Applications Open
Why IFH Lab?
Over two years of meeting and speaking with impact-driven founders in fintech led us to believe there was an important gap in the ecosystem for these startups.
We learned about the unique demands of balancing profit with purpose, finding investors who share your vision, and serving customers who have been left out of the financial mainstream. Too often, founders found themselves being told they had to choose: impact or growth. We saw so much potential for these innovators using technology to solve for accessibility, affordability, and inclusion in Canadian financial services; but just like the companies themselves, any program built to help them grow and scale needed to be designed with impact AND growth as its foundational principles.
The IFH Lab is designed to close these gaps. The program is completely free for startups, we take no equity and ask for a commitment of just 6 hours a month. Through the program, startups receive:
→ One-on-one support delivered by hand-picked and world-class industry-specific experts who are mission-aligned, experienced, and in a position to make things happen.
→ Flexible programming that adapts and adjusts to your team’s needs to help you reach your goals and address your real pain points.
→ Connection to a growing community of mission-driven startups building a better financial system through tech innovation.
Selected startups will receive:
Mentorship
Personalized guidance from
over +200 experts from the finance, tech, fintech, and impact ecosystems across Canada
Community
A cohort of like-minded entrepreneurs to exchange best practices, and access to a broader network of investors and partners.
Programming
In-person intensives, one-on-one support from industry experts, fireside chats with successful founders, and individualized guidance throughout from our dedicated program team.
Service Providers
Over $100,000 in credits available from our software providers including Plaid, IBM, Zendesk, and Hubspot; Special rates from service providers like finnovate.io, Osler, Fintel Connect....and more
Our cohort in numbers
28
Startups
80+
Jobs Created
$85M+
Raised
100,000+
Canadians Helped
What we are looking for
We’re seeking startups that are using technology to help better the financial lives of Canadians.
Millions of Canadians are struggling to pay for today, save for tomorrow, and plan for the unexpected. Over 50% of Canadians spend more than or equal to their income every month. 1/3rd aren’t able to pay all their bills on time and in full. Fintech can fill the gap.
Whether offering creative new financial products for consumers, or solving persistent barriers to inclusion and accessibility in our existing financial services sector, we are looking for ideas that help Canadians build financial health and resilience.
Vulnerable
Solutions for the financially vulnerable that are struggling with debt or living paycheque-to-paycheque.
Gig workers
Tools that make it easier for gig workers and the self-employed to better manage the impacts of income volatility.
Seniors
Products and services helping seniors protect and manage their assets to increase financial independence.
Small businesses
Solutions that provide small business entrepreneurs the tools and resources they need to sustain and grow.
Indigenous Peoples
Innovations that address the lack of culturally appropriate financial products and services for Indigenous Peoples.
Renters
Emerging proptech solutions that help renters build credit, manage rent deposits and more.
Eligibility
You are an early-stage fintech company with a demonstrated commitment to improving the financial lives of Canadians with…
- At least one full-time employee
- A product in the market with some users (test users/pilots included)
- Incorporated in Canada, or with plans to incorporate in Canada by the end of the cohort
- Can commit to full participation in the program sessions
The 2024 program will happen in a hybrid model:
- In-person sessions (Toronto/Montreal): Orientation session on March 21st and 22nd, Mid-program on May 2nd and 3rd, and public Demo Day event at the end of June.
- 2 hours of mandatory virtual programming per month (workshops, panel discussions, or fireside chats)
- 1 industry expert speed-dating event per month (2 hrs)
- Up to three one-on-one office hours with a dedicated industry advisor on each of the following topics: Business Fundamentals (April), Product, Go-to-market and Process Management (May), Fundraising, and Strategic Partnerships (June).
Commitment
What our alumni are saying
Key Dates
Ready to get started?
FAQ
Don’t see your question? Reach out to us in the form below for a chat!
The program runs from March through June 2024. Applications close February 12th with interviews taking place on the last week of that month.
The program is intended to offer a flexible time commitment to ensure it does not interfere with you running and building your business.
The program is 3 months in length, with a total of about 2 hours of mandatory sessions or meetings a month. Startups have the option to participate in as many additional optional sessions as they want.
In-person sessions (Toronto/Montreal): Orientation session on March 21st and 22nd, Mid-program on May 2nd and 3rd, and public Demo Day event at the end of June.
Founders are encouraged to involve other members of their team as appropriate in the programming to allow them to get the most out of the program without creating too significant a time commitment.
The bulk of the program is delivered virtually. In-person sessions (Toronto/Montreal): Orientation session on March 21st and 22nd, Mid-program on May 2nd and 3rd, and public Demo Day event at the end of June. If this model may limit you from applying, please reach out to [email protected] for a chat so we can determine your needs!
There is no fee to participate in the program and we do not take any equity. Travel expenses will be reimbursed (there is a cap that will be put in place).
You can still apply if you are not incorporated as long as you can provide a clear timeline for incorporation by the end of the program. Our team and mentors can provide guidance on the incorporation process!
You’re right for the IFH Lab if you’re building a solution that: aims to improve the financial health and resilience of Canadians; builds your customer’s financial literacy skillset; makes financial products or services more broadly accessible and appropriate for most Canadians; better meets the needs of an underserved community or group that experiences discrimination in accessing financial services.
You should also have at least one team member who is either currently full-time or intends to go full-time in the near future. You should have some sort of minimum viable product that is ready to be tested with users.
Our program is unique in its focus on mission-driven fintech founders. It is not intended to be Entrepreneurship-101, but is instead focused on providing founders with what they need to build and scale a fintech business in Canada.
As part of the program, you will get access to:
- 200+ mission-aligned industry experts representing investors, larger fintechs, financial institutions, nonprofits, regulators, and more.
- Monthly optional fireside chats focused on capacity and knowledge building from experts on topics such as go-to-market strategy, digital marketing, product management, startup financing, and more.
- A peer network of 6- 8 impact-driven founders and an alumni network of 28 startups that have already added 80+ jobs, raised over $85 million, and helped 100,000+ Canadians since participating in the program.
- An assigned Program Mentor who will assist you in setting, refining, and tracking to 3-month goals.
- Over $100,000 in service provider credits from partners such as Amazon AWS, IBM, Plaid, Zendesk, Helcim, and more.
- Cash prizes available for the cohort at the Demo Day.
Our alumni consistently identify how valuable the connections made throughout the program have been. As a result of the program, our startups have found their first paying customers, onboarded IFH Lab mentors as official advisors, formed partnerships with other startups in their cohorts, and raised capital.
As a national-wide program, all orientation, peer sessions and workshops sessions will be carried out in English. You can however notify your preferences for French communications and the like upon selection into the program.
