Entrepreneurship International Program

For Canadian start-ups thinking beyond domestic borders, testing an international market can be both exciting and expensive. The Entrepreneurship International Program from Mitacs is designed to lower that barrier by helping early-stage companies explore global opportunities through targeted business travel. Rather than funding product development or hiring, this program focuses on one critical growth step: getting founders on the ground in new markets to build relationships, validate demand, and connect with established incubators abroad.

The program supports start-ups across Canada that are already part of an incubator or accelerator linked to a post-secondary institution. Through non-repayable funding of up to about $5,000 per project, companies can offset eligible travel costs for key team members such as founders or senior staff. These trips are typically tied to clear business-development goals, like meeting potential partners, refining a go-to-market strategy, or exploring sales and expansion opportunities in international ecosystems that align with the company’s growth plans. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, making it a flexible option for start-ups moving quickly.

Because the program is travel-focused and tied to specific growth objectives, it tends to appeal most to start-ups that are ready to take concrete steps toward international expansion. Business owners considering global markets may want to dig deeper into how the Entrepreneurship International Program works and whether it fits their expansion strategy.