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Scotiabank Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program

Scotiabank Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program

Kim, Business Administration student, and her partner Onya are holding a few packages of their sea salt outside a local store in LaHave, Nova Scotia.
NSCC eCampus student Kim Kelly (right) used a $3,000 investment and mentorship to kick-start OK Sea Salt, a business she co-founded with her partner. Read more about Kim and Onya.

Funding for your small business

To help kick-start or expand businesses across Nova Scotia, funding is available to NSCC students and recent alumni.

If you have a savvy business idea, and the desire to launch or grow a company, apply for the Scotiabank Entrepreneur-in-the-Making program. 

The Entrepreneur-in-the-Making (EITM) program is available at all 14 NSCC campuses, thanks to the generous support of Scotiabank. A special thank you, as well, to our private Truro community donors and CUBE Sandbox who provide additional grant opportunities for the Entrepreneur in the Making Program at specific NSCC campuses. 

Eligibility 

Applicants must: 

  • Be a current NSCC student. Must be enrolled in any part-time (40% or more course load) or full-time program at NSCC
  • Student applicants must be in good academic standing.
  • Alumni applicants must have graduated from NSCC in the past 5 years (2019-present)
  • Have viable business goals and objectives
  • Be an entrepreneur looking to start or expand your business
  • Clearly describe entrepreneurial aspirations through the program’s application
  • NSCC and Scotiabank employees are not eligible to apply for this grant

All applications are welcome; however, preference will be given to applicants from equity-deserving groups* 

Program details

Successful applicants will receive: 

  • One-time funding, up to a maximum of $3,000 
  • Three mandatory business advisory sessions with NSCC Entrepreneurship 
  • Optional financial planning through Scotiabank**
  • Mentorship and networking opportunities**
  • Access to programming that includes webinars, workshops, and simulations**


$42,000 in funding is available across all campuses each year from Scotiabank, plus an additional $28,000 in grant opportunities this year from Truro private donors and CUBE Sandbox.

Funding overview

Scotiabank: Offers $42,000 in funding through EITM for NSCC students and recent alumni, with one recipient at all 14 campuses.

Truro private donors: Offers $10,000 in funding for at least three additional EITM recipients connected to Truro Campus.

CUBE Sandbox: Offers $18,000 in funding for at least two additional EITM recipients connected to each of the following: Burridge Campus, Shelburne Campus and Digby Learning Centre. 

**Thanks to the generous program development funding by Scotiabank, all EITM grant recipients benefit from these additional wraparound learning opportunities.

Judging criteria

Applications will be judged based on: 

  • Uniqueness of the product or service being offered 
  • Clarity of application 
  • Applicant’s knowledge of the proposed customer base/industry 
  • Experience and ability of applicant in relation to the product or service 
  • Awareness of the logistics (ex: planning, production and distribution) 
  • Demonstrated understanding of the resources required for project success

*In Canada's Employment Equity Act, the four designated groups are defined as women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities; whereas members of visible minorities means persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.

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