As small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and nonprofits face growing costs and pressures to modernize, Agentiiv, in partnership with the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Ownr, Staples and the CCNDR, has launched a $5-million accelerator program to help organizations adopt and use artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively.
Helping organizations build capacity through AI
The You.Scaled. Accelerator program will provide 350 grants for SMBs and 150 for nonprofits across Canada. The program is designed for organizations that often lack the resources to adopt new technologies, offering in-kind grants through Agentiiv platform subscriptions, training from the CMA and integration support from partners. By reducing costs and providing practical training and services, the program will help businesses and nonprofits improve operations, strengthen customer and supporter experiences and grow with confidence.
Closing the gap in AI adoption
Despite growing awareness of the potential of generative AI, adoption among Canadian organizations remains low. There are 1.2 million SMBs nationwide yet, according to Statistics Canada, only 12.2 per cent of Canadian businesses currently use AI technology. Meanwhile, 73 per cent of SMBs have yet to consider implementing AI, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
To help bridge this gap, You.Scaled. will provide step-by-step support to guide organizations through AI adoption in a structured, practical way. Each recipient will receive tailored onboarding, mentorship and access to learning sessions that help translate training into measurable outcomes such as improving efficiency, enhancing customer or supporter experiences and identifying new opportunities for growth.
Eligibility and selection
The You.Scaled. Accelerator Program is open to registered Canadian SMBs with up to 40 employees and registered Canadian nonprofits. Applicants will be evaluated on three criteria: AI readiness to adopt, the quality of their implementation plan and their potential for positive economic and social impact.
Grants will be distributed across Canada, ensuring representation from urban, rural and remote communities. The program also includes a commitment to equitable access for organizations led by women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Chosen recipients will gain access to membership benefits, services and discounts through key partners. They will also receive free access to the CMA’s generative AI On-Demand training course and a reduced one-year CMA membership to help integrate AI more effectively into their operations.
Apply now
Applications for the You.Scaled. Accelerator Program are open until November 15.
Learn more here: www.youscaled.com/ (EN) and www.vousamplifié.com (FR).
Agentiiv and the CMA debut $5M AI accelerator to power Canada’s innovation ecosystem
Posted in Commentary with tags Agentiiv on October 21, 2025 by itnerdAs small- to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and nonprofits face growing costs and pressures to modernize, Agentiiv, in partnership with the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA), Ownr, Staples and the CCNDR, has launched a $5-million accelerator program to help organizations adopt and use artificial intelligence (AI) more effectively.
Helping organizations build capacity through AI
The You.Scaled. Accelerator program will provide 350 grants for SMBs and 150 for nonprofits across Canada. The program is designed for organizations that often lack the resources to adopt new technologies, offering in-kind grants through Agentiiv platform subscriptions, training from the CMA and integration support from partners. By reducing costs and providing practical training and services, the program will help businesses and nonprofits improve operations, strengthen customer and supporter experiences and grow with confidence.
Closing the gap in AI adoption
Despite growing awareness of the potential of generative AI, adoption among Canadian organizations remains low. There are 1.2 million SMBs nationwide yet, according to Statistics Canada, only 12.2 per cent of Canadian businesses currently use AI technology. Meanwhile, 73 per cent of SMBs have yet to consider implementing AI, according to the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
To help bridge this gap, You.Scaled. will provide step-by-step support to guide organizations through AI adoption in a structured, practical way. Each recipient will receive tailored onboarding, mentorship and access to learning sessions that help translate training into measurable outcomes such as improving efficiency, enhancing customer or supporter experiences and identifying new opportunities for growth.
Eligibility and selection
The You.Scaled. Accelerator Program is open to registered Canadian SMBs with up to 40 employees and registered Canadian nonprofits. Applicants will be evaluated on three criteria: AI readiness to adopt, the quality of their implementation plan and their potential for positive economic and social impact.
Grants will be distributed across Canada, ensuring representation from urban, rural and remote communities. The program also includes a commitment to equitable access for organizations led by women, Indigenous Peoples, visible minorities and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Chosen recipients will gain access to membership benefits, services and discounts through key partners. They will also receive free access to the CMA’s generative AI On-Demand training course and a reduced one-year CMA membership to help integrate AI more effectively into their operations.
Apply now
Applications for the You.Scaled. Accelerator Program are open until November 15.
Learn more here: www.youscaled.com/ (EN) and www.vousamplifié.com (FR).
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