Innovation Saskatchewan is putting $60,000 into Startup TNT to help early-stage companies connect with investors and secure venture capital.
The provincial agency said Monday the funding will support Startup TNT’s programming through spring 2026, including the upcoming Saskatchewan Summit XII and Agri-Food Summit this fall.
The events allow startups to pitch investors, each of whom pre-commits $5,000. Over eight weeks, participants undergo due diligence and collective voting before investments are announced at a live finale. Winners receive at least $100,000, with additional side deals also possible.
Last year, five Saskatchewan startups raised $758,000 through the summits, including Rivercity Innovations, which attracted a record-breaking $558,000.
“We are proud to continue supporting Startup TNT and its work to attract new investors for our province’s most promising early-stage companies,” said Warren Kaeding, minister responsible for Innovation Saskatchewan. “By helping Startup TNT advance their work, we are creating new opportunities for both tech startups, their earliest supporters and our broader economy.”
Startup TNT says the money will also fund new programming, including two Investor Bootcamps aimed at unlocking fresh angel capital and an Investment Readiness program to prepare companies for larger institutional investments.
Since 2021, the organization has helped 27 Saskatchewan startups raise $4.4 million, alongside another $29 million in dilutive and non-dilutive funding for portfolio companies. It says 60 per cent of startup funding in the province comes from local investors.
Saskatchewan startups have until Sept. 17 to apply for the Saskatchewan Summit XII and until Oct. 1 for the Agri-Food Summit.