INTRODUCTION

Breakthru is New Brunswick’s leading startup pitch competition, helping early-stage founders turn promising technology ideas into investable companies. Led by the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF), Breakthru guides entrepreneurs through the process of developing and presenting an investment opportunity. Through bootcamps, written submissions, and pitch development, founders learn how investors assess a company’s market, business model, team, competitive position, milestones, and capital needs.

Throughout the competition, founders test their assumptions, strengthen their business model, and learn to communicate a clear investment opportunity. The experience helps participants build stronger companies, whether or not they advance to the live finale.
Breakthru also strengthens New Brunswick’s technology pipeline by identifying ambitious founders early and helping them build the foundation needed to attract future investment and scale.

This province-wide competition offers more than $300,000 in equity investment and in-kind support to help entrepreneurs take their ideas to market.

Applications are due by 11:59PM AST, Monday, November 9th, 2026.

ARE YOU READY TO BREAKTHRU? 

You do not need to have every answer before applying. Breakthru is designed to help early-stage founders test the strength of an opportunity, understand what investors will look for and build a clearer path forward.

Through the competition, participants will gain:

• Practical learning: Build the foundational knowledge required to validate an opportunity, develop a business model and communicate it clearly.
• Mentorship: Receive guidance and constructive feedback from experienced founders, investors and business leaders.
• Investor readiness: Learn how to present the problem, market, business model, team, milestones and funding needs as a coherent investment opportunity.
• Connections: Build relationships with other founders, investors and members of New Brunswick’s technology community.
• Investment opportunity: Compete for the opportunity to enter NBIF’s due diligence process for a potential equity investment.
  
  

ELIGIBILITY

Breakthru is intended for New Brunswick founders and teams developing a new technology-driven startup at the concept, prototype or early market-validation stage. Applicants should be committed to establishing and growing the company in New Brunswick and participating fully in the competition’s learning, submission and pitch requirements.

WHO CAN APPLY

Breakthru is open to individuals or teams ready to launch a bold, new technology startup in New Brunswick. Each participant can only participate in one application and must meet the following:

• Be 19 years of age or older as of Monday, November 9^th, 2026;
• Be a resident of New Brunswick, or part of a team where at least one active member is a resident who will hold a minimum 51% ownership of the proposed venture;
• Be legally eligible to start and operate a business in New Brunswick; and
• Be ready and committed to developing and growing your new company right here in New Brunswick.

WHAT STAGE THE STARTUP SHOULD BE AT

To qualify, proposed business ventures must:

• Be in the early or pre-seed stage of development — meaning the business is still in concept, prototype, or market validation phase and has not yet raised significant external capital or achieved meaningful commercial revenue;
• Have no significant operating history;
• Plan to establish and maintain headquarters and operations in New Brunswick;
• Be focused on creating an innovative product or service; and
• Have considered how the startup’s intellectual property or competitive advantage will be developed and protected, where applicable.

COMPETITION PROCESS & KEY DATES

The competition replicates the process that an entrepreneur would undertake to solicit funds from outside investors. NBIF judges (the Selection Committee) will act as the investors, choosing up to 3 business ventures for investment from a group of 5 finalists. In determining the recipient of the equity investment, the Selection Committee will evaluate the proposed venture and assess the overall merits of the business model, the quality of the idea, the pitch, the Q&A, and the capacity of management to execute on the business goals. Ultimately, the investment recipient(s) will be the participant(s) who is best able to convey the merits of their startup and their ability to execute on their plan to the judges.

To become a finalist who will pitch at Breakthru LIVE Finale on Wednesday, March 24th, 2027, applicants will need to:

1. Submit an application with all the required information by Monday, November 9th, 2026, at 11:59PM.
2. Participate in the NBIF Breakthru Bootcamp on Saturday, November 28th, 2026, in Fredericton, NB. 
3. Submit their Startup Opportunity Brief to NBIF before Monday, January 4th, 2027.
4. Be selected as a semi-finalist and participate in the NBIF Semi-Finalist Investment & Pitch Readiness Bootcamp on Friday, February 5th, 2027.
5. Submit your investor deck to NBIF by Monday, February 15th, 2027.
6. Be selected as a finalist to pitch to the Selection Committee on Thursday, March 11th, 2027.
7. Pitch live on stage at the Breakthru Live Finale on Wednesday, March 24th, 2027, in Fredericton, NB.

APPLICATION

Applications must be received by NBIF no later than Monday, November 9th, 2026, at 11:59PM, using the online form located on the NBIF Application Portal. Paper or email submissions will not be accepted.

Detailed guidelines listed in the Participant Handbook.

For any inquiries or assistance regarding the application process, please contact Eden Hoang at eden.hoang@nbif.ca

We look forward to receiving your applications and supporting the creation and growth of startups in New Brunswick!