Our funding models
Our approach is designed to be flexible, inclusive, and responsive to what innovators need at every stage:
Seed funding
To test early-stage ideas and generate proof of concept with grants of up to $250,000 CAD.
Transition to Scale funding
To grow and strengthen proven innovations with funding up to $3M CAD.
Ecosystem catalyst grants
To strengthen the systems, partnerships, and environments that help innovations scale.
Scale funding
Choreographed investments with governments, philanthropic capital and private equity to drive impact at scale.
The Grand Challenges approach
Our work is grounded in a bold, proven model: the Grand Challenges approach. A Grand Challenge is a significant barrier that, if overcome, could unlock transformational impact for millions of people. We identify critical barriers to global health and development —especially those that remain unsolved because they’re considered too complex, too risky, or too underfunded. We believe that these are the areas where innovation is needed most.
We apply the Grand Challenges model through a strategic, six-part cycle:
Define the challenge
We identify urgent, critical barrier(s) where innovation could deliver transformational impact—drawing on evidence, local insights, and expert consultation.
Launch innovation competitions
We issue open calls that reach bold thinkers around the world—especially from underrepresented communities and low- and middle-income countries.
Invest selectively
We fund the most promising solutions through a rigorous, equity-centered review process, offering support at every stage—from seed to scale.
Provide flexible support
Our investments go beyond capital. We provide venture advisory, technical guidance, gender and policy expertise, and connections to co-investors and partners.
Accelerate impact
We help innovators strengthen their models, access new markets, and scale through public-sector partnerships, private-sector growth, or both.
Measure, learn, evolve
We measure lives reached, improved, and saved—and continuously refine our model to improve outcomes, accountability, and value for money.
Our approach
We use a blended finance approach to find, fund and scale high-impact innovations — combining grants, equity, loans and catalytic investments to de-risk bold ideas and unlock new capital. By tailoring our support to what innovators need most, we help bridge the gap between promising solutions and real-world impact.
We also invest in impact funds, serving as a catalytic investor to crowd in additional support.
Apply for funding
We support innovations that improve lives in areas where the need is greatest — women’s health, mental health, child development, humanitarian innovation, Indigenous innovation, and more. From early-stage ideas to solutions that are ready to scale, we fund bold approaches with the potential to drive change and deliver measurable impact.
Grow your idea with our help & support
Transition to Scale
Through our Transition to Scale (TTS) program, GCC supports promising innovations from low- and middle-income countries who are positioned to take their bold ideas to big impact.
Applications to Transition to Scale are managed on an invitation basis. If an innovation is selected to apply, Grand Challenges Canada will aim to provide a funding decision within six months of submission of a Transition-to-Scale application. Read our Request for Proposals for more information on our current investment areas of focus, eligibility criteria.
Transition to Scale
