MERGE Program
MERGE Program is a program offered by Planet Hatch for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador).
Program connecting startups with municipalities in New Brunswick's Capital Region to address community challenges through funded projects (up to $25,000 per RFP).
Visit the official program page →
Program details
The MERGE Program aims to intertwine community well-being with business prosperity, fostering resilient local economies through targeted investments in community infrastructure, education, and empowerment. Municipalities submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) identifying community challenges, and startups respond to Request for Proposals (RFPs) to deliver solutions. Completed projects in 2025 included initiatives for Grand Lake, Hanwell, Central York, Arcadia, and the Capital Region Service Commission covering areas such as transportation, land identification, tourism, and water access. Each RFP has a budget of up to $25,000. New RFPs were expected on March 25, 2026. A MERGE Demo Day celebrates the successful completion of each cohort, showcasing how startups partnered with municipalities to deliver practical solutions to community challenges.
Who qualifies
For startups: must be able to deliver solutions to municipality challenges. For municipalities: submit Expression of Interest identifying community projects.
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