Great businesses start with a story.

Spark Nova Scotia is here to activate early stage rural innovation where it starts.

Spark is about regular people in rural and coastal communities doing remarkable things. Many Nova Scotians have brave new business ideas and compelling stories to share. Spark wants to discover and support these early, high-potential, knowledge-based businesses, while inspiring entrepreneurial activity across the province. Winners of the competition receive up to $50,000 plus guidance from top business professionals to help turn their stories into successful enterprises.

Young people discussing agricultural technology

Spark Nova Scotia 2022 is tailored for three regions — Cape Breton, NS North and NS Southwest — with three competitions running concurrently. Each region functions independently, with its own applicant pool and local judges. All applicants take advantage of the province-wide Spark Training Program together, to hone their business skills and sharpen their final submissions.

Your business idea could spark success.

Tell the story behind your idea for a new, knowledge-based product or service.

Spark is searching for Nova Scotia’s newest innovations with high-growth potential. We love to see startups in life sciences, ag tech, clean tech and ocean tech, but we want to hear all of your stories.

Funds will be awarded for things like prototype completion and resources needed to take your product or service to market. Tell us what you need.

Eligibility

Based in Nova Scotia

Your head office must be physically located in one of the three Spark regions and the business is or will be registered there. No award funding will be disbursed until the business is registered in the respective region. Entrants must apply in the region where the business is physically located. The regions include:

Spark Southwest – Lunenburg County, Queens County, Shelburne County, Yarmouth County, Digby County, Annapolis County, Kings County, West Hants County.
Spark North – Guysborough County, Antigonish County, Pictou County, Cumberland County, Colchester County, East Hants County, Rural Halifax County (excludes Halifax, Dartmouth, Bedford)
Spark Cape Breton – all of Cape Breton Island

Start-up

Start-up refers only to sales revenue and not to the number of years in business. To qualify as a start-up for Spark, your company may have zero or minimal revenue, if that revenue was obtained prior to the company commercially scaling up. For example, a company may have a small amount of sales based upon customer validation efforts, but will not have commercially scaled up yet.

New knowledge-based product or service

The business proposition must be a unique technology or innovative product or service that cannot be easily duplicated.

Previous applicants

If you have applied for Spark in the past, you are very welcome and encouraged to apply again. Only previous Spark winners would not be eligible.

Winners receive up to $50,000 in funding.

Timeline – Spark Nova Scotia 2022

Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Spark NS 2022 Launches
Training Registration Opens

Training

Thursday, August 18, 2022
Making Ideas Spark Workshop (Zoom) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Identifying and Managing Risks in a New Business (Zoom) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Introduction to the Business Model Canvas (Zoom) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022
Finance – What Young Companies Need to Know (Zoom) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Monday, September 12, 2022
Storytelling and Presenting (Zoom) 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

Applying

Monday, September 19, 2022
Formal Application Deadline at 11:59 p.m.

Monday, September 26, 2022
Finalists Notified

Coaching

Week Of October 3, 2022
One-on-one Pitch Training

Judging

Wednesday, October 12, 2022
Cape Breton Pitches and Judging

Tuesday, October 18, 2022
NS Southwest Pitches and Judging

Wednesday, October 19, 2022
NS North Pitches and Judging

Winning

Monday, October 24, 2022
Spark Winners Announced
Winners’ Workshop

How To Apply

Spark is made possible through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and presented through the Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC).