UArctic Foundation US brings the UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund to AKEW - Inviting Alaskan Founders to Apply for an International Innovation Cohort

Entrepreneurs in the North face unique challenges: finding early-stage support, traveling in remote locations, and sourcing Arctic-grade hardware being just a few issues to navigate. Yet the entrepreneurial spirit is vital for the resilience of Arctic communities, fostering local innovation, building economic opportunities, and embracing sustainability.

The UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund (UEF) is an accelerator fund designed to support Northern entrepreneurs at the pre-seed incubator stage, helping funders get beyond their first big hurdle by providing early funding to help launch their ideas to seed-stage funding. This year the UArctic Foundation US is partnering with Alaska Entrepreneurship Week (AKEW) to bring awareness to the fund across Alaska’s innovation spheres by hosting a Q&A session on September 16 and introducing the fund to participants through AKEW events.

Previous recipients have agreed that finding support for early-stage development opened doors to launching their businesses. “I think the most critical [challenge] is that it's very difficult to go from an idea to a scalable business... it's very difficult to get someone to believe in your ideas in an early stage,” Ole Martin said; he is the CFO and Chairman of CapiPro, which was able to build from zero to venture capital-backed in under two years after receiving the UEF award.

Another awardee, Nicoline Thomsen of AAVEQ Robotics, said, “It's been a great sign of approval, and even though it is relatively small funding, it has been a kickstart to our whole adventure.”

With support from the UEF, recipients have been able to develop new technologies for global industries, find new solutions to problems in remote communities, and win international entrepreneurship awards, such as in 2024, when the CapiPro team received the High North Young Entrepreneur Award and AAVEQ Robotics were finalists.

The fund assists emerging leaders as they refine, test, and scale their ideas into practical solutions that contribute to sustainable Arctic development. From strengthening regional food systems and improving waste management, to expanding access to critical environmental data, the awarded projects have reflected the creativity, determination, and resourcefulness that define entrepreneurship in the North. 

The UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund offers pre-seed awards between $2,000 and $5,000 USD, along with an international mentorship cohort to provide connections to a global network of Arctic-focused experts and institutions. The program is managed and run by the UArctic Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the North. 

Whether you’re developing a product that supports clean energy, a service that improves health care access in remote communities, or a new technology that supports cultural preservation, if your idea has the potential to make a positive, demonstrable impact in the Arctic, UEF is waiting for you. 

The annual applications window opened in May and will close on October 31, 2026. 

Who Can Apply? 

The call is open to any individual, regardless of institutional affiliation or global location, who is developing an incubator-stage product or service that directly benefits the Arctic environment or Arctic communities. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous entrepreneurs, youth, women, and Northern-based innovators whose work reflects the lived experiences and priorities of the Arctic. 

“Northern regions are facing rapid change and complex challenges...but alongside those challenges, we continue to see remarkable creativity and resilience and leadership that's emerging from our Arctic and Northern communities," Sheila Downer of UArctic said during the announcement for the 2026 call for applications. "Initiatives like the UArctic Entrepreneurship Fund are intended to help create space for those ideas to develop and thrive.” 

Your idea doesn’t need to be “high tech”—it just needs to be rooted in community values, have a clear benefit for the North, and demonstrate potential for long-term impact. 

What Support is Provided? 

Awardees will receive: 

A grant of $2,000 to $5,000 USD (exceptions possible based on project scope) 

Mentorship and training through UArctic’s Thematic Network on Managing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in the North 

• Access to a network of researchers, institutions, and Arctic innovators
• Ongoing opportunities to share your work through UArctic events, publications, and international channels 

Deadline to Apply: October 31, 2026 

All application materials, eligibility information, and submission guidelines are available on the Foundation website: https://uarcticfoundationus.org/uarctic-entrepreneurship-fund/ 

Questions? We’re happy to help. Contact us at: entrepreneurship@uarctic.org 

Help Us Spread the Word 

Your support in amplifying this opportunity is vital. You can: 

• Share the link in your communications. 
• Reach out to Indigenous and Northern entrepreneurs who could benefit from this opportunity. 
• Become a supporter of the fund at the UArctic Foundation US website. 

Together, we can support innovation in the Arctic grounded in community, guided by sustainability, and driven by Northern leadership.