Starter Company Plus

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Starter Company Plus information session registration

Page Summary

The Halton Region Small Business Centre is local facilitator of Starter Company Plus, a program to support entrepreneurs. Learn more about program requirements.

Overview of Starter Company Plus

Starter Company Plus supports eligible (aspiring) entrepreneurs looking to build their small businesses. The program provides training, mentoring, and advice. It also helps small business owners apply for grants that will aid them financially.

The Halton Region Small Business Centre is the program administrator in Halton Region.

Program Sponsor

Starter Company Plus is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade

Eligibility criteria for Starter Company Plus

To apply for the Starter Company Plus program, you must:

be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen
be 18 years of age or older
not be attending school or planning to return to school while enrolled in the program
not be enrolled in any other government-funded employment program
own, or plan to own, a business in Halton Region

Application / Registration

Before applying to the Starter Company Plus program, you must attend an information session
Applications will not be accepted if you fail to meet all program requirements. All submissions must be complete to be considered

Starter Company Plus Pitch Competition for grant funds

You may be eligible for a grant if you:

can provide match funding of 25% of the grant amount
can provide a comprehensive business plan
can provide a 2 year forecast of financials
have completed mandatory training (including seminars, webinars, modules and workshops)
are selected to take part in the Pitch Competition

The Pitch Competition

The Halton Region Small Business Centre sponsors a Pitch Competition as part of the Starter Company Plus program. Each Starter Company Plus participant is invited to submit their business plan for consideration for the Pitch Competition. Business Plans will be reviewed and evaluated. Participants with the top Business Plans will be invited to pitch to our panel of judges. If your pitch is successful, you will be awarded a grant of $5,000. If you are awarded a grant, you must spend the funds before the end date of your cohort. You must provide receipts showing how the grant funding was spent.

Winners of Grant Funding

A panel of judges chosen by the Halton Region Small Business Centre select grant winners. Each business plan oral pitch presentation is carefully evaluated and scored. Those with the highest scores are awarded grant funding. All pitch participants will be notified by telephone or email. Notifications will be made within two weeks of evaluations. Should an award be declined or a winning applicant not be contacted within 5 days of our effort, we may select another recipient.

The decision of program judges is final and binding.

Agreement with Rules

All Starter Company Plus participants must:

meet all eligibility requirements;
agree to abide by all rules and regulations* of the program

*Rules and regulations are subject to change without notice.

Certifications

If you require certification and/or license for your business, you must have these on program enrolment in Starter Company Plus.

Mentorships

Only those who participate in the program will receive group mentoring.

Limitation of Liability

By participating in the Program you agree to release and hold harmless The Regional Municipality of Halton and its employees, volunteers, officers and representatives, from any liability, injury, death, loss, litigation, claim or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not from (i) participation in the Program (including the pitch competition) and (ii) one’s acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the grant or any portion thereof.