How can Canadian cybersecurity startups help SMEs and individuals deal with cyberattacks, particularly those involving ransomware?

The goal of this call for applications is to inspire the launch and growth of cybersecurity companies at a time when cyber threats to Canadian citizens and businesses are on the rise.

CONTEXT

What do a small town in Ontario, a plastics manufacturing firm in Winnipeg, an arts centre in PEI, and a fighter jet training company in Montreal have in common? They were all victims of a ransomware attack over the last several months. That's how CIRA's Éric Brynaert started his October 2022 blog.

The 2020 Cyberthreat Defense Report (CDR) published by CyberEdge Group provides a wealth of information on cyberattacks. The report revealed that over a 12-month period, 78% of companies had suffered at least one cyberattack. Of those companies, over 70% had been hit by ransomware. That's a huge number!

A recent Leger survey shed some light on this worrisome phenomenon: Of the companies surveyed that said they'd been the victim of a cyberattack, more than half (56%) admitted to having paid the requested ransom. These threats and attacks translate into skyrocketing costs for businesses and can put them at risk or even lead to bankruptcy.

Whether perpetrated by cybercriminal groups such as Conti, BlackCat, LockBit, Karakurt and Qilim or by individuals acting alone, ransomware attacks expose companies to risks ranging from disrupted operations and significant financial losses to reputational damage and loss of data security. Cybercriminals' preferred means of access is through the actions of poorly informed employees. The recent ransomware attack on Sobeys, where an employee clicked on a link they received in an email, is a case in point. What technological solutions can prevent this type of incident?

Ransomware attacks pose a threat to Canada's national security and economic prosperity, as they're lucrative to cybercriminals.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre had received some 68,259 reports of fraud as of September 30, 2022. Aside from raising awareness about cybersecurity, what can we do to better protect Canadians? For example, how can we prevent them from having their identity stolen so hackers can use it to apply for a mortgage or credit card?

PREFERRED APPROACHES

• Limit ransomware risks for SMEs
• Reduce security incidents caused by employee errors
• Help businesses become more resilient to ransomware (backups, continuity plan, etc.)

Cybercriminals are putting increasing pressure on businesses and citizens. In response, Startup in Residence and its partners want to support cybersecurity entrepreneurs who are coming up with innovative and sustainable technology solutions. They want to encourage the entrepreneurs to push their development further and prepare them to receive venture capital to significantly accelerate their growth.

ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Operate a business incorporated in Canada
• Have the potential to make a positive impact on the social and economic development of communities in Canada
• Have at least a working prototype of the solution
• Have raised less than $1 million in dilutive funding
• Have at least 1 co-founder working full-time for the business
• Have growth potential
• Have a founding or management team interested in hands-on coaching whose members have entrepreneurial and IT skills
• Have applied to participate in the Startup in Residence program, according to the program rules

IMPORTANT DATES

Call for applications starts: February 13^th, 2023
Information session: February 28^th, 2023, at 4 p.m.
Call for applications ends: March 9^th, 2023

GRANTS AND FUNDING

Up to 3 startups will receive a non-dilutive grant of $15,000. 

Startup teams:

• Will be accepted into the Startup in Residence program, Desjardins's investment accelerator that provides 8 months of support to startups that have a positive socioeconomic impact on communities
• May also be eligible for funding of up to $250,000

Sources:

BRYNAERT, Eric. « L’état des rançongiciels au Canada » 
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security
Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
GAGNON, Frédérick, Danny GAGNÉ, Gabrielle GENDRON, et Alexis RAPIN. « Geopolitical Cyber Incidents in Canada, 2022 Assessment
HOWLETT, Debbie. « Using technology to protect your security assets, workforce and data »
PORTRAI.TI. Novipro

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How can impact tech companies enhance the lives of Canadians by considering environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects?

The goal of this call for applications is to inspire the launch and growth of social impact startups¹.

CONTEXT

Climate change, social inequalities, deforestation, poor waste management, and increasing natural and industrial disasters have led to society's growing search for innovative technological solutions to build a better world for future generations. Scientific journals and UN institutions continue to sound the alarm:

• Earth Overshoot Day, the day when we use up all the resources the planet can regenerate in a year, is falling earlier and earlier. In 2022, that day fell on July 28.
• Canada is the world's fourth largest polluter per capita.
• Forecasts predict mass migration due to climate change.
• Working conditions in some developing countries are dangerous and unsanitary.
• Access to healthcare, education and safety services are limited for marginalized communities, such as Indigenous people and individuals without housing.
• And the list goes on.

ESG factors are shaping the business environment and affecting the financial performance and long-term success of companies. The Startup in Residence program and its partners understand the growing pressure stakeholders and regulators are putting on businesses. Entrepreneurs are thinking up innovative and sustainable tech solutions, but they need support to develop their ideas. That's where Startup in Residence comes in. It prepares entrepreneurs for venture capital funding so they can significantly accelerate their company's growth.

