Indigenous entrepreneurs rising

The Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program offers participating Indigenous entrepreneurs age 18-39 across Canada:

• Inclusive financing: from $5,000 to $75,000 in startup loan financing (up to $50,000 delivered by Futurpreneur, funded by Royal Bank of Canada [RBC]; and up to $25,000 loaned by BDC); and
• Mentorship: Up to two years of 1-1 expert mentorship; and
• Resources: From our Rock My Business series, interactive Business Plan Writer to our Cash Flow Template, we provide access to the resources you need to succeed; and
• Networking opportunities: Engage with a growing national network of Indigenous entrepreneurs, leaders and Indigenous-led community organizations at entrepreneurship events; and
• Follow-on financing: The opportunity to apply for up to $40,000 in follow-on financing delivered by Futurpreneur, funded by RBC, based on the first two to three years of successful business performance.

Content TBC.

At Futurpreneur we welcome aspiring, young entrepreneurs age 18-39 from all backgrounds to apply for support through our core Startup Program. Successful applicants receive up to $75,000 in loan financing (up to $25,000 from Futurpreneur and up to $50,000 from BDC) and up to two years of mentorship. They also gain access to a range of events, programs and resources.

Building on this program, we also offer the following initiatives:

• Side Hustle program: Sponsored by TD Bank, supports young entrepreneurs who want to launch or grow a part-time business, providing them with up to $25,000 in Futurpreneur loan financing, plus up to two years of mentorship and resources.
• Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program: Provides tailored support to aspiring, young Indigenous entrepreneurs. Delivered by an Indigenous team with lived experience, this program builds upon all the offerings of our core Startup Program, and also provides access to workshops and events led by Indigenous business experts, national networking opportunities and specialized resources.
• Black Entrepreneur Startup Program: Launched in March 2021, this program is delivered by a team with lived experience and builds upon all the offerings of our core Startup Program. Funded by RBC, with additional loan financing from BDC, it provides participants with $5,000 to $75,000 in inclusive startup loan financing and networking opportunities. It also offers the opportunity to apply for up to $40,000 in follow-on financing, funded by RBC, based on the first two years of successful business performance.

In addition to meeting all eligibility requirements for our regular Startup Program, participants in the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program must meet the following requirements:

• Self-identify as Indigenous and be Canadian citizens or permanent residents age 18-39; and
• TBC

To participate in this program, participants must self-identify as Indigenous. Intersectionality is also welcomed (e.g., those who identify as Black and Indigenous are eligible for this program).

Our 2,500 volunteer mentors are a diverse group of business professionals, representing a range of ethnicities, including Indigenous, and based in communities across Canada. As part of this initiative, we will continue to build our network, actively onboarding expert Indigenous business mentors who would like to volunteer their time to support young Indigenous entrepreneurs as they launch and grow their businesses. Mentorship is core to the support Futurpreneur provides and has been proven to be a key determinant to the success of a business in its critical first years post launch. While not all mentors for this program will be Indigenous, we know that having strong Indigenous role models with lived experiences will allow for a meaningful, dynamic and authentic experience for mentor and mentee, and will do our best to accommodate requests for Indigenous mentors.