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Venture for Canada — Internship Program - Canada

Venture for Canada — Internship Program

Last Update: July 22, 2025
Canada
Interns for startups and SMEs

Venture for Canada — Internship Program at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • Max. $7,000
  • Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open Date : June 10, 2024
  • Closing date : July 6, 2024
Financing Type
Wage Subsidies And Interns
Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Grant Providers
  • Venture for Canada
Status
Open

Overview of the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program

Access wage subsidies to hire interns from Canadian universities and colleges.

Financing terms and conditions

  • Wage subsidy covering 50-70% of the intern's hourly wage, up to a maximum of $7,000 per student per term.
  • Subsidies are paid in two installments: 50% within the first 45 days of the internship, and the remaining 50% within 45 days after internship completion.

Eligible projects & activities

  • Providing internship placements to university or college students in a small business, startup, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity.
  • Offering hands-on work experience in entrepreneurial or innovation-related roles, such as sales, marketing, software, hardware development, finance, or operations.
  • Delivering work-integrated learning opportunities that foster skill-building and work-readiness for students.
  • Facilitating remote or in-person internships with structured supervision and coaching.
Examples of admissible projects:

$ 4,550

Employ an HR intern to help with recruitment and staff training programs

$ 5,600

Hire a financial analysis intern to support our cooperative's budgeting and financial reporting

$ 5,250

Hire an engineering intern to assist with renewable energy projects

$ 7,000

Engage two marketing interns to enhance digital content and social media presence

$ 7,000

Hire three IT interns to develop a new mobile application for our company

$ 7,000

Engage a graphic design intern to develop new branding materials

Eligibility criteria of the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program

  • The applicant must be a small or medium-sized business, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity.
  • The company must be registered in one of the following provinces or territories: BC, AB, SK, MB, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL, YT, NT, or NU.
  • The business must employ fewer than 500 people.
  • The internship offered must provide a safe and supportive environment that fosters innovation or entrepreneurial skill-building opportunities.

Who is eligible?

  • Startups
  • Small and medium-sized businesses
  • Social enterprises
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Charities

Who is not eligible

  • Employers based exclusively in Ontario.
  • Government departments and crown corporations.
  • Credit unions.
  • Post-secondary institutions (universities, colleges, and polytechnics).

Eligible expenses

  • Wages paid to student interns (subsidized hourly wages, minimum $18.00/hour via payroll).

Eligible geographic areas

  • British Columbia (BC)
  • Alberta (AB)
  • Saskatchewan (SK)
  • Manitoba (MB)
  • Quebec (QC)
  • New Brunswick (NB)
  • Nova Scotia (NS)
  • Prince Edward Island (PE)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)
  • Yukon (YT)
  • Northwest Territories (NT)
  • Nunavut (NU)

How to apply to the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program

1
Check if You Qualify & Apply
  • Complete the preliminary information form to verify eligibility for the program.
  • Receive a link to the full application upon qualification.
2
Attend an Employer Onboarding Session
  • Participate in a webinar where VFC will provide guidance and recommendations for the hiring process.
  • Ensure attendance is mandatory to align expectations.
3
Multiple Ways to Find a Student
  • Post job opportunities on the VFC Bulletin Board.
  • Alternatively, recruit students through your personal networks, ensuring they meet program criteria.
4
Hire & Request Funding
  • Submit a Hiring Request form upon finding a suitable student candidate.
  • Await confirmation of funding eligibility, which will be provided within 15 business days.
5
Get Paid
Receive the subsidy in two installments: the first within 45 days from the start and the second within 45 days upon completion.
6
Meanwhile, Interns get Training
Ensure the interns receive continuous VFC training during their placement.
7
Hire Again
If previously eligible, bypass initial steps for future hires, subject to conditions.

Additional information

  • Interns can work in a variety of roles, including sales, marketing, software, hardware development, finance, and operations.
  • Employers hiring for a second time may be eligible to hire more interns depending on their organization size.
  • Interns are required to accumulate training points to be eligible for a subsequent internship placement.
  • The program emphasizes diversity, supporting employers who hire students from underrepresented groups with enhanced wage subsidies.

Documents and links

Venture for Canada — Internship Program

Apply to this program

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