LOI Labs 18 Founder Accelerator

League of Innovators (LOI), a registered Canadian charity, runs Labs, a free 10-week virtual accelerator for young founders who have built an MVP and are working toward product-market fit. Labs 18 runs online from February to April 2027 in a cohort of 50 to 60 ventures, with live sessions led by experienced founders, peer accountability groups and a showcase at the end. LOI takes no equity and charges no tuition.

What you get:

• 10 weeks of live AMAs with established founders and operators, plus expert workshops on product, sales and pitching
• Optional Founder Huddles: peer groups of up to 10 for weekly accountability and goal-setting
• A Founder Showcase at the end of the cohort to pitch your progress
• Access to the LOI Venture Package, which LOI values at $100,000+ in partner perks, credits and discounts (for example $10,000 in AWS credits)
• Lifetime access to the LOI alumni community, and eligibility to apply for Boost, LOI's 6-month programme for scaling ventures
• For Black youth founders, an optional Black Youth Entrepreneurship Growth Stream with one-on-one mentorship and monthly masterminds, run with the Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses Society of Canada

What you'll do:

• Attend 2 to 4 live one-hour sessions a week, Tuesdays to Thursdays (occasionally Fridays), 10 to 11 am Pacific time
• Work through weekly themes: customers, product, growth, leadership and resilience
• Pitch your venture at the Founder Showcase

Key dates:

• Applications close Sunday, December 6, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific time
• Video interview invitations sent by Monday, December 14, 2026
• Interviews January 4 to 15, 2027
• Final decisions by Friday, January 15, 2027
• Programme runs February 8 to April 16, 2027

More information:

• Accepted founders pay a $120 deposit each to confirm their place, refunded at the end of the programme if they meet the engagement requirements
• An Early Acceptance track exists for founders who apply ahead of the deadline
• Questions: kyle@loi.ac (Labs Program Manager)

• Founders aged 15 to 30; applicants under 16 confirm a parent or guardian supports their participation
• A Canadian connection: Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, living in Canada, or a venture with significant operations, customers or impact in Canada
• An MVP and early traction, with active customer conversations toward product-market fit
• Ready to go full-time on the venture within six months and able to attend most live sessions
• Solo founders or teams of up to 4 co-founders with equity; every listed co-founder must meet the age and Canadian connection rules and pays their own $120 refundable deposit if accepted