Program Guidelines

Launch Export Incubator Grows Export Capacity in Atlantic Canada

Program Overview & Objective

Under the Atlantic Growth Strategy, the four Atlantic Canadian provinces and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) offer the Launch Export Atlantic Incubator Program. This exporter readiness program builds the export capacity of small businesses in Atlantic Canada with the goal of enabling long-term economic growth in the region.

Launch Export selects 32 eligible companies to participate in the program (eight from each Atlantic Province). With the support of the provincial and federal governments, participation gives each company access to an estimated $15,000 of valuable export training, coaching and consultation.

Eligible Applicants

To be considered for the Launch Export Program, you must be a registered business in Atlantic Canada that qualifies as a Small or Medium Enterprise (max 499 employees). As there are only eight available spots per province, there will be a selection process to assess and finalize applicants. It is important to note that all selected businesses must agree to fully partake in all the required components of the Launch Export Program.

To be eligible for Launch Export, the SME must:

• Have interest to sell its products and/or services outside of Canada.
• Have a developed product and/or service to sell.
• Be available to fully participate in all required program activities, including:
  • Needs Assessment Interview
  • Virtual Training including:
    • Customer Discovery
    • Competitive Intelligence
    • Export Budgeting/Cash Flow Projections
    • Pricing Strategies for Export
    • Sales Training
    • Trade Show/Mission Training
  • Participate in coaching activities (online or via phone)
  • Participate in all program surveys

Participants accepted into the Launch Export Program will also be invited to participate in an Educational Trade Mission to the US. The current mission is planned for Atlanta, Georgia in the late spring.