Over $532,000 in Government Grants Secured for Calgary-based Software Company Top Dish
Impact Applications helped Top Dish, a Calgary-based SaaS and restaurant data analytics company, secure $532,671 in government grants and non-dilutive funding across 12 grants over two years. Through Full-Service Grant Management, Impact Applications sequenced federal and provincial programs including NRC-IRAP, Alberta Innovates, CSJG, and various Student Work Placement Program streams, allowing Top Dish to create and retain 6 new jobs and expand its Restaurant Data Analytics Platform and Coffee Pass network.
The Challenge
Growth demanded funding, but a smaller team had no time to pursue it.
The Problem
Top Dish had never applied for a grant before and didn't even know what they were missing out on. As they scaled their AI-powered Restaurant Data Analytics Platform, they faced another common constraint: strong product momentum with no time or internal capacity to manage government grants for small businesses. Without support from a dedicated team of business grant writers, the application, reporting, compliance, and other grant management requirements would have been near-impossible to navigate on their own.
- Had never pursued grants before, unaware of the funding they were missing out on
- No internal capacity, time, or expertise to research, write, or manage grant applications
- Needed a dedicated team of grant experts to navigate complex federal and provincial programs
- Internal team was stretched thin and needed to grow, putting product execution at risk
- Needed a way to fund senior developer new hires without diluting equity
Our Solution
Top Dish partnered with Impact Applications for our Full-Service Grant Management monthly plan, giving them a dedicated non-dilutive funding department so their team could stay focused on doing what they did best, building their platform.
- Our team of non-dilutive funding experts built a multi-year funding roadmap covering both federal and provincial grant programs
- Sequenced multiple funding sources so Top Dish could grow and create 6 new jobs without giving up equity
- Delivered Full-Service Grant Management, handling grant research, application writing, and coaching correspondence with government grant agencies, so Top Dish's team could stay focused on their core product
- Managed all monthly claims, final reports, and compliance after Top Dish's grants were approved
- Continue to monitor and research new federal and provincial programs on Top Dish's behalf, so the company can apply as soon as it becomes eligible for additional non-dilutive funding
Every dollar. Every program.
12 programs, secured and managed together, adding up to $532,671.
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP): R&D, 1st Project
Subsidized technical employees and early-stage R&D (Year 1)
NRC-IRAP Youth Employment Program (YEP)
Subsidized wages to hire a young recent graduate (Year 1)
ICTC WIL Digital Program (SWPP): Summer 2024
Subsidized wages for a tech-focused postsecondary student placement (Year 1)
ICTC WIL Digital Program (SWPP): Fall 2024
Subsidized wages for a tech-focused student placement (Year 1)
Venture for Canada Internship Program (SWPP): Winter 2025
Subsidized wages for a postsecondary student placement (Year 1)
Venture for Canada Internship Program (SWPP): Summer 2025 (Year 1)
Subsidized wages for a postsecondary student placement (Year 1)
NRC Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP): R&D, 2nd Project
Subsidized technical employees and early-stage R&D (Year 2)
Alberta Innovates: Industry R&D Associates Program
Funds up to 25% of costs to hire an in-house technical employee (Year 2)
Venture for Canada Internship Program (SWPP): Summer 2025 (Year 2)
Subsidized wages for a postsecondary student placement (Year 2)
Venture for Canada Internship Program (SWPP): Fall 2025
Subsidized wages for a postsecondary student placement (Year 2)
Canada Summer Jobs Grant (CSJG): Summer 2026
Subsidized wages for a youth summer job placement (Year 2)
Venture for Canada Internship Program (SWPP): Summer 2026
Subsidized wages for a postsecondary student placement (Year 2)
The impact
$532,671 in Non-Dilutive Funding
$532,671 in Canadian and Albertan government grants secured. No equity given up, no debt taken on.
12 Grants Across Multiple Programs
Funding was drawn from federal R&D programs, provincial innovation funding, and student wage subsidy streams, strategically sequenced for maximum coverage.
Minimal Founder's Time
Top Dish's CEO Elias Swaita reviewed and approved project goals and specific details, while Impact Applications managed the heavy work involved in writing applications and reports.
Full Compliance Management
All claims, reimbursements, and reporting handled end-to-end by Impact Applications. Top Dish maintained full compliance with reduced administrative burden.
Senior Software Developer Hires
The non-dilutive funding allowed Top Dish to hire and retain top-tier developers, supporting the team building its restaurant data analytics and Coffee Pass technology.
6 New Jobs Created and Retained
The grant funding gave Top Dish the capacity to create and retain 6 new jobs, roles the company could not initially support through revenue alone at this stage of growth.
It's really allowed us to actually pay some top-tier developers in our company and get them onboarded with us, and they've been incredible to work with. As a startup that's huge, because you want the A-team.
Not a grant writer. Your outsourced grant department.
We lead strategy, research, application development, submission, claims, and reporting from start to finish, so your team never has to.
Multi-year funding roadmap
We design a long-term strategy that evolves as your business grows, not one-off applications.
Grant stacking strategy
Wage subsidies, innovation grants, and export programs are layered and sequenced for maximum impact.
Application writing and submission
We know what gets approved and what doesn't. Every application is built to win.
Government coordination
We manage all communication with IRAP, Alberta Innovates, and other agencies on your behalf.
Claims and reimbursement tracking
Full claim preparation ensures your funding is received on time, without gaps.
Ongoing compliance management
Continuous compliance monitoring so your funding is never at risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Top didn't chase grants. We did that for them.
If your business is building, hiring, or expanding, there is likely significant government funding available to you right now. We will find it, secure it, and manage it, so your team never has to think about it.