There are numerous grant, funding, and financing opportunities available to support your business, whether you are just starting out or operating an established business looking to expand through hiring, technology upgrades, or equipment purchases.
When choosing a financing option, consider your funding objectives, your stage in the business growth cycle, the nature of your business, and your current financing structure. It’s also important to weigh the trade-offs between debt and equity options, as well as your ability to meet financial obligations or grant requirements. Not sure what is the right financial strategy for your business? Check out this overview of different financing approaches blog.
Below are relevant tools and funding sources you may find helpful. If you need assistance navigating these resources, have questions, or would like to make suggestions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our librarians using this form.
The following resources are organized by financing type:
Organized within from more comprehensive ones that fits all stages of business to more appropriate for startups.
Disclaimer: This guide summarizes information from multiple sources to support your financing search. Details are current as of 2025, but for the most accurate and up-to-date information, please consult the specific sources listed and review their requirements carefully. All content on the SBA website is intended as general information only and should not be considered legal or financial advice.
Starting Point: Comprehensive Finders
[Filter-And-Search Tool] [Government]
This federal tool matches business owners with grants, loans, tax credits, and business support programs based on their location, business stage, and industry after completing a questionnaire. It also provides guidance on relevant expert advice, as well as partnering and collaboration opportunities for research and licensing.
[Grant] [Tax Credits] [No-Interest Loan] [Government]
This tool helps you find federal and provincial government funding programs and financing opportunities. You can filter funding options by region, activity, and industry.
Grants
[Grant] [Government]
Government of British Columbia's grant search tool to help you to connect with a wide range of funding opportunities. You can narrow the search by grant description, name, subject area or the application deadline.
[Grant] [Government]
Provides financial support to qualified small and medium-sized enterprises in Canada to help them undertake technology innovation. (Call toll-free at 1-877-994-4727)
[Grant] [Repayable Contributions] [Government]
Federal agency supporting economic growth in BC through funding programs, business support, and community development initiatives.
Tools:
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- A verity of programs mostly grants that supports business growth, innovation, and regional development
- Program-specific eligibility, closing dates, funding per recipient, and type of funding (commercial or non-commercial projects).
- Check out support from partner organizations for Rural Entrepreneurs, Women Entrepreneurs, Francophone Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurs with Disabilities, and Indigenous Entrepreneurs business development opportunities
[Grant] [Competitions and Awards] [Government]
Innovate BC provides grant program, training, funding and support to help BC-based startups and technology companies grow and innovate.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- A variety of programs that help technology companies grow, with specific targets such as R&D and IP development (application time and costs vary).
- Tech Co-op Grants / Innovator Skills Initiative: Programs focused on helping tech and non-tech companies hire talent (co-op students, under-represented individuals), which is a form of subsidized financing for labour costs.
Loans
[Loan] [Government]
Helps small businesses access loans by sharing the risk with lenders. Offered through banks and credit unions across Canada.
Tool: Financing maps can help you find a lender based on your location and the type of financial institution.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Who: Most start-ups and existing for-profit, not-for-profit and charitable small businesses in Canada with gross revenues of $10 million or less (exclude. Farming business)
- How much: The maximum loan amount under this program is $1.15 million—up to $1 million for term loans and $150,000 for lines of credit. The registration fee is 2% of the total loan amount and can be included in the loan.
- Use: Term loans can be used for commercial real estate, equipment, leasehold improvements, intangible assets, working capital, and the registration fee. Line-of-credit loans can be used for working capital and the registration fee.
[Loan] [Equity] [Government]
Canada’s development bank offering loans, advisory services, and growth support programs for entrepreneurs.
Tools:
- Guide to Getting a Business Loan
Learn what lenders and banks look for when evaluating your business loan application.
- Financial Tools
Access tools to help you calculate key business performance ratios.
- Business Tool Templates
Download useful business operation and financial planning templates and guides.
- Business Loan Calculator
Calculate total loan payments and get a detailed breakdown of each payment.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Loan: Offers a wide variety of loans for business development, equipment purchases, and technology upgrades, with varying eligibility requirements and funding amounts.
- Equity: Provides financing options ranging from venture capital to growth and transition capital, along with consulting services in addition to funding.
- Help different types of entrepreneurs and business‑owners quickly find relevant financing: Women, Youth, Newcomer, Indigenous, Black heritage, Suppliers, Finance And Real-Estate Professionals
[Loan] [Federal government-funded]
Provides small-business loans, training, and advising through 34 offices serving rural and remote BC communities.
Tools:
- Business resources (e.g. FREE AI, Money Management, Compliance tools)
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Who: startups, existing businesses, and non-profits
- How much: financing and repayable loans of up to $1 million
- Use: launch a social enterprise or purchase a business
- Loans are exclusively available from Community Futures office
Equity
[Venture Capital] [Government] [Tax Incentives]
The Small Business Venture Capital Program offers tax credits to investors to encourage them to make equity capital investments in B.C. based small businesses.
Tools:
- Useful Links and Resources that points to Accelerator Organizations and Venture Capital Associations
- The Government and Non-Government Business Support Information (PDF, 422 KB) document contains information on government and non-government support programs and other resources that are available to British Columbia's small businesses.
[Venture Capital] [Private Equity]
National directory of venture capital and private equity firms operating across Canada.
