AcceleratorEquity-free

Innovation Factory

Hamilton, ON, Canada

The Greater Hamilton Area's free, no-equity business accelerator and regional innovation centre.

Location:
Hamilton, ON, Canada
Equity:
Equity-free

What you need to qualify

  • Ontario-based business. Innovation Factory serves the Greater Hamilton and Halton area from offices in Hamilton and Burlington
  • Any stage from idea through discovery, validation, efficiency and scale, and across all sectors
  • Founders outside Ontario are directed to the online Academy at iF, the IP Assist programme and HEALTHI instead of client services

Eligibility

Eligible stages
All stages
Countries
Global, subject to the provider’s eligibility and approval

How to apply

  1. 1

    Check that you are eligible

    The Become a Client page states that services are provided to Ontario-based businesses and that no company equity is taken. Companies outside Ontario are pointed to the Academy, IP Assist and HEALTHI instead.

  2. 2

    Submit the free client intake form

    The Become a Client page carries an Apply now to become a client button that opens Innovation Factory's client intake form. The Programs and Services page puts it the same way: apply to become a client for free.

  3. 3

    Ask the team first if you are unsure

    The Become a Client page lists info@innovationfactory.ca and 905-667-2611, plus the Hamilton and Burlington offices, for questions before applying.

Frequently asked

No. Innovation Factory states that it does it all for free and takes no equity in your business, and the client intake page repeats that no company equity is taken.

Ontario-based businesses, at any stage from idea through scale and across all sectors. Innovation Factory works out of Hamilton and Burlington and serves the Greater Hamilton and Halton area. Companies outside Ontario can still use the Academy at iF, IP Assist and HEALTHI.

Business advice and mentorship through one-on-one advisory office hours, strategic connections, workshops on marketing, sales and business planning, funding and investment readiness guidance, intellectual property programming, early-stage MVP support through Concept Catalyst, pitch competitions including LiONS LAIR, on-demand training through Academy at iF, peer networking groups, talent support, and drop-in office and meeting space.

No. Innovation Factory publishes no cohort dates or deadlines for client services; becoming a client runs through a standing intake form you can submit at any time. Individual programmes it delivers, such as HEALTHI, carry their own separate dates.
Advanced manufacturingCleantechTransportationLife sciences

Browse more like this: Startup accelerators in Canada

Related programs

We have not been able to confirm a deadline for this one. Check the official page before you start.

Do I qualify?

2 things decide this one. Check yourself against them before you spend time on the form.

Stage
Pre-seed, Seed
Where it runs
Canada. In person, so you need to be able to take part there
What you give up
No equity stated
Deadline
Not confirmed. Check the official page

That is the rulebook. What we cannot show you here is whether your startup clears it, how this ranks against the other programs you qualify for, and what to fix if you do not.

Check what I qualify for

Five questions, about a minute, no account needed.

Last verified against the official page. Report an error

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