Fast-Track to Financing Program

Early-stage companies working with bio-based innovations often hit a familiar roadblock: the science may be promising, but investors want to see a clear, credible path to market. The Fast-Track to Financing Program is designed to help bridge that gap by supporting Canadian startups and small businesses as they prepare for public funding or private investment. Delivered by Natural Products Canada, the program focuses on strengthening the business and commercialization groundwork needed to move natural products and technologies closer to scale.

Through this initiative, businesses across Canada in sectors such as biotechnology, agri-food, clean technology, and health-related life sciences can receive non-repayable funding of up to about $25,000 to offset the cost of working with external experts. That support can be used for activities like market and competitive analysis, refining a value proposition, and building out regulatory, intellectual property, financial, and production plans. The goal is not product development itself, but creating a well-supported plan that demonstrates commercial potential and investor readiness, particularly for innovations already beyond the earliest research stages.

Because the program is currently accepting applications and can be combined with other funding sources, it can fit well into a broader financing strategy. For founders developing biologically based products or technologies and preparing for their next raise, learning more about how this program works could be a smart next step.