Mitacs Entrepreneur International

All travellers must be full-time equivalent employees, owners or founders of the start-up. All other Mitacs Entrepreneur International program eligibility requirements apply.

Trips should be planned to optimize meeting your goals and expected deliverables. There are no specific trip duration guidelines, but Mitacs anticipates that most trips will be between 2-6 weeks in duration, depending on the target market and travel goals.

Yes, your planned business travel must support growth goals in at least one of the following categories:
* Exploring an international target market
* Seeking international investment
* Scaling up your start-up internationally
Please select one primary growth goal for the application.

No. All trips must be booked with return air or ground transportation for the purpose of the approved travel plan only.

Applicants are responsible for obtaining their own travel documents and ensuring that they understand the health, safety and security requirements appropriate for their travel destination. Required documents may include passports, visas, recommended immunizations, and travel insurance. Mitacs is unable to assume liability for any losses, such as accidents, illness, or other losses that may occur during the travel period.

No, applicants must have an approved application prior to their departure and related business expenses.

No. We welcome applications from for-profit companies across all sectors. All Mitacs Entrepreneur International program eligibility requirements apply.

Mitacs can help find host incubators for applicants depending on the travel destination. Connect with the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team for more details. Companies must have an international host incubator in an eligible market identified at the time of application submission. Full applications must include: a completed and signed application form by all employees, owners or founders who will be travelling, a letter of support from the company’s Canadian academic-institution-linked incubator or accelerator, and a letter of acknowledgement from the international host incubator. The full application package is available to download in the How to Apply section.

No. All travellers must be full-time equivalent employees, owners or founders of the start-up. All other Mitacs Entrepreneur International program eligibility requirements apply.

The Mitacs Entrepreneur International initiative offers a travel grant to Canadian start-ups that are housed in a academic-institution-linked incubator for a minimum of three (3) months and a maximum of four (4) years to connect them with host incubators abroad and explore new business development opportunities in international markets. Please contact the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team to determine the eligibility of a specific academic-institution-linked incubator.

Yes, companies can participate in multiple Mitacs programs at the same time (e.g. Accelerate, Elevate).

Mitacs forwards travel grants in two separate instalments to the company only after successful applicants have signed and submitted their required documents.
The first instalment (80% of approved total amount) is released via EFT or cheque upon receipt of the signed Acceptance Form, as set out in the Notice of Approval. Successful applicants must agree to all terms and conditions set out in the Acceptance Form, and can expect to receive the cheque within 30 days.
The second instalment (20% of approved total amount) is released via EFT or cheque upon receipt of the financial report, as set out in the template provided by Mitacs. If the actual spending as outlined in the financial report is equal to or exceeds with the approved budget, applicants can expect to receive the second instalment within 30 days.

Mitacs will work with applicants who meet the eligibility requirements to maximize their success. Mitacs may request revisions and/or encourage a resubmission after addressing any issues that may have prevented the application from being successful the first time. Unsuccessful applicants wishing to appeal the decision on their application may send a letter of appeal to the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team. Appeals must be received within 90 days of the notice of decision and must include the original signed proposal. Appeals are typically responded to within five business days.

Each grant is approved based on the travel objectives and expected deliverables of your trip. Companies who have been approved for travel grants and are already abroad as part of their approved travel must submit a new application that outlines a new travel budget, expected outcomes, and rationale for the travel, including how the new trip will leverage the results of previous trips. All Mitacs Entrepreneur International program eligibility requirements apply, and each application will be reviewed on its own merits. New applications must be submitted at least four (4) weeks prior to travel and travel dates must be after approval of your application.
If you have any questions about the Mitacs Entrepreneur International program, please email the Mitacs Entrepreneur International team.

All travellers must report any substantial changes (travel dates, travellers, host incubator, etc.) concerning their approved application immediately to their Mitacs Grant Management Specialist contact, as identified in the Notice of Approval.