Alberta Innovates Venture Development Grant
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Alberta Innovates' new single grant for Alberta-based, high-growth technology ventures, which replaces six earlier programs including the Voucher, Micro-Voucher, Digital Traction and R&D Associates programs. It pays up to 75% of eligible costs, from $10,000 to $150,000, for focused work that closes a readiness gap on the way to customers, commercialization or investment: customer discovery and market validation, prototype development and field trials, pricing and commercialization planning, IP and regulatory work, and investment-readiness materials. Applicants choose one of three funding levels (Explore, Bridge or Grow), put in at least 25% of eligible costs in cash, and must be for-profit corporations or partnerships registered in Alberta with fewer than 250 employees and under $50 million in revenue. Intake is continuous and applications are reviewed in batches.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit business registered in Alberta: a corporation, general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership, in good standing with its corporate annual filings up to date
- Alberta-based with an Alberta footprint: significant physical and corporate operations in Alberta, appropriate Alberta ownership, and operational benefits expected to flow mainly to Alberta
- Fewer than 250 employees and less than $50 million in annual revenue
- Working to commercialize a differentiated technology-based innovation with credible potential to grow
- Can contribute at least 25% of total eligible project costs in cash and show the financial capacity to complete the work
- Meets the minimum Innovation Readiness Levels with evidence: Customer 3, Technology 3, Business 3, Intellectual Property 1, Team 2, Funding 2
- No active project under the Voucher, Micro-Voucher, Digital Traction, R&D Associate, Commercialization Industry Associate, International Technology Partnership or Product Demonstration programs, and no active Venture Development Grant
- In good standing with Alberta Innovates and its group of companies, at arm's length with no conflict of interest, and able to clear due diligence and sanctions screening
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $10,000 to $150,000 (up to 75%)Up to $150,000, at up to 75% of eligible costs, in three funding levels: Explore $10,000 to $50,000 over 1 to 12 months; Bridge $50,001 to $100,000 over 1 to 18 months; Grow $100,001 to $150,000 over 1 to 18 months. The applicant must provide at least 25% of total eligible costs in cash, and total government assistance may not exceed 75% of eligible costs. Alberta Innovates may approve a different level than the one requested.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Continuous intake, open now; applications are reviewed in batches
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Moderate — standard application process
Moderate competition — prepare a strong application
Moderate — standard requirements
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipBuild the application around one readiness gap and the decision it unlocks.
Rejection Pitfalls 8
- Request is for general working capital, routine operations, broad sales or general promotion
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to win Alberta Innovates Venture Development Grant
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 8
Ineligible Expenses 8
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
- 5 more application steps
- 5 more required documents
- 8 eligible expenses
- 8 ineligible expenses
- Intake periods
- Deadline notes
- Ineligible organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Alberta Innovates Venture Development Grant Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Alberta Innovates Venture Development Grant