Scale AI | Acceleration

The Acceleration program puts funding on the table to help finance the growth of AI startups and SME ecosystems, across Canada. The program targets those initiatives that:

• promote the growth of startups applying AI to supply chains
• strengthen collaboration between Canada’s top AI incubators and accelerators
• attract additional venture capital and investment in AI to Canada
• encourage top AI talent to establish their business in Canada
• support the emergence of new global AI leaders

Scale AI does not directly fund startups through the Acceleration program. You can benefit from Scale AI's support by participating in one of the accredited programs offered by partnering organizations across Canada.

The goal of the Acceleration program is to support the growth of the future giants of AI emerging from Canada’s promising incubation and accelerator ecosystem. 
The Acceleration program does not directly fund individual AI startups or SMEs. Rather, Scale AI provides funding to organizations that foster innovation at the regional level. 

To find a regional incubator or accelator funded / supported by Scale AI, please visit  "Scale AI: Programs we're investing in" 

Scale AI provides grants that subsidize the costs for select organizations to train their teams via customized digital intelligence programs.

Take advantage of financial resources to develop artifical intelligence skills with funding that covers up to 50% of the costs related to customized training in the domain.

Eligibility of participants

Your business is eligible if:

• You are a company that will train employees working in Canada
• Your organization is not a department or agency of the municipal, provincial, or federal government

Project Eligibility

• Your project is eligible if it involves training in digital intelligence or artificial intelligence with content that has been custom-developed or adapted for your company, in collaboration with the training provider of your choice. We do not have a pre-approved list of training providers.
• The training can take the form of lectures, but also coaching, workshops, ideation sessions, etc.
• We can fund the costs related to training preparation, delivery, and follow-up, as well as some associated expenses.
• We do not fund publicly available training or programs that are not tailored to the company’s needs.
• We do not fund training on how to use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT).
• The total project amount must be at least $5,000. There is no maximum amount for submitting a request.
• There is no minimum or maximum duration for the training.
• There is no deadline for submitting applications.

How to Submit a Training Project?

Submit an eligibility request here. Along with your request, you must include the course plan (or service offer) for the training. We will then contact you for the next steps.

How the Program Works

1. Fill out an eligibility request here. Once we receive your request, we will contact you.
2. If your project qualifies, you will be asked to complete the full application.
3. Your project will be presented to our selection committee for a decision.
4. If your project is approved, we will proceed with signing the contract between your company and Scale AI. At this stage, we will confirm the grant amount. Please note that in order to receive funding, your training must not start before Scale AI has approved the project.
5. Complete the training.
6. Pay the invoice to the provider, then submit the required documents to Scale AI to receive a partial reimbursement of the costs.

Eligibility of Training providers

You are eligible if:

• You are a Canada-based organization offering customized training to companies.

Training providers may include businesses, non-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, consortiums, research centers, etc.

Please note that we may request the trainer’s resume.

We do not have a pre-approved list of training providers.

Project Eligibility

• Your project is eligible if it involves training in digital intelligence or artificial intelligence, with content that has been custom-developed or adapted for your client.
• The training can take the form of lectures, but also coaching, workshops, ideation sessions, etc.
• We can fund the costs related to training preparation, delivery, and follow-up, as well as some associated expenses.
• We do not fund publicly available training or programs that are not tailored to the company’s needs.
• We do not fund training on how to use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT).
• The total project amount must be at least $5,000. There is no maximum amount for submitting a request.
• There is no minimum or maximum duration for the training.
• There is no deadline for submitting applications.

How to Submit a Training Project?

To get a training approved, your client, the learning company, must submit the request.

The contract will also be signed between Scale AI and your client.

Please note that we do not pre-approve training content for providers. Each project must be submitted individually.

How the Program Works

1. Once you have developed the course plan with your client, it is the client who must submit the application to us via this link.
2. If the project is eligible, you will need to provide certain information for the application, including detailed costs.
3. Your project will be presented to our selection committee for a decision.
4. If the project is approved, we will proceed with signing the contract between Scale AI and your client. Please note that for your client to receive funding, the training must not start before Scale AI has approved the project.
5. Deliver the training and invoice your client.
6. Your client will receive a partial reimbursement from Scale AI, after submitting the required documents.

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