LaunchPad support

• Click “Apply for LaunchPad support” to complete and submit a form. The information you provide helps us understand your business and determine whether it qualifies for the resources and support we offer through the LaunchPad support program.
• After starting your form, you will be able to save progress to your local computer to complete it in multiple sessions. We do not receive a copy of your data until you click “Submit” at the end of the process. We encourage you to contact us if you are unsure how to respond to any of the questions in the form.
• Once your form is submitted, we acknowledge your response within two working days and provide a downloadable copy of your submission for your records.

An up-to-date list of the resources and support available through LaunchPad are listed at the top of this page.

As a regulator, the Innovation Office is not able to provide any of the following:

• financial support
• legal, tax, or accounting advice
• business strategies
• guidance on other regulated industries that may apply to your business model, such as banking, payments or insurance

We review submissions to confirm your eligibility and what resources and types of support we can provide.

LaunchPad support is available to businesses that meet all the following criteria:

• You have a novel, innovative, or significantly different product, service, business model, or application
• Your innovation will likely provide identifiable benefits to investors
• You understand the necessity of investor protections and will invest time and energy in understanding and addressing them

We invite applications from any business that meet these criteria, from early-stage start-ups to innovation labs in established businesses.

Acknowledgement receipt

• We will acknowledge your submission within two working days.

Eligibility review

• If your business is eligible for LaunchPad support, we aim to contact you within 10 working days.
• If your business is not eligible, we’ll provide feedback and an explanation.

Direct support

• If your business is eligible to receive a meeting with Innovation Office staff, we aim to schedule a phone or video call within 20 working days of receiving your submission. This may also include a request for additional materials or a filing (see “Next steps”).
• We look forward to providing in-person meetings again when public health guidance allows.

Next steps

• If you have received an initial meeting with Innovation Office staff and are eligible to receive continued support, we may ask you to provide us with additional materials or a filing within 20 working days of your initial meeting.

If you can’t provide requested documents

These timelines assume your responses to our requests for information and comment letters are timely and complete. If we do not receive requested additional materials/filing, we could consider your file to be dormant and not proceed.

Responsive to staff requests

• We expect businesses receiving LaunchPad support to be responsive to staff requests. If we do not receive requested materials or filings within 20 working days, we will generally consider your application to be dormant.

Follow-up applications

Depending on your business, your next steps may require that you file one or all the following:

• a registration application
• an exemptive relief application
• an application for recognition as an exchange or approval as an alternative trading system to obtain approval to test your products, services, and applications

We will work with you to expedite these filings provided that your application is complete and accurate, including:

• it is acceptable and contains the necessary information
• any regulatory form requirements are met
• all applicable fees have been paid
• all requested supporting documentation has been provided
• investor protection and other policy concerns we have highlighted are addressed
• guidance outlined in other regulatory publications have been incorporated, such as staff notices, news releases, email blasts, and investor alerts

Any support you receive from the Innovation Office, is informal guidance only and does not guarantee that your business will be able to comply with securities regulation.

The level and type of support offered is determined on a case-by-case basis. We aim to provide some resources and support to all businesses, but not all businesses are eligible for LaunchPad support, and depending on demand, not all businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will receive the same types of support.

We expect businesses receiving LaunchPad support to be responsive to staff requests. If we do not receive requested materials or filings within 20 working days, we will generally consider your application to be dormant.

It is possible that your request would be best handled by another branch at the OSC, and if this is the case, you will be advised by the team.

The LaunchPad support program is free for eligible businesses, but not all businesses are eligible for LaunchPad support, and depending on demand, not all businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will receive the same types of support.

Depending on your business, your next steps may require that you file one or all the following, which are typically accompanied by a fee:

• a registration application
• an exemptive relief application
• an application for recognition as an exchange or approval as an alternative trading system to obtain approval to test your products, services, and applications