Closed
Source verified July 8, 2026
The aquahacking challenge
Free water innovation program with seed funding
Funding available
$ 1,000 - $ 25,000
Deadline
April 6, 2026
Location
Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Canada
Overview
AquaHacking Binational is a free 7-month innovation program for students, researchers, and young professionals in Canada and the U.S., offering up to $70,000 in seed funding to develop solutions for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence freshwater issues. Eligible projects include nature-based, biotech, and technology solutions such as stormwater tools, water-efficient systems, and real-time monitoring platforms.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop team skills
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 25,000 $
- Minimum amount : 1,000 $
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Developing solutions for Water Access & Community Resilience.
- Developing solutions for Efficient Industry & Energy.
- Developing solutions for Great Lakes Circular Blue Economy.
- Developing solutions for Water Quality & Ecosystem Health.
- Creating nature-based, biotech, and technological solutions, including hardware and software using digital tools, information technologies, programming, artificial intelligence, engineering, or robotics.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Undergraduate and graduate students.
- Researchers and lab teams.
- Young professionals and early-stage entrepreneurs.
- Builders, designers, engineers, analysts, and community-minded problem-solvers.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Regulatory projects.
- Major infrastructure projects.
Eligible geographic areas
- Great Lakes & St. Lawrence region.
Selection criteria
- Relevance to one of the program water issues.
- Strength of the solution presented at the semi-final.
- Potential of the idea to become a viable startup.
How to apply
- Register for the Challenge through the online registration page.
Processing and Agreement
- Semi-finalist teams that are not selected to advance to Phase 2 receive a certificate of participation.
- Those semi-finalist teams are encouraged to continue developing their solution and startup with support from the AquaAction team.
- Finalist teams that complete the program and pitch at the Finale in 2026 receive certification.
- Top 3 finalist teams receive start-up seed funding.
- Finalist teams join one of Canada’s or the USA's top startup incubators, access personalized legal support, join AquaNation, and become eligible for AquaAction's AquaEntrepreneur program to run pilot projects.
Additional information
- Participation is free.
- No prior entrepreneurship or technical experience is required.
- Participants can join solo or in a team.
- Finalists may gain access to incubators, mentoring, and pilot project opportunities.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the The aquahacking challenge Program
What is the The aquahacking challenge?
AquaHacking Binational is a free 7-month innovation program for students, researchers, and young professionals in Canada and the U.S., offering up to $70,000 in seed funding to develop solutions for Great Lakes and St. Lawrence freshwater issues. Eligible projects include nature-based, biotech, and technology solutions such as stormwater tools, water-efficient systems, and real-time monitoring platforms.
How much funding can be received?
The aquahacking challenge Funds up to $25,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the The aquahacking challenge program?
To be eligible for the The aquahacking challenge program, you must:
Applicants must want to make a positive impact on water.
Projects or solutions must address one of the water issues in the Challenge.
Applicants can participate solo or as a team.
What expenses are eligible under The aquahacking challenge?
Developing solutions for Water Access & Community Resilience.
Developing solutions for Efficient Industry & Energy.
Developing solutions for Great Lakes Circular Blue Economy.
Developing solutions for Water Quality & Ecosystem Health.
Creating nature-based, biotech, and technological solutions, including hardware and software using digital tools, information technologies, programming, artificial intelligence, engineering, or robotics.
Who can I contact for more information about the The aquahacking challenge?
You can contact Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (GLSLCI) by email at info@aquaaction.org or by phone at none.
Where is the The aquahacking challenge available?
The The aquahacking challenge program is available the province of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan.
Is the The aquahacking challenge a grant, loan, or tax credit?
The aquahacking challenge is a Grant and Funding