Ontario-made solutions to the world’s biggest challenges
Up to $100,000 to launch and grow your venture.
Applications are open until July 31st.
AC:Studio
Fast-track your ambitions—and reach unforeseen heights
You’re building something bigger than a business—you’re building a legacy. AC:Studio is your opportunity to develop world-changing technology that drives clean economic growth in Ontario.
Cohort 3 of AC:Studio will support 23 startups as they scale Ontario-made solutions that address one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Funding, mentorship, and tactical supports
Building high-potential businesses across southern Ontario
Have a high-impact startup idea that addresses one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
With Government of Canada support through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), we've partnered with innovation leaders from across southern Ontario to bring high-impact startups and founders the critical capital they need to launch their businesses.
This program provides participants with:
Up to $100,000 in non-repayable seed funding from FedDev Ontario- One-to-one mentorship with our team of in-house and specialist mentors
- Help measuring the environmental impact of your venture
- Tactical support in product development, marketing, UI and UX from industry experts and freelancers through partnerships with experienced startup builders at SnapPea and Conestoga College's Gig Lab
How it works
Turning innovations into market-ready solutions
Cohort 3 of the program will be delivered in two phases, each lasting nine months. We will select 23 innovative technology startups with a passion for one or more SDG goals to participate in Phase 1 of AC:Studio. During this time, these founders will receive quality 1:1 mentorship, workshops, and $30,000 in matching funds to scale and support their business.
At the end of Phase 1, the 23 companies will be evaluated on program impact, founder engagement, and business growth. Once evaluations are complete, seven companies will be chosen to move on to Phase 2 of the program and will receive an additional $70,000 in matching funds to complete their projects.
High intensity. High impact.
Supporting Canadian jobs and economic growth
Since its inception in 2022, AC:Studio has supported two cohorts of Canada's most promising startups. With that, we set a new gold standard for startup support programming.
Across Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, participating companies have:
Eligibility
AC:Studio is available to founders from across southern Ontario
In order to qualify for AC:Studio, startups must:
- Be based in southern Ontario, as defined by FedDev Ontario.
- Be incorporated in Canada or show proof of a plan to incorporate before receiving the funds.
- Be an early-stage company and have an innovative technology product or process, some R&D completed and working towards commercialization in an economically attractive market.
- Product or business impact must align with one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
- Startups must not have received previous investments from programs funded by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario. Examples include: Scientists and Engineers in Business (SEB) fellowship, NFPs and post-secondary institutions under SEB to deliver seed funding (OCE) SmartStart, RIC VentureStart, Next36, BioEnterprise, Northumberland CFDC, etc.), Commercialization fellowships (University of Waterloo, McMaster, University of Toronto, Carleton), the previous AC:Studio cohort or the AC:JumpStart program. Applicants will be asked to disclose funding sources in your application.
- AC:Studio investment amount must be matched in cash (such as angel/VC investors, friends/family/founders, academic institution, government sources, and/or industry investors). Proof of matching funds must be shown in the businesses bank account upon acceptance into the program. Failure to produce proof of matching funds will result in program acceptance being revoked.
The Accelerator Centre is committed to fair and transparent decision-making processes in evaluating applications.
However, all final decisions regarding acceptance into our programs are made solely at the discretion of the Accelerator Centre.
Please note: Any employee, or person associated with the organizations carrying out the project (Accelerator Centre, Conestoga College, SnapPea Design, WEtech Alliance, CarbonGraph) are NOT eligible to participate in the AC:Studio program.
Program partners
Work with our innovation partners
AC:Studio provides tactical support in product development, marketing, UI, and UX from industry experts and freelancers through partnerships with experienced startup builders.
Program sponsor
client spotlight
AC:Studio client success stories
AC:Studio Spotlight: Vivek Burhanpurkar, CEO of Cyberworks Robotics
The robots of science fiction novels, television, and movies have inspired our imaginations for decades. From the Maschinenmensch in Metropolis to Lost in Space’s Robby the Robot in the 1960s…
Learn more
AC:Studio Spotlight: Zachary McCue, founder and CEO of REPWR
Timing is everything in both marketing and entrepreneurship. For REPWR Founder and CEO Zachary McCue, the right idea came more than a decade before the world was ready for it.…
Learn more
Client Spotlight: Christy Lee, co-founder of PatientCompanion
While volunteering on a med-surg floor, engineering student Christy Lee watched that scene repeat “literally every two minutes” and thought there had to be a better way. PatientCompanion is her…
Learn more
Client Profile: Varsha Chaugai, Co-Founder and CEO of Evoke Health
Technology has helped make health data more accessible than ever. But while it’s easy to get information like lab results for yourself or a child, getting up-to-date information on loved…
Learn more
Client Spotlight: Andrew Dolinski, Co-Founder and CEO of Jetdocs
Experienced founder Andrew Dolinski turned to the Accelerator Centre to help scale his latest venture, Jetdocs, a collaborative ticketing and workflow software designed to streamline operations across teams. After co-founding…
