Venture Capital Program (BC)

Overview of the Venture Capital Program (BC) program:

The government recognizes that creating new small businesses and expanding existing ones will contribute to a healthy economy. These programs give small business continuous access to early stage venture capital to help them develop and expand.

Benefits of the Venture Capital Program (BC) program:

• Investors receive 30% tax credit from B.C. Government

Eligibility criteria of the Venture Capital Program (BC) program:

• Eligible Business Corporation (EBC)
• Business must be incorporated and registered to operate in B.C. (see SBVCA*)
• Venture Capital Corporation (VCC)
• Business must have a permanent place of business in B.C.
• Business must pay at least 75% of its annual wages & salaries to B.C. employees
• Business must be substantially engaged in one or more of the qualifying
• Activities (see SBVCR**)
• Business, together with its corporate affiliates, must not have more than
• 100 employees
• Business must have raised at least $25,000 in equity capital
• Business must have at least 80% of its assets located in B.C.
• Venture Capital Corporation (VCC)
• VCC is a newly incorporated B.C. company registered under the SBVCA*
• VCC provides expertise, experience & knowledge to ESBs
• VCCs sole purpose is raising capital from investors to invest in ESBs
• VCC must hold the shares of ESBs for at least 5 years
• VCC must raise a minimum of $50,000 of equity capital
• ESB must be substantially engaged in a qualifying activity
• ESB must pay at least 75% of its annual wages & salaries to B.C. employees
• (50% if exporting)
• Further info:
• Https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/employment-business-and-economic-development/investment-capital/venture-capital-programs/investment_capital_program_guidelines.pdf