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 (EITM).
EITM 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 EITM at specific NSCC campuses.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a current NSCC student or an alum who's graduated within the last five years (2018 to 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.
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 | Truro private donors | Cube Sandbox |
---|---|---|
Offers $42,000 in funding through EITM for NSCC students and recent alumni, with one recipient at all 14 campuses. | Offers $10,000 in funding for at least three additional EITM recipients connected to Truro Campus. | Offers $18,000 in funding for at least two additional EITM recipients connected to each of the following: Burridge Campus, Shelburne Campus and the 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.
Applications open soon
Applications for EITM open on Monday, February 13, 2023.
Questions
For more information, contact NSCC Entrepreneurship: .
*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.