Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation

For innovative small and medium-sized businesses in Southern and Eastern Ontario, accessing growth capital can be a challenge—especially when projects are beyond early startup but not yet bank-ready. The Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII) is designed to bridge that gap, providing repayable financing to help high-growth companies push promising ideas into the market. Delivered by Community Futures Eastern Ontario with federal support, the program focuses on late-stage commercialization and innovation-driven expansion.

SOFII supports projects such as developing new products or services, adopting advanced processes or technologies, and expanding into new applications or markets. Businesses across sectors like clean technology, manufacturing, agri-food, information technology, and healthcare often turn to this fund when they need larger-scale financing to execute growth plans. Funding typically ranges from the mid-six figures up to around half a million dollars, structured as an interest-bearing term loan that can be repaid early without penalties. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, making it a flexible option for businesses as opportunities arise.

There is also a SOFII Rural initiative tailored to innovative companies operating in rural communities of southeastern Ontario, offering more flexible terms to encourage investment outside major urban centres. For business owners exploring how repayable innovation financing could accelerate their next phase of growth, reviewing the full program details can help determine whether SOFII is the right fit.