Starter Company Plus Grant

Applications are open for the Early-Stage Startup stream. Apply below by May 6 at 4:59 p.m.

The Starter Company Plus Grant supports eligible entrepreneurs looking to build their small businesses. Select entrepreneurs will receive training, mentoring and advice and will be eligible to apply for a micro-grant of $5,000 to assist with growth and expansion of their business.

The Starter Company Plus Grant program includes

Up to 15 hours of business training,
a micro-grant of $5,000
and up to six months of advisory and mentoring services.

Early-Stage Startups and Female Founders grant streams are available at different times of the year.

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Early-Stage Startup Stream

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicant Requirements

This stream of the Starter Company Plus Grant is available to entrepreneurs that meet the following criteria:

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident,
Be 18 years of age or older,
Not be attending school or planning to return to school while enrolled in the program,
Be devoting a minimum of 35 hours per week to their small business and not employed anywhere else,
Not be enrolled in any other government-funded employment program,
Be a resident of Toronto with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address.

Business Requirements

Eligible entrepreneurs must also have small businesses that meet the following criteria:

Must be a registered business at the time of application (Sole Proprietor, Partnership or Corporation) and this business registration documentation (Master Business Licence or Articles of Incorporation) must show a Toronto address,
Must have a commercial business bank account at the time of application which corresponds with Business Registration documentation,
Must have been in operation for up to 3 years and be able to demonstrate financial activity statements for this period,
Must have majority ownership and the ability to demonstrate proof of ownership and/or shareholder agreement,
Must be located in Toronto with ability to demonstrate proof of physical address,
Businesses that require certification and/or license must be current at the time of application, and
Must be able to commit to in-person and/or virtual entrepreneurship training,
Must have already invested 25 per cent of the grant amount ($1,250) into the business at the time of application (cash, marketing efforts, equipment, commercial rent, or other legitimate start up expenses).

Ineligible Businesses

The following businesses are ineligible for a Starter Company Plus Grant:

Nightclubs, lounges, cabarets, discotheques, music festivals and events or other similar activities,
Online businesses that are resellers,
Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), retirement homes, and long-term care homes,
Technology applications which are not market-ready,
Student housing and other residential rental accommodation,
Childcare centres, including daycares,
Home care for elderly and/or vulnerable populations,
Quasi-financial institutions or money service and money transfer businesses (including insurance companies and financial services companies),
Cryptocurrency (e.g. Bitcoin) businesses and traders,
Businesses brokering funds or taking on a fiduciary duty handling funds for clients (including investment, insurance, and real estate brokers who handle funds in trust for clients),
Brokers (insurance, real estate, investment, etc.) who are working for an existing firm are not seen to be creating a new business,
Businesses and platforms that raise funds for charities,
Charities and non-profits and social enterprises,
Franchises,
Collection agencies,
Businesses that raise investment capital for other businesses,
Businesses that include or promote financing from equity crowd funding (share capital),
Medical marijuana and cannabis retailers,
Recording artists and other similar ‘self-promoting’ artists and activities.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants may apply by completing the online application below. The deadline to apply is May 6 at 4:59 p.m.

Apply Now

For questions about the Early-Stage Startup stream of the Starter Company Plus program, please contact staff at 416-392-6646 or smallbusiness@toronto.ca.

Evaluation Process

Applications for the Starter Company Plus grant will be evaluated by a review committee of experienced City staff based on the following selection criteria:

The application should meet business and applicant requirements.
Business viability will be assessed based on:
- Proof of concept: showing evidence that your business product or service has been tested or demonstrated in a real-world scenario, indicating its feasibility and potential for market success.
- Customer validation: demonstrating demand for your product or service in the market.
- Clear revenue model: identifying one or more revenue/sales channels.
Evaluation of the proposed business’s potential for growth and its ability to create jobs.
Assessment of the start-up budget and financing requirements of the business.
Contribution of 25 per cent of the grant amount as monetary investment towards the business.

Female Founders Stream