UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund

A seed grant program supporting individuals with Arctic innovations, created with private support from Michael Carey. Part of the UArctic Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in the North.

Geographic Scope: Arctic-focused (international); open to applicants from any Arctic region

Focus Areas:

• Incubator-stage products or services
• Solutions benefiting the Arctic environment or Arctic communities
• Arctic innovations with positive, demonstrable impact
• Special emphasis on Indigenous and northern-based entrepreneurs

Eligibility:

• Open to any individual with an incubator-stage product or service
• Product/service must aim to benefit the Arctic environment or Arctic communities
• Must have positive, demonstrable impact on the Arctic
• Especially encourages applications from Arctic Indigenous and/or northern-based entrepreneurs

Funding Range: Expected disbursement $2,000 - $5,000 USD (exceptions may be made case-by-case)

Program Goals:

• Accelerate high-potential Arctic products & services
• Increase Arctic engagement with innovators
• Support ideas of Indigenous entrepreneurs
• Bridge academic knowledge systems with award recipients
• Reward creativity and risk-taking

Evaluation Criteria: Applications scored 1-10 on six attributes:

1. Application Presentation (thoroughness, completeness, professionalism)
2. Level of Impact (positive impact on Arctic environment/communities)
3. Feasibility (appropriateness to attain goals with funding)
4. Environmental Effects (identification/mitigation of negative effects, carbon-neutrality alignment)
5. Business Model (economic value potential)
6. Competence and Background (applicant capabilities)

Weighted Scoring: Arctic Indigenous and/or Northern-based entrepreneurs receive weighted scoring boost

Timeline:

• Call opens: Q2 2026 (second quarter)
• Call closes: October 31, 2026
• Applications reviewed: November 2026
• Results announced: December 2026

Application Requirements

Application consists of three documents (all in PDF format):

1. Free-format Document containing:
   • Background overview of submitter with contact information
   • Proposed product or service and its value proposition
   • Grant request amount with accompanying 6-12 month budget explaining how/where funds will be spent
2. Applicant Résumé
3. Pitch Deck outlining:
   • Company description
   • Problem and market potential
   • Product/service description
   • Marketing strategy
   • Financial projections/use of funds
   • (Template available for download)
4. Appendix (if necessary) for supporting documents or data

Eligibility & Application Criteria - All applications must meet:

• Background overview of the submitter (with a résumé)
• A true new product or service
• A value proposition clearly addressing how product/service will directly impact the Arctic environment or Arctic communities
• A business overview/pitchbook outlining (as applicable):
  • Company description
  • Understanding of the problem and market potential
  • Product or service description
  • Marketing strategy
  • High-level financial projections/use of the funds
  • Appendix for supporting documents or data
• A grant request amount (or amounts, if varying budgets would impact execution) with accompanying 6-12 month budget
• Adherence to UArctic's values

Submission Instructions

• Submit to: entrepreneurship@uarctic.org
• Format: All documents in PDF format
• Deadline: October 31, 2026
• Applications arriving past the deadline will not be considered