How Founders Stack Public Funding
Read how Canadian startups and small businesses use our research to identify, stack, and claim non-dilutive capital.
Stacking R&D Incentives to Scale an Engineering Team
Overview
A growing B2B SaaS startup needed to expand its engineering team to build a machine-learning logistics optimizer, but wanted to avoid venture dilution.
The Challenge
High salary costs for senior developers and machine learning engineers, combined with uncertainty about whether regional grants could be combined with federal tax credits.
Stacking Strategy
Using the FSI Digital Complete Bundle, the company structured a dual-funding strategy: matching active salaries to NRC-IRAP program streams for upfront cash flow, then utilizing SR&ED tax credits retroactively to recoup 68% of remaining eligible expenses.
Key Outcomes
- NRC-IRAP wage support: $140,000 approved
- SR&ED Tax Credit refund: $200,000 processed
- Effective engineering cost reduction: 58% overall savings
Accelerating Digital Transformation & ERP Integration
Overview
A boutique food processing facility experienced operational bottlenecks due to manual inventory logs and legacy spreadsheets.
The Challenge
The business needed to invest in an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform but lacked the $25,000 budget to pay for digital advisory planning and software integration.
Stacking Strategy
The business used the $19 Funding Match Report, which flagged immediate eligibility for the Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP). The report provided the exact advisory templates required for fast-track approval.
Key Outcomes
- CDAP Boost Your Business Technology Grant: $15,000 secured
- Unlocked BDC Interest-Free Loan eligibility: $50,000 at 0%
- ERP migration completed in 90 days with minimal cash outlay
Physical R&D Funding & Pilot Equipment Scaling
Overview
A clean technology startup was building a physical pilot reactor to test emissions-reduction catalysts, incurring significant machinery and pilot lab costs.
The Challenge
Most startup funding guides focus solely on software. The company had substantial physical capital expenditure (CapEx) and materials costs that typical software credits exclude.
Stacking Strategy
The company purchased the $49 Funding Action Plan. The report mapped out specific Alberta Innovates physical testing grants and detailed which experimental labor costs could be claimed under physical SR&ED guidelines.
Key Outcomes
- Alberta Innovates testing grant: $100,000 matching funds
- Physical SR&ED materials & labor refund: $80,000 claimed
- Successful pilot facility build-out completed 4 months ahead of schedule
Outcome Authenticity & Integrity
To protect client privacy and proprietary R&D descriptions, company names and exact product details have been anonymized. All capital figures and program approvals represent actual funding outcomes structured by our research methodology.