Accelerator Program

Program Focus

We are looking to support startups and seed stage businesses who will bring new products, processes, or applications into our forest sector – whether they use our region’s wood, our large supply of underutilized hardwoods, use residual wood products from our established industry, or improve the businesses of those who do.

We are inviting applications from a wide range of businesses – whether you see an opportunity for a new application of an existing technology, or if you are developing a prototype for a new technology or process within the wide array of emerging uses for forest fibres.

Program Description

Eligibility

First Cohort starting March 23, 2026
$20,000 in investment – based on your key milestones
Connection to key industry stakeholders – both for product validation and as potential first customers
Collaborative workspace
Access to mentors
Access to technical expertise and facilities for prototyping and testing

Businesses will get access to expert mentors and sector advisors, including:

Scot Rubin – General Manager, Lake Nipigon Forest Management Inc.
Martin Kaiser – Retired Manager, Domtar Woodlands; Current Director, CRIBE
Ray Jarvinen – Owner, ITEC 2000
Alex Bilyk – Director of Innovation, Silvacom
Nikolai DeMartini – Director, Pulp & Paper Centre, U of T
Vince Rutter – President, Rutter BioEnergy
Mathew Leitch, Wood Science and Forest Products Professor, Lakehead University
Triin Hart, NorthWinds Environmental Services
Pedram Fatehi, Director, Biorefining Research Institute

Eligible applicants will propose one or more of the following

Manufacture of forest-based products
Forestry-based technology
Other innovations in the forest sector

Successful applicants will participate full time the 3-month accelerator program in Thunder Bay, and will plan to locate their businesses in Thunder Bay or Northwestern Ontario.

Ineligible:

Ineligible applicants include:

Resellers, wholesalers, distributors
Consulting companies, except those offering an eligible product, technology, or innovation as described above.

Expectations

We are looking to support entrepreneurs and businesses that are:

Coachable
Scalable
Have potential for intellectual property
Demonstrate financial commitment to their venture

Interested? Let us get to know you!

Get started by completing an Expression of Interest form. This will help us get to know a little about you and your proposal, and give you some areas to consider. Once completed, you can expect us to notify you with our full application process and deadlines.

Expression of Interest Form

Name

Phone

Current Location

What is your novel product or process?

Who is your target customer?

Would your product, process, or application:

Use Ontario Wood? Use a residual wood product? Serve businesses which use Ontario wood?

What steps have you taken to develop your business or idea?

If you haven’t yet started your business, do you meet the legal requirements to start a business in Canada?

Yes No

Do you want to get in touch with industry experts to briefly discuss your product, process, or application, learn more about the sector, and identify areas of opportunity?

Yes No