*Sources :

• About Earth Overshoot Day - #MoveTheDate of Earth Overshoot Day
• Most polluted countries in the world: 2022 ranking (selectra.com)
• Environmental, social and governance (ESG) KPMG Canada (home.kpmg)
• Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report | Desjardins
• 2021 Social and Cooperative Responsibility Report).

1 Startups that have a positive socioeconomic impact on communities

TECH PRIORITIES

Technological solutions addressing the following (non-exhaustive list):

• Environmental
  • Air pollution;
  • Greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and carbon sequestration;
  • Energy efficiency and sustainable energy;
  • Residual and hazardous materials management;
  • Circular economy and resource recovery;
  • Drinking water consumption and wastewater management;
  • Sustainable prevention of risks related to industrial disasters;
  • Conservation of aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity;
  • Fight against climate change;
  • Sustainable Agriculture and Agri-Food
  • Sustainable cities and mobility;
  • Climate risk prevention.
• Social
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion;
  • Support for marginalized and disadvantaged groups;
  • Quality education for all;
  • Employee training;
  • Employee health and safety and accident prevention, family-work reconciliation;
  • Impact of inflation;
  • Access to affordable housing and social housing management;
  • Engagement with local communities;
  • Incentives for business resilience;
  • Fight against food waste;
• Governance
  • Anti-corruption;
  • Management and auditing;
  • Ethical management of subcontracting and supply chains and codes of conduct;
  • Impact reporting;

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Operate a business incorporated in Canada
• Have potential to make a positive impact on the social and economic development of communities in Canada
• Have at least a working prototype of your solution
• Have raised less than $1 million in dilutive funding
• Have at least 1 co-founder working full-time for the business
• Have growth potential
• Have a founding or management team interested in governance with skills for entrepreneurship and IT
• Have applied to participate in the Startup in Residence program, according to program rules

IMPORTANT DATES

The call for applications includes mentoring and workshops to support and guide participants through the development of their business.

• Application period starts: September 27, 2022
• Info session: October 11, 2022
• Application period ends: November 4, 2022

PRIZES (Mentoring and support)

Up to 3 startups will receive a non-dilutive grant of $15,000.

Startups teams:

• Will be accepted in the Startup in Residence program, Desjardins's investment accelerator that provides 8 months of support to startups that have a positive socioeconomic impact on communities
• • May also be eligible for funding of up to $250,000 $

The call for applications is now closed

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With strong demand for payment solutions that are practical, fast and secure, how can fintech companies help make Canadians' lives easier?

The goal of this call for applications is to inspire the launch and growth of startups that can help simplify how we make payments in Canada.

CONTEXT

With real-time payments set to roll out in Canada in 2023, financial institutions and fintech companies are constantly looking for new ways to provide top-quality products and services that are instant and secure.

The driving force behind this trend is the increase in online payments and the high demand for quick, secure and practical payment solutions. The data from Payments Canada¹ shows just how important it is to create solutions that fit our fast-paced world:

• 80% of Canadians want more practical payment solutions
• 50% of Canadians are ready to stop using cash and 66% would stop writing cheques if there were better options
• 83% of Canadians who use e-wallets find them practical
• Businesses are starting to use online transfers more and more and this payment method is growing 50% faster than any other

Startup in Residence and its partners understand the legal, technical and development challenges that entrepreneurs building practical, fast and secure payment solutions can face. The program's goal is to support these entrepreneurs so they can go further and be ready for the venture capital stage to speed up their growth in a big way.

The startups we're targeting must have solutions that improve Canadians' payment experience.

1 Payments Canada is responsible for the physical infrastructure and associated bylaws, rules and standards that support payment systems in Canada.

PRIORITIES

• Real-time payment solutions
• Open banking systems
• Payments solutions with a positive social impact:
  • Payment solutions that minimize digital exclusion
  • Payment solutions that promote citizen-led and community initiatives
• Payment solutions that use AI to help make informed choices
• Payment solutions that serve the circular economy (cash flow)
• Payment solutions that facilitate and improve the consumer payment experience

ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Operate a business incorporated in Canada
• Have at least a working prototype of your solution
• Have not received any pre-institutional investment financing (VC, etc.)
• Have at least 1 co-founder working full time for the business
• Have large scale growth ambition and potential
• Have a founding/management team interested in hands-on coaching, and who have IT and entrepreneurial skills
• Be registered to participate in the challenge according to the rules set by Startup in Residence and Fintech Cadence

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The call for applications will include mentoring sessions and workshops to support and guide the participants as they develop their company.

• Start of application period: April 27^th, 2022
• Information session: May 18^th, 2022
• End of application period: May 24^th, 2022

PRIZES

Up to 3 startups selected for the program with a $15,000 grant each.

