Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) - Entrepreneur Support
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Provides financial assistance to NWT businesses and entrepreneurs to pursue new opportunities and improve operations, covering costs like market research, feasibility studies, and product development.
Eligibility Requirements
- Entrepreneur or for-profit business registered and actively operating in the Northwest Territories
- Must have a viable business opportunity or improvement project
- Eligible activities include market research, feasibility studies, and product development
- Business must be NWT-based (not just federally registered)
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $25,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Territorial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 80% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing (April 1 – March 31 fiscal year; apply early — regional budgets may deplete by year-end)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipContact your regional Economic Development Officer (EDO) before completing the application — this is strongly recommended by ITI and effectively expected. EDOs can help shape the project scope to match eligible cost categories and flag whether the regional budget is still available for the year. Equity requirements (20-30% matching) can be partially satisfied with sweat equity (documented labour), which helps applicants with limited cash. If applying for emergency or business relief operational support, equity requirements may be waived entirely.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Insufficient or no equity contribution (matching requirement not met)
- Incomplete application or missing required documents
- Project does not fall within eligible cost categories
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Success Profile
A registered NWT for-profit business or entrepreneur with a clearly defined project (startup, expansion, or market development), demonstrated financial need, and 20-30% matching funds available (cash or documented sweat equity). Projects showing direct community economic benefit and alignment with the GNWT's economic diversification priorities — especially outside of Yellowknife — tend to fare well. Applicants with prior relationship with their regional EDO have an advantage.
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Evaluation Criteria
Applications reviewed by Regional Superintendent after EDO pre-screening. Assessed on: financial need, viability of the project, relevance to eligible cost categories, quality of quotes and budget documentation, matching contribution adequacy, and applicant experience. Community economic benefit and alignment with GNWT economic diversification priorities are positive factors.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 7
Eligible Expenses 10
- Market research and feasibility studies
- Business plan development and professional consulting
- Product development and testing (prototyping, formulation, piloting)
- Marketing materials and initial marketing program development
- E-commerce setup and digital marketing infrastructure
- Trade certification and professional training directly related to business
- Initial raw materials for product development phases
- Travel within NWT for market development activities
- Website development for e-commerce or marketing
- Photography and videography for marketing purposes
Ineligible Expenses 8
- Ongoing operational costs (wages, rent, utilities as general overhead)
- Equipment maintenance and repairs (covered under Capital Asset Acquisition schedule)
- Real estate, land, and building purchases (separate schedule)
- Taxes
- Debt repayment
- Costs incurred before contribution agreement is signed
- Activities primarily benefiting people outside NWT
- Projects that are not for-profit in nature (NPOs ineligible for Entrepreneur Support)
Intake Periods
Rolling — April 1 to March 31 fiscal year. No fixed windows. Apply early (April-June) for best budget availability. Regional budgets may deplete in Q3/Q4.
Deadline Notes
Applications accepted on a rolling basis throughout the fiscal year (April 1 to March 31). No formal intake windows, but regional budgets may be exhausted late in the fiscal year. Apply early in Q1 (April-June) for best availability.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Non-profit organizations (NPOs ineligible for Entrepreneur Support schedule)
- Businesses not registered in NWT or without NWT-resident owners
- Businesses outside NWT
- Sole proprietors without NWT residency
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How SEED Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support for Entrepreneurs and Economi... | Up to $25,000 | Easy | Milestone-Based | Ongoing (April 1 – March... |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
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| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
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