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Starter Company+

Do you need assistance growing your existing small business?

Program Info

Our SC+ program is an advanced 4 month program designed to source out pain points within your business; define and design a customized implementation plan with the possibility of up to $5000 in grant funding to get the problem solved so you can get back to building your business!

Program Tags

Guelph/Wellington County Existing Business Grant Funding

Application Deadline

Opening August 1, 2023 - Closing September 22, 2023

Time Commitment

8 weeks of in-person learning on Wednesdays from 1 to 4pm, followed by virtual advisor sessions.

Start Date

October 18, 2023

Number of Sessions

8 in person Group Sessions plus 1-on-1 Advisory

Prerequisites

  • Completed Business Plan or Business Model Canvas
  • Must be an Existing Business
  • Must live or operate within Guelph and/or Wellington County

Partners

About Starter Company+

UPDATE - The Deadline date for applications have been extended to SEPTEMBER 22nd at 6:00 PM!

Requirements for Application Completion:

  • Business registration and insurance
  • Executive summary of your business
  • Business Plan or Business Model Canvas
  • A copy of any professional license you need to operate your business
  • A buyer persona and customer journey map
  • 1 page Market research summary pertaining to your business endeavor

Expectations:

Successful applicants will participate in Group learning sessions, these are a series of 8 In-Person session located at Guelph City hall on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 4:00pm, starting October 18, 2023. These sessions are for learning and allow for Networking and Professional Connection Building with experts and group members. Group sessions are mandatory to be considered for the final grant application. 

Successful applicants will also be connected with an expert Business Advisor who will guide you through the grant process, over-see expectations, and ensure you are on track for program completion. Your advisor will meet with you to help you develop an implementation plan for applying for the Grant at the end of the session.

Participants are expected to work a minimum of 25 to 30 hours on their business a week, have decision making responsibility within your business structure (owner, founder, CEO, etc.) and be located within Guelph and/or Wellington County as your place of residence or primary business location.

Program Restrictions

  • You must be 18 years of age or older at the time of registration
  • An Ontario resident and Canadian citizen (or permanent resident)
  • Growing a recently created small business, or expanding an existing company
  • Committed to working a minimum of 25-30 hours a week running your business
  • Committed to attending 8 in person sessions
  • Committed to meeting with an advisor to help with your grant application
  • Not attending school full-time or returning to school
  • Not enrolled in other provincial employment or self-employment related initiatives and programs that include or do not include financial assistance
  • Not currently enrolled concurrently in any self-employment or entrepreneurship training/financing initiatives and programs offered by government funded organizations
  • Not a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) business, or a Franchise.
  • Not a brokerage firm and their agents (real estate, investment, insurance, etc.)

***Priority will be given to those in Guelph-Wellington Area

Applications are currently closed.

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