Resources
Programs read October 10, 2026
Funding and help for Edmonton founders
Grants, tax credits, loans, accelerators, spaces and free help for Edmonton startups, each read from the program's own page, with the deadline when it states one.
Coming up
- Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE)
November 27, 2026 · in 48 days
Grants
Grants
Money you don't pay back, usually matched to your own spending.
National Research Council of Canada
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP)
Financial assistance, advisory services and connections to R&D expertise for innovative small and medium-sized businesses in Canada.
- Who
- An innovative small or medium-sized business in Canada.
Alberta Innovates
Accelerating Innovations into CarE (AICE)
Staged non-dilutive funding and support for Alberta health technology SMEs that need scientific and clinical evidence to commercialize.
- Amount
- AICE-Validate up to $300,000; AICE-Market Access up to $300,000-600,000; up to 75% of eligible costs
- Who
- Alberta-based, for-profit SMEs with significant Alberta presence and ownership developing innovative health technologies.
- Deadline
- November 27, 2026 (Intake form deadline, 4:00 pm MDT, as stated on the program page)
Mitacs
Mitacs Accelerate
Research internships pairing organizations with students, postdocs and recent graduates supervised by academic researchers, with Mitacs covering part of the cost.
- Amount
- $15,000 CAD per four- or six-month internship; partner contributes $7,500 CAD
- Cost
- paid
- Who
- For-profit and not-for-profit corporations, hospitals, municipalities or Indigenous governments in Canada.
Tax credits
Tax credits
Programs that give back part of what you spend on research and development.
Government of Alberta
Alberta Innovation Employment Grant
Grant paid through the corporate tax system to SMEs doing R&D in Alberta, claimed with the Alberta corporate tax return; no separate application.
- Amount
- 8% of eligible R&D up to base spending; 20% above base; benefits on up to $4 million annual R&D spending
- Who
- Corporations carrying out R&D in Alberta; not eligible at $50 million or more in taxable capital.
Canada Revenue Agency
Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive
Federal tax incentive for R&D in Canada, giving either a deduction against income or an investment tax credit.
- Who
- Corporations, individuals, trusts and partnerships doing eligible work that is linked to claimable expenditures.
Loans
Loans
Financing for starting and growing a business.
Business Development Bank of Canada
BDC Start-up Financing
BDC financing for start-up fees, franchise purchases and marketing, with advisory support.
- Amount
- Up to $150,000
- Who
- Business registered in Canada with recorded sales; generally for businesses with at least 12 months of revenue.
Futurpreneur
Futurpreneur Startup Programs
Startup financing and mentorship for young entrepreneurs, including Black and Indigenous entrepreneur streams.
- Amount
- Up to $75,000
- Who
- Young entrepreneurs; Black and Indigenous streams list ages 18-39; businesses up to 24 months old.
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
Canada Small Business Financing Program
Federal program that shares risk with lenders so small businesses can get loans for equipment, working capital, IP and similar uses.
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
AWE Business Loans
Flexible financing for early-stage and growing businesses, with support through application and repayment; eligibility checked via a Loan Readiness Quiz.
Accelerators and investors
Accelerators and investors
Programs that coach, connect and sometimes fund.
500 Global with Edmonton Unlimited
Alberta Accelerator by 500
Accelerator for early-stage startups looking to scale in Alberta, with sector-tailored curriculum and access to 500's global network.
- Who
- Early-stage startups looking to scale in Alberta with a tech-enabled solution.
Edmonton Unlimited
Plug and Play Alberta
Accelerator with Sustainability, Health and Sector Agnostic tracks connecting startups to corporate partners and investors.
- Who
- Companies looking to scale and grow in Alberta.
AlchemistX, Edmonton Police Foundation, Alberta Innovates, Edmonton Unlimited
CSW Accelerator powered by AlchemistX
Edmonton-based accelerator for ventures using AI/ML for positive social impact.
- Who
- Ventures looking to scale and grow in Alberta and innovating for social and economic benefit.
Startup TNT
Startup TNT Angel Syndicates and Investment Summits
Team-based angel investing in Western Canadian startups and Investment Summits (Calgary and Edmonton) where companies pitch for investor pre-commitments.
- Amount
- Investors pre-commit $5,000 each to summit winners
- Who
- Companies apply to participate in summits; no other criteria stated.
Spaces
Spaces
Places to work among other founders.
Edmonton Unlimited
Edmonton Unlimited Our Space
18,000+ sq ft street-level hub at 10107 Jasper Avenue with hot desks, meeting rooms and phone rooms for the tech and innovation community.
- Who
- Hot desks and open spaces available to the tech and innovation community, first-come first-served.
Free help
Free help
Legal, advisory and referral services for founders.
Business Link
Business Link Alberta
Free one-to-one business guidance plus free programs, market research and workshops for Alberta entrepreneurs.
- Cost
- free
- Who
- Alberta entrepreneurs.
University of Alberta Faculty of Law
Entrepreneurial Law Clinic
Free pro bono legal guidance from law students for early-stage entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits.
- Cost
- free
- Who
- Early-stage entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits in the greater Edmonton area who cannot otherwise afford such legal services.
Edmonton Unlimited (Innovation on Campus)
PSI Executive In Residence
Free one-on-one mentorship and advising for people starting technology-based companies at Edmonton post-secondary schools.
- Cost
- free
- Who
- Students, staff and alumni of participating Edmonton post-secondary schools interested in a technology-based company.
Government of Alberta
Alberta Biz Connect
Provincial hub with referrals and resources for starting, funding and growing a business, including links to loans, grants and mentoring.
On the map
More, in the directory
Every accelerator, investor, hub and program on the map, with its own profile.
- Accelerators & incubators
- Investors
- Coworking & hubs
- Universities & research
- Government & non-profit programs
- Community groups
- Who funds Edmonton tech
Programs change their intakes and terms, and many don't publish dates, so a missing deadline means the program's page doesn't state one: check it before you plan around it. Know a program that belongs here? Send it through the corrections form with a link to its page. This is a community list, not advice.