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Key Dates

  • Program Outline:

    1. Dedicated to solving the most pressing financial problems for Canadian small businesses and/or consumers

    2. Four (4) months of entirely virtual programming

    3. Up to $20,000 towards pilot execution

    4. Access to a mentorship network, project support, workshops, etc

    5. Opportunity for follow-on investment from Highline Beta
  • Success Criteria:

    1. High-potential seed-stage startup with product in market (open to pre-seed or later stages)

    2. Open to local (Canadian) or international applicants

    3. Cross-functional team with technology capabilities

    4. Driven, coachable, and collaborative leadership team

    5. Alignment with Intuit’s mission and values

Consumer Opportunities

Eliminate Debt

The number of Canadians who are anxious about their financial situation has more than doubled from 19% before COVID-19 to 46%1. These money worries were identified as the largest source of stress. Example solutions:

  • Understand, manage, consolidate, and pay off debt
  • Become aware of cash flow and spending habits
  • Commit to a debt pay down plan

Build Savings

COVID-19 has upended financial health with half (49%) of Canadians reporting that they are $200 or less away each month from insolvency2. Example solutions:

  • Save money and spend wisely
  • Maximize tax refunds and government incentives
  • Increase future savings through budgeting

Enable Financial Literacy

40% of Canadians are ready to start thinking more proactively about their finances3, yet 57% of them fail a basic financial literacy test4 and only 1-in-3 actively use a financial advisor5. Example solutions:

  • Understand financial status and wellbeing
  • Curate actionable steps to help reach financial goals
  • Provide insight based on progress and steps to course correct

Small Business and Self-Employed Opportunities

Improve Cash Flow

Since the inception of COVID-19, 48% of small businesses are making half or less their normal sales6. When asked what worries them the most during COVID-19, 50% said business cash flow (getting paid, meeting payroll, paying rent/bills)7. Example solutions:

  • Access sources of funding
  • Pay bills on time
  • Get paid anyway, anywhere, and immediately

Get Customers

52% of small business owners cited a decrease in customer demand for products and services8, and 37% are worried that consumer spending will be reduced, even following the COVID-19 crisis9. Example solutions:

  • Acquire more customers
  • Leverage new channels to access alternative streams of revenue
  • Change business model to adapt to shifting demands
  • Hire and onboard employees as customer demand grows

Get Help

Asking for help is an inherent part of being a successful small business owner. During these challenging times, it’s important to seek reliable advice and support. Example solutions:

  • Access advice from domain experts
  • Stay compliant with changing rules and regulations
  • Get work done in the best way possible during COVID-19 and beyond

Hear from Intuit and Highline Beta

David Marquis of Intuit Canada and Ben Yoskovitz of Highline Beta share why they believe collaboration between corporations and the global startup ecosystem can help solve future financial prosperity challenges for Canadians with greater urgency.

About Intuit

Intuit is a mission-driven, global financial platform company that gives everyone the opportunity to prosper. We serve consumers, small businesses and the self-employed and work with a range of partners to solve our customers’ most pressing problems. Our products, including TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, help our customers around the world make more money, with the least amount of work, while having complete confidence in their actions and decisions.

Learn more about Intuit

About Highline Beta

Highline Beta is a venture studio and venture capital firm helping big companies grow outside of their core through organic venture development and inorganic startup partnerships. Highline Beta is Intuit’s partner in the Intuit Prosperity Accelerator. Highline Beta designs, executes and oversees the program, as well as advises on the selection of startups to participate.

