Innovative Business Loans in Southern Ontario
Looking for Innovative Business Funding in Southern Ontario?
Get up to $500,000 in non-dilutive loans for your innovative business. The SOFII Program supports high-growth SMEs across Southern Ontario.
PROGRAM IMPACT TO DATE FOR EASTERN ONTARIO
*as of March 31, 2025:
What is the SOFII Program?
The SOFII loan fund acts as a catalyst for increased investment in and support for innovation, and is one element in the ongoing climate of government assistance to high-growth companies in Southern Ontario. Launched by the Government of Canada in July 2012, SOFII is supported through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and is delivered in southeastern Ontario by Community Futures Eastern Ontario. In southeastern Ontario, SOFII is a $30 million fund, available to eligible organizations in both rural and urban centres.
Financing For ...
- Late stage commercialization
- New product or service development
- New applications or markets
- Development or implementation of new processes or technologies
Loan Terms:
- Loans ranging from $150,000 – $500,000
- Interest Bearing term loans
- No Application Fees
- Repayable anytime without penalties
SOFII Special Initiatives:
SOFII Rural – Extending Innovative Business Financing into Rural Communities
SOFII Rural is a specifically designed initiative under the SOFII program that offers special incentive terms to high-growth, small to medium sized businesses in the rural communities of southeastern Ontario. The SOFII Rural initiative is available in the regions of:
- 1000 Islands
- Cornwall & the Counties
- Frontenac
- Greater Peterborough
- Grenville
- Haliburton
- Kawartha Lakes
- Northumberland
- N&C Hastings & South Algonquin
- Prescott-Russell
- Prince Edward/Lennox & Addington
- Renfrew
- South Lake
- Trenval
- Valley Heartland
How to Apply
If you qualify for SOFII Rural, a member of our team will contact you directly. To begin the process, please complete the standard application by submitting a Statement of Interest (SOI).
SOFII TradeFWD – Helping Innovative SMEs Move Forward Amid Trade Uncertainty
SOFII TradeFWD is a time-limited lending initiative under the Southern Ontario Fund for Investment in Innovation (SOFII). It offers flexible, strategic financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Southeastern Ontario that are directly impacted by the current U.S. tariff landscape.
This targeted program supports innovation, supply chain resilience, and global market expansion — enabling companies to move from reactive to proactive growth strategies.
Key Program Highlights:
- Loan Amounts: $150,000 – $300,000
- Interest Rate: Prime +2%
- Terms: Up to 5 years, with interest-only payments for the first 6 months
- Timeline: Applications accepted August to December 2025 (or until funds are allocated)
- Matched Funding: 1:1 public or private co-investment strongly encouraged
- Reporting: Quarterly (in line with SOFII portfolio requirements)
Eligible Activities:
- Supply chain diversification, reshoring, or alternative sourcing
- Working capital for stabilization or trade growth
- New technology adoption or operational efficiency improvements
- Market expansion (domestic and international)
- Boosting production to meet new domestic demand
- Consulting services supporting trade and innovation readiness
Who Should Apply:
- Incorporated SMEs operating in Southeastern Ontario
- Minimum 2–3 years of financial history
- Operating in one or more of the following sectors:
- Clean Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Digital Industries
- Health & Biosciences
- Agri-Food
- Businesses with job growth plans aiming to create up to 50+ FTEs
- Those impacted by U.S. tariffs with a clear strategy for resilience or expansion
How to Apply:
If you are applying under SOFII TradeFWD, please indicate this in the relevant section of the SOFII SOI form.
Application Process – Step by Step
Timeline: Once a complete application is submitted with all required documentation, the review process typically takes 4 to 11 weeks.
Intake: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Have questions? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions area for common pre-screening and eligibility questions.
Eligible Organizations
Eligible applicants are private sector innovative SMEs located in South Eastern Ontario who are engaged in projects that will result in the adaptation and adoption of new technologies, projects, processes or markets. Eligible organizations will:
- Employ 50 to 500 employees, or identify that there is a strong likelihood that they will reach 50 employees within a three-year period.
- Be unable to obtain adequate and reasonable financing from other lending sources
- Operate in Southern Ontario
- Demonstrate job creation/retention for Southern Ontario residents
- Be suitable for public funding
- Establish a reasonable expectation of economic viability
- Demonstrate the ability to repay funds advanced by Community Futures Eastern Ontario
- Have secured the required matching funding through private investment, financial or equity partnerships or working capital.
- Provide evidence of their ability or experience to operate the business
- Generating revenue
Ineligible Organizations
- Federal and provincial government departments (eg: agencies, boards, corporations and commissions
- Post-secondary institutions (eg; colleges, polytechnic institutes, universities and teaching institutions)
- Not-for-Profit corporations, and
- Municipal governments
Organizations wishing to apply for a loan from SOFII will be required to first complete a Statement of Interest. Projects meeting the eligibility guidelines will be encouraged to, and counselled in how to, apply for support.
Your Statement of Interest should be completed on-line. Organizations providing a Statement of Interest will receive a response within 5 business days of submission. The Statement of Interest will be reviewed and assessed by SOFII program staff.
Contact
We invite you to contact us to discuss further the program.
Eligible businesses must be situated in or planning to locate within the geographic area described as Southern Ontario, Eastern Region.
Community Futures Eastern Ontario serves the following areas as defined by Stats Canada census divisions: Durham, Frontenac, Haliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Northumberland, Ottawa, Peterborough, Prescott and Russell, Prince Edward, Renfrew, Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry, Toronto and York.
If your community is not listed above, you may fall under the Southwestern Ontario Region. You can use the sofii.ca website's lookup tool to confirm which region supports your area.
SOFII's Investment Impact
Success Stories from Ontario Entrepreneurs
