Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provides funded 4-month internship units (up to $15,000 each) for enrolled students and postdoctoral fellows who own and operate an incorporated startup housed at a Mitacs-approved incubator. Each unit covers at least $10,000 in entrepreneur stipend and up to $5,000 in research expenses, with Mitacs and the partner institution splitting the cost.
Eligibility Requirements
- Entrepreneur must be an enrolled undergraduate, graduate student, college student, or postdoctoral fellow at a Canadian university or college affiliated with Mitacs
- Recent graduates eligible within 2 years of graduation date (up to 3 units within that window)
- Entrepreneur must hold ownership of, and active management responsibility for, an incorporated startup — a majority stake is not required (sole proprietorships and LLPs are ineligible)
- Startup must be actively housed at a Mitacs-approved incubator facility for the full project duration
- Project must advance commercialization of the research or technology that is the core of the startup
- An academic supervisor at the affiliated institution is required
- 50% cost-share: Mitacs contributes $7,500; partner institution/incubator contributes $7,500 per unit
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- $15,000 per 4-6 month internship unit (standard), or $20,000 per unit for postdoctoral submissions; multiple units available
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Deadline
- Ongoing — rolling intake; apply at any time through Mitacs Advisor
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 7 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 7-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 6-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 4-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThe Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur program is distinct from the flagship Mitacs Accelerate program (ID 38), which funds industry-commissioned R&D by students.
Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Entrepreneur is not enrolled at a Mitacs-affiliated Canadian institution (or recent graduation window has expired)
Success Profile
Evaluation Criteria
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 5
Ineligible Expenses 5
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskHow Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program | $15,000 per 4-6 month internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing — rolling... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Mitacs Accelerate | $15,000 per internship unit | Easy | Advance Payment | Ongoing |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur Program