Ottawa Business Organizations

Organizations providing assistance and sources of funding to small businesses, entrepreneurs and start-ups

Entrepreneurship Center
http://www.entrepreneurship.com/
Part of OCRI. Their focus is on small businesses in the Ottawa area, predominantly, but not limited to, service based and retail businesses. They provide consultancy for business planning, legal and accounting. The Entrepreneurship Center is mainly for the start up phase for small businesses but they also provide coaching for established businesses. They also hold seminars and workshops

OCRI – Ontario Centre for Research and Innovation
http://www.ocri.ca/
OCRI helps technology based start-ups in the Ottawa area. They provide assistance In getting ready to start and preparation for seeking funding; they do not provide funding themselves. They also provide an incubation service for selected start-ups, hold seminars and workshops and host events.

Lead to Win
http://www.leadtowin.ca/
A free program for individuals or teams who wish to launch a new, technology-based business in Canada's Capital Region. They provide a three phase approach through a combination of knowledge sharing and business plan review boards.

The Ottawa Network
http://www.theottawanetwork.com/
TON is a community-based, volunteer organization to stimulate new opportunities in Ottawa’s hi-tech community. They provide events with a combination of networking and guest speakers targeted for technology start-ups.

Vitesse Re-Skilling™ Canada
http://www.vitesse.ca/
Vitesse provides cost-effective solutions to meet the skills needs of the emerging and growth-oriented knowledge-based sectors and supports business start-up activities in the Technology Sector. Services include Skills Development, Entrepreneurial Support, Research Studies and Employability & Talent Services. Visit their micro-site on vKoopia.

Small Business Association
http://www.hba-ncr.org/
The Small Business Association is a networking org, predominantly through networking events, for small businesses. Members are predominantly one person, owner operated companies

Ottawa Business Improvement Areas
http://www.ottawa.ca/business/support/bia_en.html
BIA’s are city supported associations focused on specific commercial areas of the city. Local business and property owners join together to improve, promote and undertake projects that will result in a stronger and more competitive commercial main street or business district.

Chambers of Commerce in the Capital Region
Ottawa: https://www.ottawachamber.ca/index.php
Nepean: http://www.nepeanchamber.com/index.php
Kanata: http://kan.thechamberworks.com/
Gatineau and l’Outaouais: http://www.ccgatineau.ca/
Not-for-profit, voluntary organizations promoting and developing businesses serving local areas

NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/eng/ibp/irap.html
IRAP provides funding for R&D and Marketing to support small and medium-sized enterprises’ innovation in Canada.

Ontario Centres of Excellence
http://www.oce-ontario.org/Pages/Home.aspx
OCE provides funding for R&D and commercialisation. They match research between businesses and academic institutions, including universities and colleges and provide the funding. They also have an Investment Accelerator Fund to provide eligible technology-based start-ups with seed investment

Canada Revenue Agency - SR&ED
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/txcrdt/sred-rsde/menu-eng.html
The Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Incentive Program is a federal tax incentive program, administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, that encourages Canadian businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors to conduct research and development (R&D) in Canada. The SR&ED program gives claimants cash refunds and/or tax credits for their expenditures on eligible R&D work done in Canada.

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