These teams will be accepted to the Startup in Residence program, Desjardins' 8-month business accelerator. The teams would also be eligible to receive a potential investment of up to $250,000.

THE CALL FOR APPLICATIONS IN PAYMENT TECHNOLOGIES IS CLOSED

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How can Canadian healthtech startups accelerate and improve the digital transformation of healthcare?

This call for applications is designed to stimulate the appearance and growth of startups that will help our society rise to the challenges of revitalizing and adapting healthcare technology.

OVERVIEW

The past 2 years have shown just how much transformation and innovation our healthcare ecosystem needs globally. With rising costs and issues around quality and access, there is ample room for innovation.

We believe that technology and innovation hold many of the answers. This call for applications is meant to support healthtech entrepreneurs so that they can go further in their development and get ready to raise venture capital funding to meaningfully accelerate their growth.

The startups we're targeting must offer solutions that improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare.

PRIORITY AREAS

• Digitizing existing processes using Internet of Things or artificial intelligence in medicine and healthcare
• Personalized medicine and consumer medtech
• Enabling virtual care or telehealth
• Care for the aged and aging
• Disease-specific healthtech solutions
• General healthcare SaaS applications

ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Operate a business incorporated in Canada
• Have at least a working prototype of your solution
• For medical devices, have clarity on classification as Class I or Class II (no approval required)
• Have raised less than $1 million, excluding non-dilutive funding
• Have at least 1 co-founder working full time for the business
• Have large scale growth ambition and potential
• Have a founding/management team interested in hands-on coaching, and who have IT and entrepreneurial skills
• Be registered to participate in the challenge according to the rules set by Startup in Residence and Esplanade Ventures

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The call for applications will include mentoring sessions and workshops to support and guide the participants as they develop their company. 

• Start of application period: January 10, 2022
• Information session: January 17, 2022
• End of application period: January 28, 2022, at 5 p.m.
• Semi-finals: March 8, 2022
• Finals: March 24, 2022 (from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) 
• Admission to the Startup in Residence program: April 18, 2022

PRIZES

The winning team will receive a non-dilutive grant of $25,000. The runner-up team will receive a grant of $15,000.

Both these teams will be accepted to the Startup in Residence program, Desjardins' 8-month business accelerator. The teams would also be eligible to receive a potential investment of up to $250,000, as well as dedicated coaching and support from Esplanade Ventures.

The third-place winner will receive, a non-dilutive grant of $5,000 and coaching from Esplanade Ventures.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

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How can fintech startups help Canadians and Canadian businesses address cybersecurity challenges and become more resilient to cyberthreats?

DESJARDINS AND CYBERSECURITY

Desjardins has made great strides in information security over the past 18 months and will continue to apply international best practices. To prevent and detect data breaches, organizations need a wide range of personnel, technical and procedural security measures in place. The security program as a whole—including people, processes and technology—is what helps protect organizations from fraud and information security threats.

HOW CAN FINTECH BUSINESSES HELP?

Canadian individuals and businesses are more dependent than ever on the internet to carry out their day-to-day activities. Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend has gained speed so that Canadians can work, shop and socialize safely, in accordance with the physical distancing policies issued by public health authorities. However, as devices, information and activities move online, their vulnerability to cyberthreats increases.

According to the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security the number of cyberthreat actors is rising and their actions are becoming more sophisticated. Given the scope of these challenges, a whole range of innovations will have to be deployed to transform our ways of thinking and acting to help Canadian individuals and businesses prevent, detect and respond to cyberthreats.

These ideas—and many others— are some of the potential approaches for making Canadian individuals and businesses more resilient.

PRIORITIES

• Preventing, detecting and fighting against ransomware
• Browsing and doing business online securely
• Protecting Canadians against online dating and romance financial scams (Article in French only)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Operate a business incorporated in Canada
• Be registered to participate in the challenge according to the rules set by Startup in Residence
• At a minimum, have a working prototype of your solution that is ready for launch (pre-marketing)
• Be in the process of assessing your capital needs and planning your financing (pre-seed or seed)
• Have at least one of the co-founders working full time in the startup
• Have growth potential
• Have a management team made up of individuals ​who are motivated, collaborative and open to coaching and who have both a business- and IT-oriented profile
• Be registered to participate in the challenge according to the rules set by Startup in Residence

CHALLENGE PROGRAM

The Cyber Challenge features mentoring sessions, workshops and pitches to help participants grow their businesses. 

• Start of application period: August 19th, 2021
• Information session: August 25th, 2021 (Reserve your spot now)
• Closing of application period: September 13, 2021
• Semi-finals: October 4, 2021
• Finale: October 21, 2021
• Admission to the Startup in Residence program: November 15, 2021

PRIZES FOR WINNING TEAMS

The team that wins the Cybersecurity Startups Call for Application will receive a $25,000 non-dilutive grant.

The second place team will receive a $15,000 grant.

Both winners will earn a spot in Startup in Residence, Desjardins's 8-month startup accelerator, and will be eligible for a potential investment of up to $250,000. 

Third place will get a $5,000 grant and coaching under the Fintech Cadence Sandbox program.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

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How can canadian fintech startups help society address the challenges of climate change and support a just transition to a low-carbon, more sustainable, resilient and inclusive model?

The goal of this challenge is to spur the emergence and growth of startups that will help financial institutions and their clients overcome the challenges of climate change both at home and abroad.

OVERVIEW

Desjardins and climate change Climate change is taking a heavy toll on the environment, society and the economy, and this can affect people's physical, mental and financial health.

Since 1990, we've been taking action to protect the environment and mitigate climate change. We recognize the urgent need to act—and act fast—in response to the challenges that climate change poses.

In late 2017, we made a number of commitments toward achieving the Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global temperature rise to below 2 degrees. These commitments included achieving operational carbon neutrality, focusing our infrastructure investments on renewable energy projects, and reducing the carbon footprint of our own investments.

We stepped up these commitments in 2019 with a new target to reduce GHG emissions under our operational control to 20% below 2018 levels by 2024. In 2020, we became the first financial institution in North America to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance and issued what NGO Reclaim Finance called one of the world's most robust coal exit policies.

Learn more about our commitment to the climate and the environment.

In 2021, we renewed our climate strategy, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality (net zero emissions) by 2040 in our operations, procurement and lending, as well as our own investments in 3 key carbon-intensive sectors of the economy: energy, transportation and real estate.

We'll achieve this ambitious goal through the support and engagement of all our employees, managers and directors, and through the joint efforts and progress of our partners in the financial sector and Canadian society.

Learn more about our 2040 climate strategy.

How can fintech companies help?

Given the magnitude of these issues, it will take a great deal of innovation to transform the way we think and act to support the financial sector and its clients, whether by raising awareness, measuring impacts, analyzing climate risk or developing financing solutions for green projects.

These are just some of the ways fintech companies can support a just transition to a low-carbon, resilient economy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPANTS

• To have been incorporated in Canada.
• To have registered to participate in the Challenge under the rules promulgated as published.
• At a minimum, have a working prototype that is ready for launch (pre-marketing).​
• To be in the process of assessing capital needs and preparing for the financing (pre-seed or seed).
• Have at least one of the co-founders working full time in the startup.​
• To have growth potential.
• To have a management team made up of individuals who are motivated, receptive to coaching, collaborative and who have both business and IT-oriented profiles.

CHALLENGE PROGRAM

The Fintech Climate Challenge is an 8-month program featuring mentoring sessions, workshops and pitches to support participants in growing their businesses.

• Start of application period: April 29th, 2021
• Information session: May 20th, 2021
• Closing of application period: May 31st, 2021
• Program launch: June 8th, 2021
• Finals: June 22nd, 2021
• Admission to the Startup in Residence program: July 12th, 2021

AWARDS FOR WINNING TEAMS

1st prize: $25,000 cash grant,

Plus:
• A spot in Startup in Residence, Desjardins's 8-month program;
• A possible investment of up to $250,000.

2nd prize: $15,000 cash grant,

Plus:
• A spot in Startup in Residence, Desjardins's 8-month program;
• A possible investment of up to $250,000.

3rd prize: $5,000 cash grant,

Plus:
• access to Fintech Cadence's Sandbox program.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

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How can we help Canadians reach financial empowerment?

The challenge aims to support entrepreneurs in order to propel them further in their product development and give them the maximum chance for a successful collaboration with Desjardins. “Desjardins continually seeks feedback from members and clients. As soon as the pandemic struck, we took action to provide assistance and reassure members and clients that we’re committed to doing everything we can to help them get through these challenging times and manage their finances. Desjardins intends to continue playing an active role in the socio-economic recovery of our communities,” said Guy Cormier, President and CEO of Desjardins Group.

Financial empowerment is the ability to manage daily life in a sustainable way and achieve set goals. It includes:

• Making informed choices
• Managing income and expenses
• Saving money on set objectives
• Using credit to meet certain needs
• Being protected when facing unexpected situations
• Acting safely with personal data

To participate in the Fintech Challenge, the startups must be working on at least one of the above scenarios by providing financial technological solutions that improve personal finance management, planning financial goals, automating savings, learning about online brokerage and investing, and financial education as a whole.

Additionally, the Fintech Challenge is looking for startups that work on the uptake of responsible investment. This can include educating consumers on responsible investing, categorizing and measuring impact of investments and providing opportunities to invest responsibly.

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

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