Accessing Capital

Government of Canada Programs

• Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC) provides support to Aboriginal entrepreneurs for a range of activities including business planning, start-up, expansion and marketing.
• Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is a financial institution offering flexible, long-term financing and consulting to small and medium enterprises. BDC also offers venture capital and subordinate financing to high-growth firms. The long-term loans can help businesses increase their working capital and purchase fixed assets.
• The Canada Small Business Financing (CSBF) program can assist businesses in obtaining term loans of up to $250,000 to help finance fixed asset needs. The loans are made directly by a qualified lender (chartered banks, and most credit unions).
• The Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) is a community and business development organization delivering services such as local strategic economic planning, technical and advisory services to businesses, loans to small and medium enterprises, self-employment assistance programs, and services targeted to youth and entrepreneurs with disabilities.

• Investment Saskatchewan is a provincial crown corporation that supports industry development and expansion in sectors that support the province’s economic development strategy. Through its agent, Victoria Park Capital, Investment Saskatchewan offers a wide variety of debt and equity instruments and focuses on investments of $3 million or more.
• The Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan provides business advice, mentoring, and support services to help existing and aspiring entrepreneurs develop investment ready business plans. Small businesses recommended by the Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan are eligible to receive up to $1 million in investment funding from the Saskatchewan Entrepreneurial Fund. 
• The First Nations and Métis Fund makes investments between $1 million and $3 million in new or expanding businesses which are majority owned by First Nations or Métis people. Businesses must fall in Saskatchewan’s key strategic growth sectors: value-added agriculture; advanced technology; energy; mining; forestry, manufacturing and Aboriginal-themed tourism
• The Apex Investment Fund, a partnership formed between the Crown Investments Corporation (CIC) and Saskatchewan’s credit unions, makes investments of between $1 million and $4 million in new or expanding small or medium-sized businesses in Saskatchewan, with an emphasis on projects in smaller cities and rural communities. Projects will be in Saskatchewan’s key strategic growth sectors: value-added agriculture; advanced technology; manufacturing; energy; mining and forestry.
• The Innovation Acceleration Initiative has an allocation of $2 million over four years with the goal of providing modest funding that will accelerate technology commercialization. This will be achieved by the CIC entering into collaborative agreements with Saskatchewan businesses and provincial academic and research institutions.

• The Saskatchewan Angel Investor Network (SAINT)  is a member-based group of investors who have an interest in investing in early stage and growth-focused Saskatchewan companies. These investments cover a broad range of industries, including technology, where there is potential to build sustainable and successful businesses.