create jobs, grow the economy, reach new markets, expand sales, innovate and create new products and services.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop a new product or service
- Develop an online presence
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Ontario
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 1
Activities funded
- Market Growth & Expansion projects, including trade show attendance or exhibiting, branding, market research, sales plans, and label design.
- Product Development projects, including prototyping, software development that does not involve Artificial Intelligence, trial testing, and product certifications.
- Productivity Enhancement projects, including business strategy, intellectual property protection, export development, and lean manufacturing improvements.
Documents Needed
- Two contractor quotes with all applications.
- Rationale if two quotes is not possible.
- Selected contractor(s) for all items outlined.
- All project quotes uploaded as .docx or PDFs.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Innovative, growth-oriented for-profit companies.
- Companies registered and operating in Nipissing, Timiskaming, Parry Sound, or Muskoka.
- Companies seeking to develop, commercialize, or scale an innovative product or process.
Who is not eligible
- Restaurants, wholesalers, distributors, and re-sellers.
- Not-for-profits and municipalities.
- Hobby and part-time businesses.
- Businesses at the idea stage.
Eligible expenses
- Third-party contractor and vendor costs.
- Costs for market growth, product development, and productivity improvement projects.
- Prototype, software, certification, branding, and research-related costs.
- Trade show and associated travel costs.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- On-going operational costs, including staff wages and other internal project costs.
- Pre-diems and food & beverage costs when traveling.
- Giveaways, such as business cards, pens, notebooks, branded merchandise, or company-branded clothing.
- Tradeshow and travel costs when participating in Northern Ontario Pavilions funded by FedNor, including the Royal Winter Fair, PDAC, and CIM.
- Any projects involving Artificial Intelligence; these costs fall under the Ignite AI program.
Eligible geographic areas
- Nipissing.
- Timiskaming.
- Parry Sound.
- Muskoka.
Selection criteria
- Innovation and novelty of the business.
- Potential for job creation and revenue growth.
- Fit with market expansion, product development, or productivity improvement goals.
- Measurable business results.
How to apply
- Contact Emily Ryan to determine if your business is eligible and discuss the proposed project(s).
- If deemed eligible, complete the application, including all required quotes, and submit the draft version to Emily via Jotform.
- Emily will review one draft submission and provide comments by email.
- Applications are accepted throughout the month, with the last business day serving as the monthly intake deadline.
- Applications must be submitted before any project expenses are incurred.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are reviewed by an external selection committee.
- Once the review is complete, you will receive an email from IION to inform you of the committee's decision.
- Approved companies must register as an IION client.
- IION will process one reimbursement at the end of the project after the company has paid the contractor invoices and submitted a claim with final invoices and proof of payment.
- Companies will be reimbursed via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), and successful applicants must complete a mandatory SFEP survey and a mandatory annual survey.
Additional information
- If you received SFEP funding in one of the past program iterations, contact Emily to discuss eligibility.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program Program
What is the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program?
Receive funding to cover up to 50% of eligible project costs to demonstrate the potential of your business to create jobs, grow the economy, reach new markets, expand sales, innovate and create new products and services.
How much funding can be received?
Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program program?
To be eligible for the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program program, you must:
Innovative, growth-oriented for-profit companies.
Companies registered and operating in IION's service districts.
Companies with a business model and strategy that validates forecasted sales and employment growth.
What expenses are eligible under Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program?
Market Growth & Expansion projects, including trade show attendance or exhibiting, branding, market research, sales plans, and label design.
Product Development projects, including prototyping, software development that does not involve Artificial Intelligence, trial testing, and product certifications.
Productivity Enhancement projects, including business strategy, intellectual property protection, export development, and lean manufacturing improvements.
Who can I contact for more information about the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program?
You can contact Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION) by email at emily@iion.ca.
Where is the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program available?
The Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program program is available the province of Ontario.
Is the Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program is a Grant and Funding