Invest Nova Scotia Accelerate

action-oriented sprints in each subject area

1. Office hours with a human resources expert for advice and coaching
2. AI-specific workshops covering topics such as unique intellectual property

considerations for AI start-ups, and how due diligence differs for AI start-ups

1. Access to the Invest Nova Scotia Perks Program, featuring discounts to 100+ vendors

such as HubSpot, Google Cloud, Zoom, Slack, AWS and more

1. Access to market intelligence reports and PitchBook through Atlantic Market Intelligence

Development Stream participants receive:

1. $40,000 in non-dilutive, non-repayable funding disbursed on an expense claim basis, up

to $15,000 of which can be allocated to founder salaries

1. Expert advice on a weekly 1:1 basis with an advisor from our network of investment and

technology commercialization experts

1. Office hours with a human resources expert for advice and coaching
2. Workshops tailored to each cohort. Example topics may include Intellectual Property

Strategy, Term Sheets, Storytelling, Fundraising 101, and more

1. Access to the Invest Nova Scotia Perks Program, featuring discounts to 100+ vendors

such as HubSpot, Google Cloud, Zoom, Slack, AWS and more

1. Access to market intelligence reports and PitchBook through Atlantic Market Intelligence

Only expenses incurred during the Program for work completed during the Program are eligible.

Pre-paid expenses and retainers are not eligible. All funding is reimbursed on an expense claim basis (see section 8).

There are four eligible expense categories: travel, consultant/service provider, materials and equipment, and internal salary.

Travel Expenses

Eligible project costs (excluding PST/GST/HST/QST) include:

1. Travel to meet customers or investors
2. Floor booth space fees for a non-retail trade show
3. Conference registration fees
4. up to two representatives of the business
5. conference registration and booth fees for international trade shows/conferences

held in Nova Scotia are eligible; per diem costs are not eligible to claim if participants reside within 100 km of the conference • An airfare stipend according to the following chart:

Stipend $CAD per participant (max 2 Destination participants) Africa $1,000 Arctic $1,000 Asia (China, South Korea, India, Japan) $1,500 Australia $1,500 Canada - Arctic (NU, NT, YK) $1,000 Canada - Atlantic (NB, PE)** Not eligible – claim per diem only Canada - Eastern (NL, QC, ON) $300 Canada - Western (MB, SK, AB, BC) $500 Caribbean $500 Central America $1,500 Europe $750 Middle East $1000 USA (United States of America) $500 Mexico $500 ** Travel to PE and NB covered by accommodations/ground transportation per diem only.

The airfare stipend is only eligible to claim for round trips from Nova Scotia (some exceptions may apply). The stipend includes all associated flight costs: airfare, baggage, seat selection, and change fees. For projects with multiple locations, only one airfare stipend location can be claimed per project (highest value location will be selected). If two travellers participate in one project, the airfare stipend claimed must be for the same location. For example, a project that has a stop in Italy, France and Spain and two travellers – total airfare stipend claimed = $1500 x 2 = $3,000.

1. Travel expenses for representatives of the business not based in Nova Scotia are not

eligible.

1. A per diem rate of $400 CAD per day is available for each approved traveller to cover

accommodations, mileage, and in-market ground transportation/standard car rental (up to two representatives of the business) for all days of travel to market and days within the market. A per diem does not include the last day of travel and any portion of travel within Nova Scotia. Per diem expenses are capped at 7 days per trip.

1. Incoming client/partner/investor first-time visit eligible costs (up to two visiting

individuals) include airfare stipend and per diem rates, subject to the guidelines above.

1. The business will follow and adhere to all health protocols in all jurisdictions(s) where the

business is travelling. The business is responsible for all quarantine costs (e.g., accommodations/hotel, meals, testing, etc.). International travel should adhere to federal government guidance (current guidance is available at: https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories).

Consultant/Service Provider Expenses

Eligible project costs (excluding GST/HST/PST/QST) include:

• Consulting fees

1. Digital marketing subscriptions for brand promotion/ad placement
2. Consultant transportation and accommodation costs directly related to the project

• Client references Materials and Equipment Expenses

Eligible project costs (excluding GST/HST/PST/QST) include:

1. Consumable supplies, materials and equipment used in the development and testing of

a product

1. Shipping and freight costs
2. All individual expense items must have a minimum value of $50 before

HST/PST/GST/QST

Internal Salary Expenses

Eligible costs include:

1. Salaries of full-time or part-time employees of the company
2. Salaries of founders/co-founders, subject to the submission of a signed Founder Salary

Declaration Form confirming:

1. They are working 35+ hours per week in the company.
2. They reside in Nova Scotia.
3. They acknowledge and accept the maximum allowance ($15,000 total,

$3,000/month).

1. Funds will be paid to the company banking account, not personal banking

accounts.

1. A signed attestation with a witness signature (e.g., board member or advisor) is

required.

1. MITACS student internships
2. Reimbursement is prorated for the program duration (up to 5 months). MITACS
3. Software, data, or applications licensed or purchased by the company for internal use

that support product development, testing, training, or deployment (e.g., AI/ML development tools, data platforms, dev/test tooling). Subscription costs are eligible for the portion that falls within the program period.

1. Digital advertising costs for in-market companies for campaigns taking place within the

program duration.

1. Market diversification expenses such as registering your business in a target export

market.