Business Incubator

If you meet the following criteria, we strongly encourage you to apply:

• Founder(s) passionate about addressing important problems with scalable and innovative product or services
• At least one full-time founder who is fully dedicated to the program or on track to take on the startup full-time.
• A dynamic and collaborative team that is coachable and driven to succeed.
• A functional MVP and/or evidence of market traction (sales, pre-sales, pre-orders, significant partnership agreement, LOI to partner).

As the founder(s), you retain 100% ownership and equity of your business. This program is entirely free and generously funded by McMaster University. We’re here to support you, not take from you!

Our Business Incubator program typically involves a 12-month engagement, although exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis.

At The Forge, our goal is to foster a supportive community. Once you complete the program, many of our services remain available to you. If there’s a specific mentor, perk, or service provider you wish to connect with after your formal residency, our doors are always open. You’ll retain access to our diverse network, providing you with ongoing support and keeping you updated on upcoming ecosystem events. This network is a valuable resource for you to lean on as you continue to grow your business.

Additionally, as a successful graduate, you have the option to give back by becoming a mentor yourself. Share your knowledge and experience with others who are in similar positions, further enriching our community and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Our goal is to support you in securing the funding needed to advance your business.

We have a diverse network of over 60 investors (VC, Angel) that we’re happy to make warm introductions to when clients are ready to start raising. When the time comes, we have mentors that specialize in investor readiness and will help you prepare to pitch and go through the due diligence process.

When it comes to funding, we provide a modest reimbursement program to be used for non-capital expenses, such as conference tickets or equipment. We also maintain strong community connections, staying informed about various funding opportunities, grants, and competitions and bringing that news to you.

To access some opportunities through funding bodies like OCI, MITACS, and Futurpreneur, you are required to be part of a campus-linked accelerator or incubator. You’re in luck! Since The Forge is a campus-linked business incubator, being part of the Business Incubator will help you qualify for these opportunities.

The Forge is located in a 10,000-square-foot space in a former McMaster Innovation Park garage built to expand space for entrepreneurs. We’re co-located with Innovation Factory, a not-for-profit Regional Innovation Centre, and The Centre for Integrated Transportation and Mobility (CITM), a division of Innovation Factory. There is always an abundance of visitors, mentors, and guests visiting our space resulting in lots of opportunity for networking.

Dedicated work spaces can be made available for clients who intend to frequently use the office space. For occasional use, we have a number of drop-in work stations for you to use during our hours of operation. All clients have access to book free on-site meeting rooms.

If you need a place to work, consider that settled.

We understand that legal and intellectual property (IP) matters are pivotal for startups, and we’ve taken proactive steps to ensure your protection. Within our ecosystem, we have a team of seasoned legal mentors who are readily available to provide you with expert legal guidance and assistance when you require it. Incubator clients are provided access to a limited amount of free, pen-to-paper legal services.

As a standard practice, all of our staff, mentors, service providers, and clients are required to sign Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs). This commitment to confidentiality ensures that your proprietary information remains secure and your ideas are protected throughout your engagement with our program.

Mentorship plays a crucial role in our programming. When you start, you’ll be given the option for 30-minute bi-weekly or 1-hour monthly mentorship meetings. You’ll be working with your lead expert mentor with support from the Incubator Manager. After milestones have been established, we’ll discuss your progress and any areas where you may benefit from additional support or introductions from our specialist network. You’ll have access to a private mentorship channel on Slack where you can keep in touch with your mentors between regularly scheduled meetings.

While full-time founders based in Hamilton are preferred, all applicants are welcome. For those within communing distance, we do encourage clients to make an effort to come out to in-person events in order to foster a sense of community. The program aims to contribute to the development of the entrepreneurship and innovation community not just in Hamilton, but also in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

Definitely! We encourage you to collaborate with multiple incubators or accelerators while actively participating in our program. We recognize that different programs offer unique and complementary services that can enhance your entrepreneurial journey. We believe in fostering a diverse and extensive network for our participants, allowing you to tap into a wide range of resources and expertise from various sources. Your success is our priority, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth through a dynamic and well-rounded experience.

Of course! We’re glad you continued working on your startup.