Mastercard Small Business Fund (Canada)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Annual grant program by Mastercard Canada and Pier Five awarding $10,000 each to 10 women small business owners in Canada, totaling $100,000. Now in its 4th year (launched 2022). Winners receive a Priceless experience in Toronto with expert mentorship, networking with fellow recipients, and connections to Mastercard partners. Business must be 51%+ women-owned (cis or transgender), have 1-99 employees, generate under $1M in gross revenue, and have been operating for at least 1 year. Applications through Pier Five platform, typically open September-November.
Eligibility Requirements
- Business must be 51%+ owned and controlled by one or more cis or transgender women
- Must have a Canadian or provincial business registration number
- Minimum 1 employee, maximum 99 employees
- Under $1,000,000 CAD in yearly gross revenue
- Business must have been in operation in Canada for at least 1 calendar year
- Owner must be 19 years of age or older
- Owner must be Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or hold valid immigration authorization
- Open to all industries
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $10,000 per winner (10 winners = $100,000 total annually) + Priceless mentorship experience in Toronto; open to women-owned businesses only
- Type
- Award
- Level
- Private
- Deadline
- Annual — 2026 applications ran March 3–24 (now closed); winners announced spring; next cycle expected early 2027
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipMastercard's brand is built on digital payments and financial inclusion, so applications emphasizing digital transformation, e-commerce adoption, or technology-driven growth resonate strongly with the selection committee.
Rejection Pitfalls 10
- Business not 51%+ owned and controlled by cis or transgender women
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Everything you need to win Mastercard Small Business Fund (Canada)
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 10 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 9-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Your Application Game Plan — the print-ready PDF the preview below describes
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 6-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
How Mastercard Small Business Fund (Canada) Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercard Small Business Fund (Canada) | $10,000 per winner | Easy | Lump Sum | Annual — 2026... |
| Futurpreneur Canada Startup Program | Up to $75,000 | Moderate | Loan | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Mastercard Small Business Fund (Canada)