The Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs
Created by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers, the Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs is an exclusive opportunity for OCAD U students and recent alumni to receive funding to help launch or grow a creative business.
The fund supports creative businesses in all the possible forms they can take. Read about the past winners:
Recipients will be awarded up to $6,000 to help launch their business.
This is a two-stage application process. There will be workshops to guide you at each stage and the ability to book one-on-one sessions for additional support. The timeline for each stage of this opportunity:
- Submit an Application – Jan 28, 2024, 11:59 PM EST
- Up to 10 Finalists will be selected to prepare a pitch – Feb 2024
- Finalists present their business pitch to an external jury – Mar 2024
Please note: the 2023-2024 applications are now closed. We have left the below information up as an archive. We anticipate the next round of applications opening late fall, 2024.
Info Session and Advising
Attend a Virtual Info Sessions to learn more about the opportunity and how to submit an Expression of Interest:
- Wed. Jan. 17, 11-11:45 AM EST
If you'd like 1-1 support, book an advising appointment with Alexandra Hong through the Talent Network, or by emailing ahong@ocadu.ca
Eligibility
To be eligible for this opportunity, you must be:
- an OCAD U student OR recent alumni from any program of study who graduated in 2021 or later
- If your business idea involves personnel from outside OCAD U, then one co-founder must meet the above qualification
- Your business has not yet received more than $10,000 in funding or revenue at the time of application
* Not sure if your idea qualifies for this opportunity? Email Alexandra Hong at ahong@ocadu.ca with the subject “The Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs”.
Submitting an Application
Applications are accepted via Typeform. A complete application consists of:
- Applicant Details
- (1500 characters max) Describe your business idea
- (1000 characters max) Describe successes or milestones you have achieved to date. Outline some challenges you face in realizing your business ideas.
- (1000 characters max) Describe at least one customer segment
- (1000 characters max) Describe the channels - the ways you will engage, attract, and secure your customers
- (1000 characters max) Describe how you plan to balance costs needed to run the business versus the revenue
- (1000 characters max) Describe 3 milestones you need to achieve
- (Optional, 1000 characters max) If your business tackles a social problem, describe the social problem your business addresses and how your idea tackles or solves this problem
Download Application Instructions (pdf)
Deadline to submit: Sun. Jan. 28, 2024 11:59 PM EST
Prizes
- First place will receive $6,000
- Second place will receive $5,000
- Third place will receive $4,000
- An honourable mention will receive $3,000
- A social enterprise will be awarded the Ample Labs Prize and receive $1,000 CAD
- All 10 finalists will receive 1-1 mentorship for their business
About the Ample Labs Prize
The Ample Labs Prize is part of an endowed gift provided by OCAD U alumni and Ample Labs co-founders CG Chen and Geordie Graham. The prize supports students and recent alumni who want to launch a company tackling a social problem. Ample Labs is a social start-up using AI & Data to help cities prevent homelessness.
Inclusivity Statement
OCAD U is committed to promoting access to this opportunity for equity-seeking groups that are under-represented as creative entrepreneurs. We encourage applications from individuals of equity-seeking communities including racialized and Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities / expressions. Applicants are invited to voluntarily self-identify with any of these communities in their application.