Business people in Canada have faced a lot of challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Small business startups and consumers have been the most pressed with the financial pressures during this period. Intuit Prosperity Accelerator Program powered by Highline Beta offers a startup program challenge to help small businesses and consumers handle financial pressures with innovative strategies for financial prosperity.
The startup accelerator program helps tech startup companies in Toronto and its environs know their consumers better, improve their products and expand their territory. The program focuses on startup accelerator strategies for businesses with identified challenges, even if not in Toronto but can attend all in-person meetings.
Benefits
The startup accelerator program will offer businesses the following benefits:
• Support for a tech startup for advanced innovation and funding
• Four months of in-person and virtual training
• Access to a variety of business experts, coaches, mentors and alumni startup community
• Tailored training methodology from dedicated coaches
• Monitoring and evaluation opportunity from Highline Beta
Eligibility
• The startup must have one or more challenge areas located in Toronto and its environs
• Startups at the seed stage are preferred even though pre-seed or later-stage businesses applications are also considered
• Startups with product traction
• Businesses with scale potential
The program is designed to help tech startup companies advance innovation and boost financial prosperity in consumers and small enterprises in Canada.
Eligibility Criteria
- Startups with one or more challenges that offer solutions to small businesses and consumers will be eligible for the startup programs. Some of the tech startup solutions include:
• Mortgage and rent costs
• Savings and investment startups
• Debt and Income stability startups
• Startups that help manage inflation
• Human resource management startups
• Startup helping self-employed workers do different businesses - Startup businesses in Toronto and surrounding areas
The startup program is open to all startup businesses in Canada, with an in-person programming session in Toronto offices. Companies around Toronto are advantaged to attend in-person programming sessions that will go on for four months. However, if your company is not in Toronto but commits to attending all the in-person program sessions, you’re free to join. - The startup company needs the technological ability to offer the solutions they desire. The committee will check your business status and arrange a video call to know you and your company if you pass the first fit.
Benefits & Prizes
The startup programs will benefit consumers, small businesses and self-employed individuals.
Benefits for consumers
• Helps adapt to the rising interest rates
The program assists people in getting affordable mortgages to cushion them from the increasing cost of living due to the rising interest rates. It helps them to get affordable rentals or homes while also looking at alternative mortgage approaches like rent-to-own, co-ownership and distributorship ownership models
• Helps in savings and investment management
It Helps Canadians spend less on utilities and daily expenses while offering financial literacy sessions to help them manage their investment well. The program offers customized and automated saving plans to enhance the saving culture.
• Empower consumers to be debt free
This program helps consumers pay off their debts with flexible repayment plans without additional charges. Employees can also get insurance solutions if they lose their jobs. This offers support for people to start up small businesses.
Benefits for small businesses and self-employed individuals
• It helps small businesses and self-employed individuals with proactive plans to address the rising costs and manage business disruptions.
• It helps the business maintain and manage its human resource.
• The program helps individuals manage businesses with professional advice and tools for multiple business management.
Timeline to Apply/Submission Requirements
• Application submission: November 14, 2022
• Application Deadline: January 13, 2023
• Program Start Date: February 23, 2023
• Demo day: June 2023
The selection process for the startup programs shall be two tiers. The selection committee will review each application and pick those that fit the general requirements. They will be engaged in a video call for further assessments. The selected applicants will be informed two weeks before the start of the program. The virtual and in-person program will run from February 2023 to June 2023.
For more information on the program: Intuit Prosperity Accelerator Program