Entrepreneurs thrive when they can access the right resources, mentorship and training opportunities needed to develop and market their products and services. Through NEXT Canada’s programming, entrepreneurs are acquiring skills and capital to build successful companies, which is crucial to Canada’s economic growth.

“The Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, is proud to support NEXT Canada and the growth of Canada’s high-potential entrepreneurs. With this investment, we are leveraging the creative strength of Toronto, which is recognized as one of the 10 most innovative cities in the world, and we are nurturing the development of Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs and innovators.”

– Adam Vaughan, Member of Parliament for Spadina−Fort York

“Our Government is committed to supporting Canada’s innovators and helping them succeed on a global scale. This includes investing in programs that aim to turn innovative ideas into products, technologies and services that will ultimately strengthen our economy. This investment in NEXT Canada is one way we are advancing our vision of Canada as a global centre for innovation—by equipping Canada’s workers with the tools they need to succeed in the economy of the future.”

– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“This funding will provide an essential boost to some of Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs. Thanks to the renewed support of the federal government and FedDev Ontario, these young innovators will have better access to the capital and the tools they need to build globally relevant businesses right here in Canada.”

– Sheldon Levy, CEO of NEXT Canada

• NEXT Canada, formerly The Next 36, is a not-for-profit business accelerator that supports the development of Canada’s most promising entrepreneurs and innovators with a combination of education, mentorship and access to capital.

• FedDev Ontario’s non-repayable contribution of up to $3,571,483, under the Investing in Business Innovation Initiative, will support total project costs of up to $6.6 million. This project will leverage over $3 million in private funding.

• Through FedDev Ontario’s investment, each NEXT Canada program participant will receive up to $30,000 in matching seed financing as well as access to training, mentoring and guidance from business experts.

• NEXT Canada previously received $787,500 in FedDev Ontario funding in 2012 to support 71 entrepreneurs and create 36 new ventures. The project also leveraged over $6 million in private sector funding.

Associated Links

• Investing in Business Innovation initiative
• NEXT Canada

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