Grant
Private
Active
Venture for Canada Internship Program
Venture for Canada
Maximum Funding
50% of eligible costs
Employer hiring requests for 2026/2027 internships are accepted on a rolling ...
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Venture for Canada Internship Program provides up to 50% wage subsidy, capped at $5,000 per student per term. Provides a 50% wage subsidy to Canadian SMEs, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, and charities hiring post-secondary interns in innovation and entrepreneurship roles. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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Program Description
Provides a 50% wage subsidy to Canadian SMEs, start-ups, social enterprises, nonprofits, and charities hiring post-secondary interns in innovation and entrepreneurship roles.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a Canadian SME, start-up, social enterprise, nonprofit, or charity.
- Must be registered in any Canadian province or territory.
- Must employ fewer than 500 people.
- Must provide a safe, supportive internship developing innovation or entrepreneurial skills.
- Intern must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee enrolled in an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.
- Must pay interns at least $18.00 per hour.
- Funding may not be stacked with federal sources but can be stacked with non-federal sources, with total funding not exceeding 100% of the intern's salary.
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
High
First-Timer
Friendly
Funding Details
- Amount
- 50% wage subsidy, capped at $5,000 per student per term.
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Employer hiring requests for 2026/2027 internships are accepted on a rolling basis until February 28, 2027, or until funding is allocated.
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Competition
High
Deadline
Feb 28, 2027
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
3/5
Moderate — standard application process
Competition
4/5
High competition — many applicants
Difficulty
3/5
Moderate — standard requirements
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipThe published dates are ceilings, not guarantees.
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Rejection Pitfalls 8
- The organisation has 500 or more employees
+7 more pitfalls
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Success Profile
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Evaluation Criteria
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All 8 pitfalls, the checklist and the reviewer notes are in the Playbook below. See what it includes ↓
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win Venture for Canada Internship Program
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 4-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
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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6 steps
4 docs
Application Steps
1
Complete the interest form VFC sends a link to the full application and reviews it within 5 business days. Submitting an application does not guarantee a spot on the funding list.
Required Documents 4
✓ Interest form, followed by the full application VFC sends you
✓ Third-party Business Verification (new employers)
Eligible Expenses 1
Intake Periods
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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3 partners
Compatible Programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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How Venture for Canada Internship Program Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
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| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venture for Canada Internship Program | 50% | Moderate | Milestone-Based | Employer hiring requests... |
| Industrial Research Assistance Progra... | Up to $1M | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Between intakes — the... |
| Youth Employment and Skills Program | Up to $25K | Hard | Advance Payment | Between intakes —... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
Related Programs
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Venture for Canada Internship Program
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How much is the subsidy?
A 50% wage subsidy capped at $5,000 per student per term. Employers must pay interns at least $18.00 an hour through payroll, and VFC notes its employers typically pay about $22 an hour.
When does the money arrive?
In two installments. Half of your allowable subsidy is paid within about six weeks of your intern's start date, and the remainder within 45 days of the internship completing.
Who is not eligible?
VFC cannot fund internships for international students or recent graduates, or at government departments and crown corporations, credit unions, or post-secondary institutions. Employers must have fewer than 500 people.
What does a new employer have to do before being funded?
New employers must watch the pre-recorded Onboarding Webinar and complete a third-party Business Verification. Funding is only allocated to a fully eligible employer who has completed the initial application and attended an onboarding session.
Can I fund the same intern more than once?
Yes, within limits. The same intern and employer match can be funded for a maximum of two consecutive terms, up to eight months in total, and an intern may be hired by the same employer for a maximum of four cohorts overall. A new Hiring Request Form is required for each intern and each cohort.
Can I combine this with other funding?
With non-federal sources yes, including provincial, municipal and private funding, and it does not reduce your VFC subsidy. It may not be stacked with federal sources such as Canada Summer Jobs or Young Canada Works, and total funding cannot exceed 100% of the student's salary for the term.
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Full Playbook: Venture for Canada Internship Program
6 steps · 4 docs · reviewer insights