FAQ

The COAST Venture Acceleration Program (VAP) is presented through a partnership with VIATEC and Pacific Canada’s hub for the sustainable blue economy, COAST (Centre for Ocean Applied Sustainable Technologies). COAST is a branch of the South Island Prosperity Partnership.

Any profit-oriented company located in British Columbia that is focused on marine or ocean-based technology is suitable for this program. While we can support ventures at any stage of development, preference will be given to those entrepreneurs that are dedicated full-time to developing their products and businesses, with less than 100 employees.

1. Visit the Venture Acceleration Program on the VIATEC website and click on the VAP Application button.
2. We will review your application and follow up as soon as possible. If we have any questions about your eligibility we will email you for clarification.
3. You will be invited to complete the Online Market Validation Training program and be able to contact EiR’s as necessary by scheduling coaching calls with them.
4. Once you submit your Company Playbook by completing the Online Market Validation Training program, you will be invited to book a meeting with our team or EiR’s to discuss your application and to answer any questions you may have. We will discuss what goals you want to achieve and what type of mentorship you are looking for.
5. After initial meetings or discussions with the EiR we will provide you with further onboarding information

As part of the application process we seek to ensure applicants are exposed to the start-up fundamentals that help to ensure success with their start-ups, as well as informing the C-VAP programs team specifically what their venture is all about. 

Entrepreneurs can work through this material at their own pace, and it can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months to complete based on how much of the work has already been done. There is no cost to this process, and can be done entirely remotely, and involve as many team members as you wish.

As entrepreneurs work through the MVT modules, they may get stuck on a concept or two, and they can book online coaching calls with our Executives-in-Residence. Sometimes all it needs is the ability to talk through something with an advisor. 

Once the entrepreneur has completed the MVT, they submit their results in the form of a slidedeck called the Company Playbook. The Company Playbook is reviewed by the program team, including the Executive-in-Residence (EiRs). 

Once the entrepreneur has fully completed the Playbook and demonstrated a reasonable level of competency in doing so, a meeting with the applicant helps further define their needs and confirm their suitability for the program.

Program fees are $200 per month, and are waived for up to 6 months for start-ups with no (significant) revenue, and no angel or VC investment. 

EiRs act as coach, advisor, mentor and confidante, putting their deep industry knowledge, decades of experience to work helping C-VAP ventures succeed.

No, we are a not-for-profit service provider delivering a zero-equity-stake program. We do not write cheques or sit on formal boards of directors, or take other forms of program compensation.

Maybe. Probably! We’re happy to grab some time with you to talk more about your business and how we can support you.

C-VAP is bound by several confidentiality terms and conditions within our service contracts. Your IP is safe with us and we will not share your ideas.

The minimum amount of time we ask ventures to commit to is 6 – 8 months.