Good ideas belong out in the open.

Our mission: activating early stage innovation companies in rural Nova Scotia.

Each year, Spark Nova Scotia seeks to discover and support high potential, early stage knowledge-based companies, and encourage entrepreneurial activity across the province’s heartlands. Winners of our competition receive up to $50,000 and guidance from seasoned business professionals to put their ideas into action.

Spark Nova Scotia 2021 is held in three regions of the province — Cape Breton, NS North and NS Southwest — with three competitions running simultaneously. Each region operates independently, with its own applicant pool and judging committee. All applicants can take advantage of the Spark Training Program to develop critical business development skills.

Good ideas need fresh air to flourish.

Get out and pitch your new knowledge-based product or service.

Funds awarded will be used to support the completion of prototypes or preparation for taking your product or service to market.

Spark is especially interested in start-ups from the agricultural technology, life sciences, clean technology and ocean technology sectors. However, we welcome submissions for any innovation with high-growth potential.

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 2021

Monday, August 16, 2021
Full Training Registrations Open
Making Ideas Spark Workshop (Zoom) 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Training

Thursday, September 9, 2021
Identifying and Managing the Risks in a New Business (Zoom) 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Thursday, September 16, 2021
Introduction to the Business Model Canvas (Zoom) 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Thursday, September 23, 2021
Finance – What Young Companies Need To Know (Zoom) 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Storytelling and Presenting (Zoom) 5:30pm - 7:00pm

Monday, October 4, 2021
Last Day To Submit Formal Applications

Friday, October 8, 2021
Judges Decide On Final 6/7 Companies For Each Region

Week Of October 11, 2021
Companies Receive Pitch Training One-On-One (Zoom, arranged using Calendly)

Judging

Monday, October 18, 2021
Judging Southwest Region – Bridgewater 11:00am - 3:00pm

Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Judging North Region – New Glasgow 10:00am - 2:00pm

Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Judging Cape Breton Region – Sydney 10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Monday, November 1, 2021
Gala Event – Winners Announced — Venue to be confirmed

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).