How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $100000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the thriveFORWARD?

thriveFORWARD is funded by Nventure, Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC), Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)

What are thriveFORWARD's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be a registered for-profit incorporated business, partnership, or cooperative located in southern Ontario. The startup must be formed on or after January 1, 2020, and be at the pre-revenue/prototype stage to early commercialization stage. The SME must have fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees and declare $100,000 to $100 million in annual revenue in Canada.

thriveFORWARD

Last Update: February 28, 2025

ON, Canada

Money for technology and industrial companies in Southern Ontario

thriveFORWARD at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $100,000
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : July 26, 2022
Closing date : June 9, 2023

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Manufacturing
Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

Grant Providers

Nventure
Northumberland Community Futures Development Corporation (NCFDC)
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev)

Status

Closed

Overview of the thriveFORWARD program

The thriveFORWARD initiative, supported by FedDev Ontario and the Government of Canada's Jobs and Growth Fund, offers non-repayable funding to start-ups and SMEs in southern Ontario, with maximum amounts up to $100,000 for SMEs and $25,000 for start-ups to support innovation commercialization and adoption in critical sectors. Eligible activities focus on clean inclusive growth, including the commercialization of novel technology solutions and digital project enhancements.

Financing terms and conditions

Approved startups receive non-repayable performance-based funding matching up to $25,000 in certified incremental private investment, provided that minimum project leverage is 1:1, with funds released based on satisfactory achievement of major milestones.
Approved SMEs are eligible for non-repayable performance-based funding covering 50% of eligible and approved costs, capped at $100,000, with a minimum project leverage ratio of 1:1.
Recipients must maintain General Liability and Property Damage insurance throughout the project, and provide certificates of insurance upon request.
No Recipient can have more than one approved thriveFORWARD contribution agreement simultaneously.
Ineligible costs include land, building, or vehicle purchase; refinancing; depreciation; goodwill; interest; administrative fees to the Recipient’s Board; and lobbying fees, among others.
All costs must be reasonable, directly related to eligible project activities, and not incurred after December 31, 2023.
Projects are assessed based on a competitive scoring system covering growth, job impacts, green initiatives, sector criticality, and inclusion, each contributing equally to a total score of 100 points.
Funding decisions are made by NCFDC and are not guaranteed; program availability is subject to funding continuity.

Eligible projects & activities

Commercialization of innovation by startups and SMEs.
Adoption of an innovation by startups and SMEs in critical sectors.
Investing in clean inclusive growth initiatives.
Transitioning businesses to a green economy.
Enhancing business resilience and competitiveness.
Creating jobs across southern Ontario.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 90,000

Developing AI-based crop monitoring systems

$ 40,000

Creating a digital literacy program for underserved communities

$ 70,000

Improving waste management processes with smart technology

$ 75,000

Introducing green energy solutions for residential buildings

$ 85,000

Establishing a digital health platform for remote patient monitoring

$ 55,000

Launching an eco-friendly packaging solution for small businesses

Eligibility criteria of the thriveFORWARD program

The applicant must be a registered for-profit incorporated business, partnership, or cooperative.
The business must be located in southern Ontario.
For startups, the business must be formed on or after January 1, 2020, and be at the pre-revenue/prototype stage to early commercialization stage.
For SMEs, the business must have fewer than 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
SMEs must have $100,000 to $100 million in annual revenue declared in Canada during its last complete tax reporting year (or during the last 12 months for monthly and quarterly filers).
Startups must provide proof of non-government-sourced private investment of at least $25,000 as of April 19, 2021.
Projects must involve the commercialization of innovation or the adoption of an innovation.
Projects must prioritize critical sectors, diverse organizations, or equity-deserving entrepreneurs investing in clean inclusive growth.
Startups and SMEs must be transitioning to a green economy, fostering an inclusive recovery, enhancing competitiveness, or creating jobs across southern Ontario.

Who is eligible?

Startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in southern Ontario.
Technology-driven, early-stage companies formed on or after January 1, 2020.
Businesses involved in clean technology, digital technology, and green projects.
Companies in critical sectors such as food production, medical supplies, or bio-manufacturing sectors.
Diverse organizations and equity-deserving entrepreneurs focused on clean inclusive growth.

Who is not eligible

There is no specific information provided regarding types of companies or industries that cannot apply for this grant. Restrictions are not clearly detailed, focusing instead on eligibility requirements.

Eligible expenses

Expertise directly related to the project activities.
Capital expenditures directly related to the project activities.
Non-capital costs directly related to the project activities.

Eligible geographic areas

Brant
Bruce
Chatham-Kent
Dufferin
Durham
Elgin
Essex
Frontenac
Grey
Haldimand-Norfolk
Haliburton
Halton
Hamilton
Hastings
Huron
Kawartha Lakes
Lambton
Lanark
Leeds and Grenville
Lennox and Addington
Middlesex
Niagara
Northumberland
Ottawa
Oxford
Peel
Perth
Peterborough
Prescott and Russell
Prince Edward
Renfrew
Simcoe
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
Toronto
Waterloo
Wellington
York

Eligibility criteria of the thriveFORWARD program

Future-proofing, Resilience and Business Growth: Assessment of viability and impact of proposed project outcomes in terms of business growth, resiliency/future-proofing, scale-up/market expansion, increased sales (domestic and/or foreign), supply chain adaptation, market diversification and other activities that contribute to sustainable economic growth. (20 Points)
Job Impacts: Consideration of the number of FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) jobs the project will create and/or maintain in Southern Ontario. (20 Points)
Going Green or Digital Technology Adoption: Investing in adoption of advanced technology, with prioritization of cleantech or digital adoption (such as cybersecurity readiness, productivity enhancement, operational resilience). (20 Points)
Critical Sectors: Projects within or impacting food production, medical supplies or bio-manufacturing sectors. (20 Points)
Priority Client Pathways for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Businesses owned or majority-led by underrepresented groups or businesses with a diverse workforce and progressive diversity and inclusion policies. (20 Points)

How to apply to the thriveFORWARD program

Create an AccountSign up on the NCFDC’s application portal.

Provide essential business details including articles, registrations, and business number.

Prepare ApplicationCompile necessary financial information such as historical financial statements for the last two fiscal years and the most recent interim financial statement.

Draft a comprehensive project summary explaining project objectives, rationale, and expected outcomes.
List key personnel involved in the project.
Gather any additional documentation to strengthen your application including project proposal, company backgrounder, pitch deck, business plan, and links to websites and social media.
Document any government funding your organization has received or anticipates receiving.
Startups must also include proof of private investment at least $25,000, including term sheets and bank statements showing deposit of proceeds.

Submit ApplicationLogin to the application portal with your account credentials.

Submit your completed application, ensuring all required and additional supporting documents are attached.
Only complete applications will be considered for evaluation.

Application Review and DecisionThe NCFDC will review your application, typically taking up to 30 days for decision-making post-submission.

Applicants will receive notification of the decision in writing.

Additional information

Applicants can only have one approved thriveFORWARD contribution agreement at a time.
General Liability and Property Damage insurance must be obtained and maintained by recipients for the duration of the project.
The application periods for both the Start-up Stream and SME Stream are currently closed; specific dates for reopening are not provided.
Projects selected are based on competitive selection following eligibility determination and a comprehensive review process.
Confidential information from the application process may be shared with the Government of Canada and projects are publicly listed on the NCFDC website.
ThriveFORWARD maintains emphasis on equitable geographic distribution of funding across Southern Ontario.
Information security is enhanced through NCFDC's subscription to Covalence Field Effect, a managed service for protection.
Success metrics from the first round of thriveFORWARD are available in an Impact Report.
Projects funded must be incremental and novel as of April 19, 2021.
Ineligible costs include regular maintenance, ongoing operational expenses, well as interest on invested capital and wages for board members.