Accelerate Entrepreneur
Accelerate Entrepreneur supports student, postdoctoral, and recent-graduate entrepreneurs through research internships that develop start-up innovations and advance them toward commercialization.
Funder: Mitacs
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications) | Within four months of the last internship unit ending (Extension requests)
Funding Amounts: $15,000 per 4–6-month internship unit; $20,000 option for new postdoctoral applications; projects up to two years
Summary: Funded research internships help student, postdoctoral, and recent-graduate entrepreneurs develop their start-up’s innovations and advance commercialization.
Key Information: Applicants must own and manage or operate an incorporated Canadian start-up housed at an approved incubator.
Description
Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur supports research at the core of start-up businesses through funded internships. Open to entrepreneurs in any academic discipline, the initiative helps participants pilot and test new products, services, or technologies, refine existing innovations, and work toward commercialization. It combines research funding with opportunities to develop professional entrepreneurial skills and make effective use of limited start-up budgets.
Projects connect entrepreneurs with academic supervisors and approved incubators, linking business growth with academic research. The program offers a flexible, scalable approach, beginning with four-month projects and expanding according to a start-up’s research needs. Proposals must investigate a research question and advance knowledge relevant to both the business and academic community, rather than simply deliver consulting services or complete a business task.
