Planning to apply for Streams 2-2 or 3? Great! Before you hit that “Submit” button, be sure to check out our top three tips.
Tip 1: You complete me (ie: complete the form)
Completeness! It’s a must for drafting a strong application. Look through the entire draft and ensure that every question has been answered in full, with detailed (not generic) answers. Some common things you should be sure to include:
- A clear explanation how your startup will benefit from the specific services requested.
- Your IP budget (yes, we expect you to have one! Even if it’s small).
- Details on how you’ll grow your company in Canada.
- Answers that are thoughtful and are clearly written by you–not ChatGPT.
- A “recommender”, if you’re a current client of a program partner or collaborator. If you’re not, no worries! You can still apply.
And, specifically for Stream 3:
- Demonstrate that you have a strong commercialization strategy for your business–we love research, but we want to see how your invention will succeed in the market.
- Explain how you have a strong IP strategy (we don’t need to see an actual strategy document, we just need the questions to be answered).
Be sure to hit “submit” when you’ve completed all tasks in the portal. If you don’t, we won’t know that you’ve applied!
Tip 2: Check all the boxes (ie: demonstrate eligibility)
The programs team looks for basic eligibility when screening your application. The top 3 ways you can avoid getting a flag by us:
- Upload the right proof for the IP knowledge requirement: a registration email or a certificate of completion for an IP Certification Program (IP Pathways or the Stream 1 : IP Certification program), proof of completion for IP Assist Level 2, or a resume of your in-house IP expert that demonstrates IP knowledge. We love that your in-house expert might have completed an MBA, etc, but unless their resume drills down into “why IP” we’ll ask for more information.
- Make sure your quote meets our guidelines – does it have taxes broken down? Are all of the services eligible for the stream you’re applying for? Note that a common issue we see are requests for patent drafting under Stream 2-2. Patent drafting / applications and trademark applications are only eligible in Stream 3. (That happens so often we’re putting it in bold.)
- Double check that your service provider is registered. Not sure? There’s a database where you can do just that. If they’re not? Make sure they fill in the form to potentially get on the list.
Tip 3: You might be great (but we just don’t have enough funding at this time)
Okay, this is less a tip and more a PSA.
Unsuccessful with an application in the past? It doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have a strong company or haven’t submitted a strong application.
AccelerateIP receives far more applicants than we do funding. While we’d love to approve everyone, we unfortunately can’t. It’s important to know that the program is highly competitive and that means we turn away strong applicants at every intake.
Last of all, need more help? Feel free to watch our Info Session video.
You’re also welcome to reach out to us with your questions: accelerateip@newventuresbc.com.
Don’t forget: the application window to submit for Intake 2–the very last intake of the year–is May 1 to May 29, 2025.
