Grant
Private
Active
YukonU Innovation Fund
Yukon University - Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Maximum Funding
$1,000 to $50,000
Ongoing
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
YukonU Innovation Fund provides up to $1,000 to $50,000. Provides funding and support to Yukoners to help create or reimagine processes and practices, and design, develop, or deploy ideas on the path to commercialization. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
Program Description
Provides funding and support to Yukoners to help create or reimagine processes and practices, and design, develop, or deploy ideas on the path to commercialization.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a Yukon-based innovator with an existing business or clear intent to move toward a for-profit model
- Idea must be innovative with genuine potential for commercialization
- Project must involve designing, developing, deploying, or reimagining a process, practice, or product
- Must be willing to participate in YukonU's innovation ecosystem and reporting requirements
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated
Funding Details
- Amount
- $1,000 to $50,000
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Private
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Hybrid
Competition
Low
Effort
Varies
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
Know your real odds before investing 40+ hours
Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
What's in this Playbook
Everything you need to win YukonU Innovation Fund — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 4 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 4-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 7-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
Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
Applying for YukonU Innovation Fund? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
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Insider TipBook a Calendly meeting before anything else — this is the entry point. Very informal process compared to most grants. Funding covers ONLY hard costs (materials, supplies, equipment). Wages, rent, and utilities are explicitly excluded. Focus on demonstrating commercialization potential and economic development impact.
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See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Rejection Pitfalls 4
- No Yukon presence (individual or team member)
- No commercialization potential
- Budget is primarily wages, rent, or utilities (not eligible)
+1 more pitfalls
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See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.
Success Profile
Yukon-based individual or team with innovation that has commercialization potential. Project needs hard materials costs (not just wages). Willing to go through informal consultation process.
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See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.
Don’t waste your hours on a preventable rejection
4 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
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7 steps
4 docs
Application Steps
1
Book a Confidential Calendly Consultation Visit yukonu.ca/innovation/innovation-fund and book a confidential innovator huddle via the Calendly link. This informal meeting is the required first step — there is no formal portal or application form to submit independently.
2
Discuss Your Innovation Concept In your consultation, present your innovation idea and its commercialization potential. Be ready to explain the economic impact, your team's expertise, and why the project requires hard materials funding.
3
Develop Your Project Description and Budget Develop a written project description focusing on: innovation and novelty, path to commercialization, and a budget itemizing hard project materials only. Wages, rent, and utilities cannot be included.
4
Submit Project Package Submit your project description, budget for hard costs, and evidence of Yukon presence to [email protected]. Rolling intake — no fixed deadline.
5
Review and Decision YukonU Innovation officers review against four criteria: economic impact potential, team expertise and capacity, project cost and scale, and broader societal/environmental benefits.
6
Funding Agreement and Project Execution If approved, sign a funding agreement. Purchase materials and conduct your project. Keep all receipts — funding is disbursed on a reimbursement basis for eligible hard costs only.
7
Submit Receipts and Final Report After completing your project phase, submit receipts and documentation of hard material costs to receive reimbursement. Report on project outcomes and commercialization progress.
Required Documents 4
✓ Informal meeting via Calendly (no formal application form)
✓ Project description with commercialization potential
✓ Budget focused on hard project materials
✓ Evidence of Yukon presence (individual or team member)
Eligible Expenses 5
- Hard project materials (components, supplies, raw materials)
- Equipment required to build and test the innovation
- Prototyping costs and materials
- Lab supplies and testing materials
- Software licenses directly tied to building the innovation (not ongoing subscriptions)
Ineligible Expenses 6
- Wages and salaries for any team members
- Contractor and consultant fees
- Rent and workspace costs
- Utilities (electricity, internet, etc.)
- General business operating expenses
- Travel costs
Deadline Notes
No fixed deadlines. Book an informal confidential meeting via Calendly on yukonu.ca. No formal application portal.
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
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4 partners
Compatible Programs
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Clawback Risk
Low Risk
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See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 4 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
How YukonU Innovation Fund Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YukonU Innovation Fund | $1,000 to $50,000 | Easy | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| NRC IRAP Clean Technology Program | $100,000–$500,000 | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
| CanExport SMEs | Up to $50,000 | Moderate | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Next deadline: May 29,... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about YukonU Innovation Fund
Free
Can I get funding for staff wages?
No — only hard project costs like materials, supplies, and equipment are covered. Wages, rent, and utilities are explicitly excluded.
What's the typical project size?
Most projects range from $1,000 to $50,000 based on actual material costs. Funding is reimbursement-only, not a lump sum upfront.
Do I need to be incorporated?
No — sole proprietors and unincorporated teams can apply as long as they're Yukon-based and have a clear commercialization path.
How long until I get paid after submitting receipts?
Reimbursement processing takes 3-6 weeks after submitting approved receipts. No fixed deadlines — just book a Calendly meeting first.
Can I stack this with CanNor funding?
Yes — YukonU Innovation is CanNor-funded, so you can combine it with other CanNor programs for complementary support.
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Full Playbook: YukonU Innovation Fund
7 steps · 4 docs · reviewer insights