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Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program

Money for innovation and commercialization enhancement

Offered by
Innovation Initiatives Ontario North (IION)
Official source: iion.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
$ 10,000
Up to 50% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
Location
Ontario, Canada
Who can apply
Innovative, growth-oriented for-profit companies.
See full eligibility

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.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$10,000
Maximum share of project costs
50%
Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Develop an online presence
  • Increase operational productivity
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Optimize production processes
  • Obtain certifications or accreditations
  • Access new markets
  • Launch or market a product/service

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Ontario
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Rural or Northern Residents
Legal structures
For-profit business

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

Step Forward Funding closed to applications

The Step Forward Funding page now says the program is closed and no longer accepting applications, and the application link was removed.

See more

The Step Forward Funding page now states that the program is closed and no longer accepting applications. The previous monthly review statement and application button/link were removed. The contact line was also updated so Emily Ryan’s email is now shown directly as emily@iion.ca.

Official source: iion.ca
October 12, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Innovative, growth-oriented for-profit companies.
  • Companies registered and operating in Nipissing, Timiskaming, Parry Sound, or Muskoka.
  • Companies operating the business full-time.
  • Companies seeking assistance for developing, commercializing, or scaling their 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

emily@iion.ca

Official sources

Step Forward Funding - IION Innovation Initiatives Ontario North

Application form

Step Forward Entrepreneurs Program (SFEP) Application
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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?

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.

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