Business Ideas - Brighter Than Ever

Spark 2026 Applications

CLOSED

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.

2026-04-07_SparkNS-Team-Brainstorming-1920

Spark Nova Scotia 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

Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Pre-Application Training Registration Opens

Pre-Application Training

Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Developing Your Idea While Managing Risks 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 30, 2026
Business Model Canvas Intro 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Finance Fundamentals 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 7, 2026
Storytelling and Presenting 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026
Intellectual Property 101 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.

Applying to Spark NS Competition

Friday, May 15, 2026
Application Deadline for Spark Applications 11:59 p.m.

Judging

Tuesday, May 19, 2026 - Friday, May 22, 2026
Judges receive applications and hold regional shortlisting calls

Monday, May 25, 2026
Regional finalists announced

Monday, June 1 - Friday, June 5, 2026
Individual pitch coaching sessions for finalists

Monday, June 8, 2026: BEST WESTERN BRIDGEWATER
NS Southwest Pitch Competition and Regional Winners’ Celebration
- Judging 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Regional Winners’ Celebration 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 10, 2026: IGNITE NEW GLASGOW
NS North Pitch Competition and Regional Winners’ Celebration
- Judging 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Regional Winners’ Celebration 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 11, 2026: IGNITE CAPE BRETON
Cape Breton Pitch Competition and Regional Winners’ Celebration
- Judging 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Regional Winners’ Celebration 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m

APPLY NOW

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

Spark Nova Scotia Supporters