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Scotiabank Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program

Scotiabank Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program

Scotiabank-Entrepreneur-in-the-Making Program
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 (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.

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