FedEx #BackingSmall Business Contest (Canada)
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Annual contest awarding a grand prize of $25,000, ten prizes of $10,000, and five prizes of $5,000 to Canadian small businesses, totaling $150,000. One of the most accessible business contests — entry requires only a FedEx shipment during the contest period and an online application.
Eligibility Requirements
- For-profit Canadian business
- 6+ months in operation
- Maximum 99 employees
- Must be a FedEx customer (at least one shipment during contest period)
- Legally registered in Canada
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Grand prize $25,000 + 10 × $10,000 + 5 × $5,000 = $150,000 total
- Type
- Award
- Level
- Private
- Co-Funding
- Up to 100% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Annual
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time. Unlock with Premium →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipEntry just requires a FedEx shipment during the contest period — making this one of the most accessible business contests in Canada. If you already ship with FedEx, you are automatically eligible. The public voting phase is critical, so mobilize your customer base, social media followers, and community early. Businesses with compelling founder stories and clear community impact consistently win over purely profit-driven narratives.
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Success Profile
Product-based businesses that ship regularly — e-commerce brands, food producers, manufacturers, artisan goods companies. Winners typically have strong online presences, loyal customer communities, and compelling founder stories. Businesses that can mobilize votes through social media and email lists perform best.
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Evaluation Criteria
Winners selected entirely by random draw — not by judges or merit criteria. Entry requires a qualifying FedEx shipment (or mail-in entry with 500-word essay). No voting, no judging panel, no business narrative required for the standard entry path.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 5
Intake Periods
Annual. 2025 contest: March 1 – April 30, 2025. 2026 dates not yet announced — monitor fedex.com/en-ca/small-business/backing-small.html from February 2026.
Deadline Notes
Annual contest — typically runs in spring/summer. Entry requires a FedEx shipment during the contest period. Check FedEx Canada website for current year dates and rules.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Businesses less than 6 months old
- Businesses with 100+ employees
- Non-profit organizations
- Businesses whose primary use of profits is donation-based
- Businesses without a valid FedEx shipping account
- Businesses not domiciled in Canada
- Subsidiaries where parent company is not Canadian-owned
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
None RiskNone. Prize is non-repayable. If eligibility is misrepresented, prize may be voided.
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How FedEx #BackingSmall Busines... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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