What is the SmarthGrowth program?

SmartGrowth invites food and agri-tech businesses with innovative technologies to lead impactful projects that will accelerate their business growth and profitability while strengthening the regional economy for southern Ontario and Canada’s agri-technology industries.

Bioenterprise’s SmartGrowth program is a matching fund that provides eligible enterprises with:

    • Up to 100,000 in non-repayable funding
    • Coaching/mentorship support services

Contact

We’re looking for the most innovative food and agri-tech companies in southern Ontario who are ready to scale-up and expand. If that’s your company, tell us about it.

SmartGrowth R4 Program Guide

Questions? Email us:

 

Eligibility

Companies applying for the Bioenterprise SmartGrowth Program must be:

  • For-profit SMEs with technologies at or beyond Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL-7+) stage of development
  • Businesses that operate in the food and agri-tech sectors and provide a benefit (directly or indirectly) to local and provincial agriculture and/or the producer/processor community
  • Businesses that have less than 500 employees
  • Incorporated in Canada and headquartered in southern Ontario (regions are outlined in the Program Guide)
  • Businesses that have raised a minimum of $200,000 in Working Capital in the 2021 calendar year*

* Working Capital includes:

  • Sales revenues (minimum of $100,000) plus
  • Non-Arm’s Length Equity Investments raised

Additional program details, including eligible project types, are described in the R4 SmartGrowth Program Guide.

Timeline

Application Toolkit

How do I apply?

Applications for funding under the SmartGrowth Program will be accepted in a two-phase process, consisting of an open call for Letters of Intent (LOIs) and an invitation-only Full Application.

All application templates, including the Program Guide and Applicant Guides, are available in the Application Toolkit.

If your enterprise meets all the eligibility criteria, you can apply to the SmartGrowth Program by following these steps:

  • Complete the SmartGrowth R4: Letter of Intent (LOI) Written Proposal Template
  • Complete the SmartGrowth R4: LOI Intake Form
  • Attach the completed LOI Written Proposal along with a business plan and/or pitch deck and submit

Please reference Applicant Guide I for detailed instructions on how to submit an LOI. Upon submitting an LOI, a confirmation email will be provided. Only successful LOI Applicants will be invited to submit a Full Application.

Please note, Short-listed Applicants submitting a Full Application will be required to pay a one-time, non-refundable Application Fee of $200 + HST. Exceptions may apply to members of The Engine in good standing.

For any additional details or questions, please refer to the SmartGrowth FAQ document. For any remaining questions, e-mail submissions@bioenterprise.ca.

Tools & Templates

Program Guide: 

SmartGrowth R4 Program Guide

Apply Now:
Applicant Guide I: Letter of 
Intent


SmartGrowth LOI: Written Proposal Template


SmartGrowth LOI Intake Form  (attach the Written Proposal Template and submit)

SmartGrowth FAQ Document 

Full Application:

Applicant Guide II: Full Application


Full Application Workbook & Budget are only provided to short-listed LOI applicants. 

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