Venture for Canada — Internship Program

Q: How much funding can be received?

Venture for Canada — Internship Program Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $7000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2024-07-06T03:59:59Z.

Q: Is the Venture for Canada — Internship Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Venture for Canada — Internship Program is a Wage Subsidies And Interns

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Venture for Canada — Internship Program?

Venture for Canada — Internship Program is funded by Venture for Canada

Q: Who is eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program?

To be eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program, you must: • Must be a small or medium-sized business, start-up, or social enterprise • Must employ fewer than 500 people • Must be registered in BC, AB, SK, MB, QC, NB, NS, PE, NL, YT, NT, or NU (not Ontario-exclusive)

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Venture for Canada — Internship Program?

You can contact Venture for Canada.

Q: Where is the Venture for Canada — Internship Program available?

The Venture for Canada — Internship Program program is available across Canada.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program.

Q: Are women eligible for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program?

Yes, women are eligible to apply for the Venture for Canada — Internship Program program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Canada

Interns for startups and SMEs

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

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

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.

Activities funded

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Get Paid

Receive the subsidy in two installments: the first within 45 days from the start and the second within 45 days upon completion.

Meanwhile, Interns get Training

Ensure the interns receive continuous VFC training during their placement.

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

Frequently Asked Questions about the Venture for Canada — Internship Program Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Venture for Canada — Internship Program. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.