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AC:Studio
Up to $100,000 to launch your startup
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 2 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
- 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 2 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
In March 2025, Cohort 1 completed the program. With that, we set a new gold standard for startup support programming.
These companies represent the region’s top startups. Together, they:
597+
new jobs
$39M
in investment raised
$29M
revenue generated
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 (click here for full description online).
- 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.
AC:Studio is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).
Do you require support in French? / Avez-vous besoin d'accompagnement en français ?
Si vous souhaitez accéder aux services AC en français, veuillez contacter [email protected]
If you'd like to access AC services in French please contact [email protected]