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Lodgepoles
Team
Contact
Opportunities
2026 Venture Accelerator EOI Form
Charlene SanJenko
2025-10-07T00:11:46+00:00
2026 Venture Accelerator
Expression of Interest
Your Name
(Required)
Home Community, Nation, or Family
(Required)
Location of Residence/Business
(Required)
Email address
(Required)
Website (URL)
(Required)
Current Stage of Your Business
(Required)
Idea stage (no revenue yet)
Early stage (some revenue, under 2 years old)
Established business (2+ years with consistent revenue)
Scaling (actively growing team, revenue, or operations)
Pivoting (changing direction, product, or market)
Paused/Dormant (currently not operating but planning to restart)
What stage is your business currently in? Please select the closest match.
What type of business are you building?
(Required)
For-profit
Non-profit or social enterprise
Third Choice
Cooperative
Lifestyle business
High-growth or scalable venture
Freelance/sole proprietorship
Land-based business (e.g., farming, fishing, cultural tourism)
Culturally-based arts/crafts or creative industry
Tech-enabled product/service/platform
Please be as specific as possible. If you need to choose more than one answer, do so with care.
What industry are you in?
(Required)
Arts and Culture
Agriculture / Land-based Economy
Technology / Digital Services
Health & Wellness
Education / Training
Food & Beverage
Retail / E-Commerce
Construction / Trades
Hospitality / Tourism
Finance / Consulting
Other
If your business intersects two industries, please choose your primary industry. If 'Other', please specific in the Message below.
Section Break
This program requires weekly virtual meetings, along with multiple week long intensives thoughout Canada. How much time can you commit weekly to a program?
(Required)
3–4 hours
4-5 hours
5–8 hours
My availability changes week to week
Please specify the hours per week you can realistically commit throughout the duration of the accelerator?
Do you anticipate any of the following challenges to your participation?
(Required)
Childcare responsibilities
Elder care responsibilities
Lack of access to reliable internet
Transportation or travel constraints
Limited supports in my community
Financial instability
Language or communication barriers
Mental health or wellness concerns
Other (please specify)
None of the above
What kind of support do you anticipate needing most?
(Required)
Access to funding/investment
Marketing & branding
Business model validation
Digital tools & e-commerce
Financial literacy/bookkeeping
Pitching & storytelling
Legal, IP, or incorporation help
Leadership & confidence building
Operations & hiring
Building a team
Product development
Community engagement/impact strategy
Exporting & international trade
Mental health & entrepreneur wellness
Other
How confident do you feel in handling money and keeping track of business finances?
1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident
How confident do you feel in explaining your business idea and goals clearly to others?
1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident
How confident do you feel making good decisions for your business that are culturally grounded?
1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident
How confident do you feel using digital tools (like apps, software, or online platforms)?
1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident
How confident do you feel planning for your business’s future?
1 = Not confident at all, 5 = Very confident
Certain sessions are intentionally geared towards team members, consultants, or advisors, specifically in the areas of finance and/or marketing. Would you be able to bring support person(s) with you to these learning sessions?
Yes
No
Unsure
Does your business create value for your community?
(Required)
Creates local jobs
Shares Indigenous knowledge or practices
Protects or heals land, language, or culture
Provides services/products the community needs
Offers youth mentorship or training
Promotes Indigenous visibility in new sectors
Reinvests profits into the community
Other
Not yet, but I want to
If yes, how? Please check all that apply.
Do you identify as any of the following?
(Required)
First Nations
Métis
Inuit
Two-Spirit
LGBTQIA+
Person with a disability
Youth (under 30)
Elder (55+)
Prefer not to say
Other
If Other, please specific in your Message at the bottom of this form.
Do you have a cultural support system that you'd like to share with us? A community group, organization, or grassroots circle.
If 2026 is not the right timing for you to join the Fireweed Venture Accelerator, would you like to stay informed about upcoming events, workshops, or other related opportunities?
Yes
No
Newsletter subscription
I consent to receiving communications from The Fireweed Institute.
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