From Idea to Scale: Fuel Your Tech Startup Journey with Accelerate Tech
Are you a racialized entrepreneur building a tech solution in Canada? Accelerate Tech is your way forward.
Whether you're validating your first idea, launching an MVP, or scaling your startup, this founder-first program supports you at every stage of your journey. Our milestone-driven model delivers the expert coaching, capital access, and vibrant peer community you need to grow with confidence.
Ready to build your tech startup with expert guidance and dedicated support?
Applications are now open — take the next step in your tech journey.
Program begins: July 28, 2025
Program Details
The Objective
Great ideas deserve great execution. The path from concept to scale is filled with challenges — but with the right guidance, resources, and community, founders can move faster, grow stronger, and build smarter.
Accelerate Tech exists to fuel that momentum. It’s about unlocking what’s next — transforming promising tech solutions into real-world impact. With expert coaching, capital access, and a collaborative founder community, this milestone-driven program helps you validate, build, and scale a thriving startup with confidence.
Accelerate Tech is Tribe Network’s flagship venture support program, designed for racialized tech entrepreneurs in Canada.
What’s In It For You
- 1:1 milestone-driven guidance by expert coaches, product leaders, and seasoned founders
- Workshops and peer learning to sharpen your leadership, sales, and scaling strategies
- Funding readiness support to help you attract the right investors at the right time
- A tight-knit cohort of fellow founders who get it — because they’re building it too
- Access to Tribe’s national network of investors, partners, and tech leaders
- Structured accountability to move your idea or product forward
- Visibility and access through Tribe’s national ecosystem
Who Can Apply?
You’re eligible if you:
- At least one founder identifies as Black, Indigenous, or otherwise racialized
- The startup is building or using a tech-enabled solution or digital product
- The company is registered or incorporated in Canada
- The startup is at one of the following stages:
- Idea Validation
- MVP/Product Development
- Growth & Scale
- Founders can commit to active participation in coaching, workshops, and milestone tracking
(Founders must register as a Tribe Network member and create a company profile through Tribe’s community portal)
📌 We welcome founders from all provinces and territories in Canada.
The Impact
Accelerate Tech alumni go on to:
- Secure non-dilutive and dilutive funding and pitch to top Canadian and international VCs
- Build resilient business strategies and high-performing teams
- Join a lifelong network of inclusive innovation leaders
- Expand into new markets with confidence
This is more than a program — it’s a launchpad for long-term success.
Assessment Criteria
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
- Strength of the problem being solved and clarity of the proposed solution
- Founder-market fit and the capability of the team
- Scalability potential and projected economic impact
- Readiness to engage with program supports and achieve milestone goals
- For growth-stage startups:
- Clear evidence of product-market fit
- Demonstrated traction (users, customers, revenue)
- Alignment with Tribe’s values of equity, inclusion, and innovation
FAQ
What will my pitch get judged on?
Judges will evaluate participants according to the following criteria:
- Innovation and Creativity: How unique and innovative is the solution?
- Feasibility and Technical Viability: Is the idea technically feasible and scalable?
- Impact and Sustainability: What is the potential positive impact on the environment and society?
- Market Potential: Is there a clear market need and potential for adoption?
- Presentation Skills: How effectively is the idea communicated?
What do include in my pitch deck?
We recommend keeping your pitch deck succinct and to the point. Please limit your presentation to no more than 8 slides.
Here are the most common components of a winning pitch deck:
- Introduction: A brief introduction to your team
- Problem: Clearly articulate the problem you are looking to solve with your solution
- Solution: Describe the uniqueness of your solution and its value proposition
- Market Potential: Highlight your target customers and users
- Progress/Results: For existing businesses, share significant achievements or milestones
- Call to Action: Specify how winning this competition will help your idea (give you the opportunity to work on your idea further during the summer break, register the business, travel for a conference to connect with other people in your industry, MVP development, etc. )
For additional support on how to build a winning pitch deck, review the first lesson of our BUILD course (you must log in or create an account):
What are the next steps after I apply
After the applications deadline (March 30th), the applications will be reviewed according to the judging criteria. All participants will be notified between March 31st and April 7th, as to whether or not they are moving forward.
Then it’s pitch time! On May 15th, you will share your idea with the community at the final pitch event/celebration. Both the judging and announcement of winners will happen on this day.
If you still have questions let us know!