Tools:
- The Member Directory can be used to find venture capital, private equity, and corporate investors based on member details and history. You can review their investment history to understand the types of investments they are interested in
- Quarterly market reports on Canadian venture capital and private equity can help you understand recent investment activities and trends
[Early-stage Equity Funding]
NACO is a network of angel groups across Canada. By accessing NACO or its member networks, small businesses can find early-stage investors.
Tools:
- A Practical Guide to Angel Investing Book can help you understand Angel investing and deals from the investor side
- Common Docs are NACO created nationally applicable standardized term sheets for angel stage deals (need to follow through their questioner to access)
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- How: The NACO Catalyst Program helps early-stage Canadian businesses prepare to raise capital and connect with angel investors. You can fill out their intake form to participate
- Who: Canadian tech/innovation companies on track for pre-seed capital, Seed Capital or Series A
[Early-stage Equity Funding]
Vancouver-based angel network supporting early-stage technology and growth companies.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Who: early-stage founders and startups, with at least a prototype and some form of customer validation and a well-documented strategy
- How: Apply to pitch, (if application passed) internal interview with VANTEC, pitch readiness with VANTEC, pitch at VANTEC
- Network with over 150 active capital providers and gain investor feedback from events and workshops
[Early-stage Equity Funding]
Connects BC investors with early-stage entrepreneurs seeking equity financing.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Who: Early-stage founders and startups with high-growth potential products or technologies targeting large markets (offering investors the potential to earn 10x their investment within five years), a sustainable competitive advantage (often proprietary technology), and a strong management team.
- How: apply to pitch through their Angel Forum Deal platform. If your application is approved, you will be added to the “assessment” list of companies and may be invited to present (a presentation fee applies).
Tax Incentives
A federal tax incentive that provides refunds and credits for eligible research and development conducted in Canada.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Work eligible for SR&ED tax incentives involves systematic scientific or technological research conducted to advance knowledge or achieve technological progress through experiments or analysis. Conducted in Canada.
This is a provincial complement to the federal SR&ED program, providing additional refundable tax credits for R&D expenditures in BC.
Key Summary (Visit the website for the most up-to-date details)
- Who: Qualifying corporations carrying out SR&ED in B.C. before September 1, 2027, including Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs).
How much:
- CCPCs may claim a refundable tax credit of 10% on SR&ED expenditures up to a $3 million limit.
- Non-refundable credits of 10% apply to expenditures above this limit or for other qualifying corporations and can be carried forward 10 years or back 3 years.
Crowdfunding
Rewards-based crowdfunding platform for creative, product, and community projects.
Flexible crowdfunding platform for early-stage innovations, nonprofits, and creative ideas.
Donations-based crowdfunding platform for personal, community, and small-business fundraising.
Interest-free microloans for entrepreneurs, funded by individual lenders worldwide.
Zeffy is an all-in-one fundraising platform that is completely free for nonprofit organizations. With no platform or credit card fees, 100% of every donation goes directly to the organization.
Indigenous & First Nations Funding
A network of Indigenous Financial Institutions offering loans and financing for Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada.
Provides financing and business support for Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in British Columbia.
Offers loans, grants, and business development support to Indigenous entrepreneurs, primarily on Vancouver Island.
Supports Indigenous entrepreneurs and communities in Northwest and Coastal BC with loans and training.
Women Business Owners
BC-based organization offering loans, mentorship, training, and resources for women entrepreneurs.
Regional Economic Trusts (BC)
Supports economic development in Vancouver Island and coastal communities through grants and strategic funding.
Funds economic, social, and environmental initiatives in the Columbia Basin region of BC.
Offers funding and business support for communities and entrepreneurs in Northern BC.
Youth Business Owners
League of Innovators
League of Innovators (LOI) is a Canadian accelerator that supports youth aged 15–30 by helping accelerate their ventures and investing in their personal growth as entrepreneurs.
Futurpreneur
Provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39.
Other Useful Resources
This guide contains resources that can help you to research, start, and grow a small business in British Columbia. Topics include business plans, registration and licensing, financing, market research, and more.
Supports BC companies exploring export markets and global opportunities; provides market insights and trade assistance.
This guide provides sources and strategies for identifying and researching companies. The financial sources identified are primarily for publicly traded companies.
MaRS Funding Sources Directory
This database compiles provincial, national and international funding sources suitable for technology or science companies. It draws from both the public and private sectors. Many of the sources are directed at Ontario-based companies, but other opportunities listed are eligible for companies from across Canada.
SFU VentureLabs
Accelerator helping science and technology ventures commercialize their innovations and scale up their businesses.
Creative Destruction Lab Vancouver
CDL-Vancouver (formerly known as CDL-West) is located in Vancouver, BC at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia. Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a nonprofit organization that delivers an objectives-based program for massively scalable, seed-stage, science- and technology-based companies.
National Crowdfunding Association
NCFA Canada is a non-profit, community-based financial innovation ecosystem that connects and supports a growing global network of entrepreneurs, fintechs, investors, regulators, government, and industry partners. NCFA provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking, funding opportunities, and services that help drive fintech and digital finance innovation.
Compare features across different credit cards, including interest rates, annual fees, and rewards. This tool can help you research and choose a credit card that best suits your business objectives while supporting the development of a strong credit history.
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