Canadian Export Accelerator
Empowering Canadian Businesses Through Export Strategy, Research, and Marketing Execution
The recent U.S. trade tariffs have changed the export landscape overnight. To help Canadian businesses adapt quickly, secure vital government funding, and capture new export opportunities, we’ve developed the Canadian Export Accelerator—your one‐stop, expedited solution to prepare for international markets fast.
Our program brings together the strengths of one or more of our trusted partners, members of the all-Canadian m5 Group of Companies:
- MQO Research – Delivering best-in-class market research services to identify new export opportunities and hone your approach for current or new markets.
- ATN Strategies – Offering evidence-based, sustainable feasibility assessments and export strategies tailored to your sector, business, and community context.
- m5 Marketing Communications – Crafting targeted messaging, design, and marketing execution that position your brand on the global stage.
- Swagger – Providing customized promotional merchandise and trade-show collateral.
PEI Businesses: Learn about our Top-Up offer in combination with the Export Enhancement and Diversification Fund announced by Innovation PEI, increasing the percent covered and the total maximum project coverage from $32K to $50K.
Our Three-Stage Accelerator Offering
Our accelerator is built on a proven, three-stage process that helps you define your export goals, implement the right strategy, and secure vital funding support. Here’s how it works:
1. Export Accelerator Plan
We begin with an in-depth session to understand your business and export ambitions. In this phase, we:
- Explore Your Goals: Determine what you want to achieve—whether launching in new markets, refining your current export strategy, or enhancing your international marketing and communications.
- Assess Your Current Approach: Evaluate existing market research, export strategies, and promotional materials.
- Plan the Customized Path Forward: Identify where our expertise in research, strategy, marketing/communications, or promotional materials (or a combination of these) can best support your needs and your budget.
This discovery session ensures we tailor our approach to your unique challenges and opportunities, so you start with a clear, actionable export accelerator plan.
2. Tailored Service Provision
Once we’ve mapped out your export strategy, our specialized teams get to work. We will develop and execute a plan based on your goals, timelines, and budget.
We will integrate research, strategy, and/or promotional services as needed—whether it’s a full-suite solution or fine-tuning specific areas—to ensure you move forward with the right tools to succeed.
3. Funding Navigation & Reporting Support
Securing funding and staying compliant can be time-consuming. That’s why our accelerator includes dedicated support for:
- Funding Program Applications: We help you navigate and complete applications for programs like Innovation PEI’s Export Enhancement and Diversification Fund.
- Ongoing Reporting: We assist with any reporting requirements, so you fully benefit from government funding while focusing on growing your export markets.
Our goal is to get you from project intake to actionable outcomes rapidly while handling the details of funding compliance and administrative reporting.
Exclusive Top-Up Offering for PEI Businesses
In response to the U.S. tariffs, Innovation PEI announced the Export Enhancement and Diversification Fund. This initiative is designed to help your business tap into up to $32,000 in non-repayable funding—covering up to 60% of eligible costs for market research, strategic planning, advertising, and travel.
As part of our Canadian Export Accelerator program, we are pleased to offer a service top-up, to increase the maximum benefit of the Innovation PEI funding to cover up to over 90% of your total project cost up to a $50,000 total contribution.
Here’s how it works:
- Innovation PEI Funding: Provides up to 60% coverage on eligible project costs—up to a maximum of $32,000.
- Our Top-Up: We offer additional top-up support. That means, when combined, eligible projects can receive up to $50,000 in total support, potentially leaving you responsible for less than 10% of the project cost (see examples below).
Examples:
- a $30,000 project may receive $18,000 from Innovation PEI and $10,125 from our Top-Up—resulting in a client contribution as low as $1,875.
- a $50,000 project may receive $30,000 from Innovation PEI and $16,875 from our Top-Up—resulting in a client contribution as low as $3,125.
- a $100,000 project may receive $32,000 from Innovation PEI and $18,000 from our Top-Up—resulting in a client contribution as low as $50,000.
Notes: Some project costs such as printing or materials may not be eligible under our top-up offer. While this exclusive top-up offering is currently available for PEI businesses, we are actively working to develop similar funding enhancements for other Canadian provinces as new programs are announced.