Business Incubators & Accelerators in PEI – Directory of Startup Support Programs

Looking for startup support in Prince Edward Island? This page lists business incubators and accelerators that serve entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses across the province. For each organization, we’ve included the names of the programs they offer, so you can quickly identify the right fit based on your stage, sector, or funding goals.

Whether you’re building a life sciences startup in Charlottetown, developing a food innovation project in rural PEI, or growing a social enterprise in Summerside, this guide connects you with the Island’s innovation ecosystem.

✅ What Is a Business Incubator and Accelerator?

Business incubators are designed to help entrepreneurs take an idea and turn it into a viable business. They typically support early-stage founders with mentorship, business development guidance, workspace, and connections to funding or academic partners.

Business accelerators, on the other hand, focus on growth-stage companies — usually startups that already have traction and are preparing to scale. Accelerators often run structured, cohort-based programs that provide intensive mentorship, investor introductions, and sometimes direct funding in exchange for equity.

In PEI, many organizations blend both incubation and acceleration services — providing tailored support for entrepreneurs from ideation to market expansion.

✅ What These Programs Typically Offer

Incubators and accelerators in Prince Edward Island often provide:

  • Mentorship and advisory services from experienced entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors
  • Training in business development, financial planning, product validation, market research, and pitch development
  • Access to coworking spaces, labs, commercial kitchens, or sector-specific facilities, especially through partnerships with UPEI and Holland College
  • Introductions to funding opportunities, including provincial grants (via Innovation PEI), angel investors, and federal programs
  • Sector-focused support in areas like biosciences, value-added food processing, aquaculture, cleantech, Indigenous entrepreneurship, and tourism innovation
  • Community-building events such as demo days, pitch competitions, and networking sessions that foster collaboration across the Island’s business community

Some programs offer equity-based investment (mainly accelerators), while others are non-dilutive and supported by public or educational institutions.

✅ How to Choose a Program

With incubators and accelerators operating across Prince Edward Island, selecting the right one depends on your specific goals. When reviewing the directory, consider the following:

  • Stage Fit – Are you pre-revenue, MVP-ready, or generating sales?
  • Location – Some programs are based in Charlottetown or Summerside, while others serve rural and coastal regions
  • Sector Focus – Choose a program aligned with your field, whether it’s bioscience, food innovation, tourism, or social enterprise
  • Equity vs. Non-Equity – Consider whether you’re comfortable giving up equity or prefer non-dilutive support
  • Duration & Format – Programs vary from a few weeks to a full year and may be in-person, virtual, or hybrid

Prince Edward Island offers a tight-knit, supportive startup environment, with strong ties between government, academia, and private sector partners. With accessible support networks and sector-specific resources, PEI is an agile, collaborative setting for startups ready to turn ideas into impact.

✅ Directory: Incubators & Accelerators in PEI

Charlottetown Incubators and Accelerators

Emergence BioIncubator

Emergence is a national bioscience business incubator based in Charlottetown, PEI, supporting startups in health, life sciences, and food sectors. It provides expert advisory services, business mentoring, and connections to networks and capital. Operated by the PEI BioAlliance, Emergence helps innovative companies scale and succeed across Canada.

Program offered:

Food Island Partnership

Food Island Partnership fosters the growth of Prince Edward Island’s food industry by supporting innovation, product development, and market expansion. It collaborates with industry, government, and research organizations to advance value-added food businesses. Through funding programs and strategic initiatives, it promotes PEI as a globally competitive food region.

Program offered:

LaunchPad PEI Inc

LaunchPad PEI is a business incubator located in Charlottetown that provides workspace, advisory support, and resources to help startups launch and grow. It serves as a key pillar in PEI’s innovation ecosystem, offering tailored support to early-stage companies. The incubator works closely with Innovation PEI and other partners to accelerate business success.

Program offered:

Summerside Incubators and Accelerators

City of Summerside Economic Development

The City of Summerside’s Economic Development department leads strategic initiatives to attract investment and foster business growth in Summerside, PEI. It offers support for startups and expanding companies, including access to infrastructure, incentives, and innovation platforms. Through programs like Big Possibilities, it promotes Summerside as a dynamic place for entrepreneurs and investors.


Programs offered: