TAKE THE FIRST STEP IN TURNING YOUR BUSINESS DREAM INTO REALITY

Ready to launch or grow your small business? Sign up today to start.
With up to $60,000*, the support of an expert mentor for up to two years, and access to a range of business resources offered through the Futurpreneur Canada Start-up Program, young entrepreneurs are launching some of the most exciting and innovative businesses making a difference in communities across Canada.

Meet some Futurpreneur-supported businesses below, and find out how you can be next.

Manon Laviolette
“I guess having someone in your industry has its strengths but having someone outside is also very valuable because he brings his own perspective and understands. He’s able to extrapolate his knowledge and his experience and make it applicable to my business.”
- Manon Laviolette on the value of mentorship and her mentor


Kate Pepler
“I felt like I was learning all of the horrible things without any tangible solutions on how to help the planet or how to do good. So I started producing my own when I stumbled upon the zero-waste movement, working towards cutting out plastics in my life, and realized how hard it was in Halifax…There was no one-stop shop that made package-free living easy, so that’s what spurred the idea for The Tare Shop.”
- Kate Pepler on starting a business that filled a gap in her community


Kate Pepler
“I knew my industry and my trade inside and out; however, I was lacking in the skills needed to apply to the business side. My mentor assisted me with these concerns and has directed me to the people that I should seek additional help from. Futurpreneur has proved invaluable to my success, both in financing and in mentorship.”
- Jenn Ghaney on finding local and community support to launch and grow her business

WE OFFER:

Financing

  • Apply for up to $60,000* in loan financing to launch or to help grow your business as much or as little as you like.

Mentorship

  • Get matched with an experienced mentor to help you build confidence and tackle your toughest challenges for up to two years.

Resources

  • Learn key skills like business planning, marketing and cash flow management through our online and in-person business resources.

  • Demonstrate some training/experience related to your business idea.
  • Create full-time sustainable employment for the applicant(s).
  • Agree to work with a mentor for up to two years (4 to 5 hours a month).
  • Produce a complete and viable business plan by the end of the application process.
  • Business fully operating for fewer than 12 months.
  • Agree to complete Futurpreneur Canada status updates every three months.
  • Agree to provide authorization for Futurpreneur Canada to carry out a credit check.
  • Assure that the business is NOT in the research and development stage.
  • Assure that financing proceeds may not be used for refinancing existing debt.
  • BDC financing through a Futurpreneur Canada application is not available to all persons, corporations, firms and companies who are already a BDC borrower.
  • A business plan must fall within specified industry guidelines in order to be approved for financing. Examples of businesses which do not meet Futurpreneur industry guidelines include: businesses that are sexually exploitive or that feature sexually explicit entertainment, products or services; businesses that are engaged in or associated with illegal activities; businesses trading in countries that are proscribed by the Canadian federal government; and any other commercial activities inappropriate for government funding. For more details on Futurpreneur industry eligibility, click here.
  • Demonstrate that you have been discharged from bankruptcy for at least five years or one year after receipt of a Certificate of Full Performance in the case of a Consumer Proposal.
  • For establishments serving alcohol, a maximum of 49% of revenues can be generated from the sale of alcohol when same is consumed on-site. Exempt from this are producers such as craft breweries, wine and spirit producers, brew-it-yourself type locations.
  • Any age eligible entrepreneur (18-39 years old) who owns 5% or less of the business does not need to be party to Futurpreneur Canada and BDC application.
  • The amount invested, or to be invested in the Business, by the persons other than BDC and the character of the investment are such that a reasonable lender may expect that those persons will have a continuing commitment to the business An amount of 10% of the total project plan financing will in general be considered as sufficient for the entrepreneur investment.

For additional eligibility criteria for partnerships, incorporations, and business take-overs please click here.

For information on businesses not eligible for Futurpreneur Canada financing please click here.

Approval for financing is also dependent on an applicant successfully meeting credit score minimums determined by Futurpreneur.

  • Up to $15,000 with a term over four years.
  • Interest is charged at CIBC’s prime rate + 3%. (Note that if CIBC’s prime rate exceeds 6%, the interest rate charged is capped at 9%. If CIBC’s prime rate exceeds 9%, the interest rate charged will be charged at CIBC prime rate.)
  • Interest-only payments for the first year.
  • Principal repayments are made in equal monthly instalments together with interest, over the remaining 3 years.
  • No penalty for early repayment.
  • A one-time loan management fee of 1% of the total loan amount is charged at time of disbursement
  • The above points reflect current Futurpreneur loan terms; the exact terms of each entrepreneur’s loan are clearly defined in their loan agreement.

National Office
33 Yonge street, Suite 1100
Toronto, ON, M5E 1G4

Futurpreneur Canada is a non-profit organization that supports Canadian entrepreneurs age 18-39, providing them with loan financing, mentoring and business resources. Our experts are here to answer your questions and put you on the path to success.