Government Grants & Funding for SaaS Companies (2026)
Offset software engineering salaries and server costs by stacking federal wage subsidies and retroactive tax incentives. Compare verified federal and local programs, verify matching criteria, and model your funding stacking.
The SaaS R&D + Wage Stack
How software startups recover up to 75% of development payroll without giving up company equity.
Hire university computer science students using Mitacs co-funding (covers 50% of the stipend).
Secure an IRAP grant to offset salaries of your full-time local core developers.
At tax time, file for SR&ED (Canada) or IRS Form 6765 (USA) to reclaim tax credits on the remaining out-of-pocket payroll expenses.
Apply for digital export grants (like CanExport or STEP) to fund overseas marketing, localized localization, and travel.
Recommended Programs (9)
Latest Update: June 2026Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED)
Agency: Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)
Canada's largest tax incentive for businesses conducting scientific research or experimental development. Provides a fully refundable investment tax credit (ITC) for eligible R&D expenditures.
Provides non-repayable grants and advisory support to help Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) develop and commercialize innovative technologies.
Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)
Agency: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
Helps small and medium-sized businesses digitize operations, adopt advanced CRM/ERP tools, upgrade cybersecurity, and scale ecommerce pipelines.
Pairs Canadian businesses with academic researchers (grad students and postdocs) to execute specialized R&D projects, offsetting the cost of hiring advanced researchers.
Provides non-dilutive funding to early-stage startups developing highly innovative, high-risk technologies with deep commercial market potential.
California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC)
Agency: Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz)
An income tax credit available to businesses that want to locate or grow in California, evaluated on job creation, salary levels, and capital investment.
Helps New York small businesses enter or expand into international markets by offsetting costs for trade shows, translations, and global marketing campaigns.
Reimburses Ohio employers for the cost of training existing or new employees to earn industry-recognized technology credentials (e.g., AWS, PMP, Salesforce).
Provides tax credits to expanding companies making investments and creating jobs in Illinois, calculated as a percentage of the state income tax withheld from new employees.
Related Resources & Guides
SR&ED Application & Documentation Guide
Playbook for tracking software development hours and claiming CRA R&D credits.
How to Apply for IRAP Funding Guide
Best practices for contacting ITAs and building project milestones.
Funding Eligibility Estimator
Calculate potential matching grants and tax credits for your business profile.
Non-Dilutive Funding Advisory
FSI Digital provides pre-qualification reviews to help SaaS, ML, and industrial ventures match programs. We do not charge upfront application fees; all work is handled by experienced specialists.