Funding for entrepreneurship

Apply for funding and be your own boss!

Application deadline: February 14, 2025

Thanks to our generous donors and partners, we are able to support students at various stages of their planning, to dive into the world of start-ups, entrepreneurship, and social enterprises.

With entrepreneurship funding, you could:

Start a new business
Pivot or expand an existing business
Create a social initiative
Pursue a cultural project

The level of funding will depend on what stage of development you are in — there is one application process for all students.

Decide on the level of funding you'll be applying for before you start your application.

Level of funding	commitment	stage of planning	main focus
Ignite Grants $3,000-$5,000	Part-time (flexible)	Great idea, or a clear problem that needs a solution. Your solution is not fully developed.	More testing and modelling to come up with a plan. Researching your problem and solution.
Craighead & Cherry Innovation Grant $10,000	Full-time (summer)	You have a clear and well thought out idea. You have several potential solutions to a real problem.	Designing the business model. Research needed to fill in the blanks. Creative problem solving to solidify next steps. Potentially getting your entrepreneurial venture off the ground.

Level of funding

commitment

stage of planning

main focus

Ignite Grants
$3,000-$5,000

Part-time (flexible)

Great idea, or a clear problem that needs a solution.

Your solution is not fully developed.

More testing and modelling to come up with a plan.

Researching your problem and solution.

Craighead & Cherry Innovation Grant
$10,000

Full-time (summer)

You have a clear and well thought out idea.

You have several potential solutions to a real problem.

Designing the business model. Research needed to fill in the blanks.

Creative problem solving to solidify next steps.

Potentially getting your entrepreneurial venture off the ground.

How to apply

Your application (Due February 14) will include a 3-minute video pitch and Written Application. These will be reviewed by the selection committee.

If the committee thinks your application has strong potential, you'll be asked to give a five-minute live pitch to the selection committee, followed by a Q&A session (in March).

Eligibility

Any returning Mount A student in good academic standing may apply.
You can apply on your own or with up to three other Mount A students.

Steps to apply

Once you've decided if you're applying to the Ignite or Entrepreneurship Internship grant you will complete the following steps:

Download the Entrepreneurship Grant Application Form.
Complete the parts of the application required for funding. If you'd like help, email careers@mta.ca.
Read through ALL the parts of the application that apply to you.
Work on and perfect your 3-minute video pitch for the selection committee. (Tips for video recording here!)
E-mail your completed application, and a link to your video, to careers@mta.ca by February 14, 2025 at 11. p.m.

Select applicants will be asked to proceed to a live pitch and Q&A session with the selection committee.

Once you're approved

If you are selected for the Entrepreneurship Internship funding, you will officially become a member of the 2025 Entrepreneurship cohort.

As an Entrepreneurship intern, you'll work independently but you won't be isolated. Throughout your internship, you'll have coaching support from your business Coach. Your coach will also connect you with other resources, on campus and in the community.

Summer entrepreneurship schedule

Your obligations as an Entrepreneurship Intern

Regular coaching sessions and progress reports will help you keep your focus and momentum:

In March, successful applicants will meet for a program orientation. You'll explore the personal strengths you can leverage as an entrepreneur and hear from an experienced entrepreneur about the rewards and challenges of being your own boss. This will also be a great opportunity for you to connect with the other interns in the program.
In late April, you'll meet with your coach to identify some broad goals for the summer. Your coach will also help you connect with a mentor who's experienced in your industry or social cause.
In the first week of May, you'll officially start your internship and begin working toward your internship goals. You will attend a full-time week long boot-camp with your cohort. After the boot-camp you will begin working towards your entrepreneurial goals.
Every two weeks during the summer, you'll meet with your coach and then submit a short progress report. Coaching sessions can take place in person or via web conferencing. These check-ins will help you keep on track with your goals, which you'll probably revise as the summer unfolds, and reflect on your entrepreneurship experience.
Partway through the summer, you'll attend the Entrepreneurship Internship roundup, a gathering of current and previous Entrepreneurship interns. This will give you a chance to share your entrepreneurship adventure with a group of like-minded students and get some fresh perspectives on an issue you're trying to solve.
In late August, you'll submit a brief written report (about five pages) analyzing your entrepreneurship experience and reflecting on it. You'll also deliver a 10-minute oral presentation to the Reisman selection committee.

Questions? We're happy to help you develop your application. Reach out to us at careers@mta.ca.

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