Learn moreAc help center
Frequently asked questions
1. Does the AC take equity?
No, the AC doesn’t take any equity. You keep 100% ownership of your company and your IP.
2. Are there certain expectations of founders?
Yes. Key expectations of founders are:
- Your startup is, or will be, incorporated Federally or in Ontario
- Attend biweekly, hybrid meetings
- You can spend at least 15-20 hours/week working on your startup
- You will actively engage in the program and access all available mentor hours
- You will complete the required surveys to support the AC with our government/funding reporting
3. Is there a specific application deadline for AC:Studio?
Yes. Application deadlines will be communicated on our website when they are announced.
4. Is there non-diluted funding available in this program?
Yes. Successful applicants in Phase 1 of the program (23 companies) each received $30k in non-dilutive funding. Successful companies selected for Phase 2 of the program (7 companies) each receive $70k in non-dilutive funding.
5. Can AC:Studio help with becoming investment ready?
Yes, through the AC:Studio program, we’ve built a dedicated Investment Readiness pathway. If your company is a good fit, we’ll include this course at no extra cost. Just keep in mind — becoming “investment-ready” takes time and effort and usually takes about 4–6 months to complete.
6. Are there any reporting requirements for founders accepted into AC:Studio?
Yes. Founders are required to complete surveys as requested (at this time, survey frequency is quarterly).
7. How many companies are accepted into AC:Studio?
23 companies are accepted into each program cohort. The top 7 from each cohort are selected for Phase 2 of the program, which includes an additional $70k in non-dilutive funding.
8. Are there restrictions on the use of funds in the program?
Generally speaking, eligible use of funds includes funding business activities to scale your company, which may include R&D, product development, sales and marketing, team growth.
9. If I was in the first phase of a previous AC:Studio cohort, can I apply again?
Previous AC:Studio participants are not eligible for the current cohort, including companies that participated in Phase 1 but were not selected for Phase 2 of a cohort.
10. Does my startup need to be revenue generating to apply to AC:Studio?
You do not need to be revenue-generating to apply. We look for evidence of traction, which may include revenue, pilots, beta customers, product validation, investment, IP, partnerships, or other proof that the company is progressing toward commercialization.
11. Would a service business qualify for AC:Studio?
AC:Studio is designed for scalable technology companies with an innovative technology product or process. Service or consulting businesses are generally not a fit. However, companies with a scalable technology platform, proprietary product, or tech-enabled model may be considered if the business can demonstrate strong growth potential.
12. Is this program open to founders based outside of Canada?
AC:Studio is intended for companies based in southern Ontario and applicants must be incorporated in Canada, or show proof of a plan to incorporate before receiving funds. The program also includes bi-monthly in-person meetings and active participation requirements, so companies that cannot attend required in-person components are unlikely to be eligible.
13. How do the matching funds work?
If selected, you will be required to show $30k of matching funds in September 2026. If selected for Phase 2 of the program, you will be required to show $70k of matching funds in June 2027. Matching funds must be a cash balance in your business bank account matching your company name. Matching funds can come from sources such as founders, friends/family, angel or VC investment, academic institutions, government sources, or industry investors.
14. Does my company need to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals?
Yes. Your product, business model, or impact must align with one or more of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
15. What if I have received other government funding?
Applicants must disclose all prior and current funding sources. Previous funding from FedDev Ontario-funded programs may affect eligibility, especially where there is overlap in activities, objectives, or outcomes.
16. Can I apply if I am still pre-product or at the idea stage?
AC:Studio is best suited for early-stage companies with an innovative technology, some R&D completed, traction, and a path toward commercialization. Early idea-stage applicants may be less competitive unless they can demonstrate strong validation, technical progress, or product-market fit.
17. How do I know if my company is too far along to apply?
AC:Studio is designed to best support early-stage technology companies that are still working toward commercialization and scalable growth, generally before a Series A round. We assess fit based on stage, technology, traction, funding history, and the value AC:Studio can provide.