Learn more about Highline Beta

About Intuit Circles

Intuit Prosperity Accelerator is inspired by Intuit Circles, a global startup engagement initiative with a holistic community approach to business growth. The program aims to power prosperity for startups by sharing resources to address some of their biggest challenges: access mentors, customers, global markets, technology, and insights from our 35-year journey of self-disruption.
Learn more about Intuit Circles

Accelerator Team

David Marquis

Country Manager
Intuit Canada

Reanna Ridley

Strategic Partnerships
Intuit Canada

Candice Co

Corporate Communications
Intuit Canada

Allana Graham

Brand Communications
Intuit Canada

Marcus Daniels

Founding Partner
Highline Beta

Ben Yoskovitz

Founding Partner
Highline Beta

Oksana Salamaszek

Program Director
Highline Beta

Elena Yunusov

Head of Marketing
Highline Beta

Intuit’s Innovation Catalysts

Meet the design-thinking coaches supporting each startup as they execute pilots alongside Intuit experts

Valeriya Tyan Senior Product Manager
Sean Bush Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Sanjay Sen Lead Designer

View more of our catalyst team members and partners

View more

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FAQ

  • What types of startups are you looking for?

    We are primarily looking for companies that are making an immediate impact on small businesses and consumers’ most pressing challenges post-COVID-19. Our focus will be on seed stage tech startups with a product in market, but we are open to all stages (including pre-seed / ideation). We will put an emphasis on startups ready to pilot their technology during the program.

  • How will startups be selected?

    Startups will be selected across a number of criteria, including:

    1) Fit with one or more of the challenges
    2) Stage of startup (seed stage preferred with product in market, but open to pre-seed or later stages)
    3) Product traction
    4) Potential for integration with Intuit products
    5) Potential for scale in the Canadian market

  • Can I apply if my company does not fit the challenges?

    If you believe your solution can help small businesses, self-employed and/or consumers, and you believe that the relationship with Intuit and Intuit’s products can be beneficial, you are welcome to apply. Having said that, we will be emphasizing startups that can solve one or more of the challenges.

  • Are you only looking for Canadian startups?

    No, the program is open to startups anywhere, but our focus is on solving problems for Canadians. Any international startups would either need to have a presence in Canada or be willing to put effort into entering the Canadian market.

  • Do I need to be a QuickBooks customer to apply for integration?

    You don’t have to be a QuickBooks customer to apply. However, partners who have used QuickBooks are able to build stronger and meaningful integrations. We strongly encourage startups to explore the QuickBooks platform before considering an integration opportunity. You can explore our APIs here at developer.intuit.com

  • How long is the program?

    The program starts at the beginning of September and runs until mid-December, 2020. There will be a Demo Day event at some point in 2021, but the date has not yet been finalized. The program will be run virtually as long as social distancing protocols are in effect.

  • What happens after I submit my application?

    The selection committee will be carefully reviewing each application. If there is an initial fit at that stage, you will be invited to arrange a video call with the selection team to get to know you and your company better. Applicants will be notified of selection no later than two weeks before the program starts.

Intuit In The News

Betakit

Eight startups joining the Prosperity Accelerator program
Accelerator

Eight startups joining the inaugural cohort of Canadian accelerator
Yahoo Finance

Intuit Canada announces eight startups joining the inaugural cohort of Canadian accelerator

Footnotes and Sources

1 - https://go.forrester.com/blogs/the-effect-of-covid-19-on-canadians-financial-well-being/
2 - https://dot.vu/p/_1133/_5e7cff506dfc9234e85d318e/
3 - https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/fcac-acfc/documents/programs/research-surveys-studies-reports/financial-well-being-survey-results.pdf - FCAC report November 2019
4 - https://www.lowestrates.ca/reports/lr-financial-literacy-canada-report.pdf - November 2017
5 - https://advisorsavvy.com/many-canadians-struggle-finding-a-financial-advisor-but-a-couple-of-new-fintech-companies-have-an-app-for-that/ - cites Angus Reid poll Nov 2019
6 - https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/sites/default/files/2020-06/COVID-19-survey-results-June8.pdf
7 - Intuit QuickBooks COVID-19 Survey, June 2020
8. http://cibc.mediaroom.com/2020-05-04-COVID-19-impact-felt-by-81-per-cent-of-Canadian-small-business-owners-CIBC-Poll/
9 - Intuit QuickBooks COVID-19 Survey, June 2020