$100,000 AWS business grant up for grabs, backing Canadian innovation on CBC this fall
As CBC kicks off Season 21 of Dragons’ Den this month, viewers will notice a new face—and a major new prize in the Den.
Patricia Nielsen, Head of Enterprise for AWS Canada, will appear on the show to award a $100,000 AWS business grant to one of the entrepreneurs on the program this season. Nielsen will announce the AWS grant, a combination of technology credits and business mentorship, in the season premiere on September 17. She’ll return mid-season to provide an update on the competition, and will reveal the winner during the season finale on January 28.
To determine the winner, Nielsen and her team will be evaluating the pitchers based on several criteria, including their vision, innovation, and application of technology.
“We’re looking at how the entrepreneurs are using technology today, and how AWS technologies like the cloud and AI can help them innovate faster to grow their business,” she said.
Dragons’ Den is known for giving entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas to Canadian business moguls (the Dragons) in hopes of securing their support and financial backing.
The collaboration with AWS offers a significant grant to the entrepreneurs, without taking an equity stake in their business. Pitchers will be eligible for the AWS grant whether or not they score a deal from the Dragons.
"We are very excited about our integration with AWS!” said Molly Middleton, Dragons' Den Executive Producer." As we enter our 21st season of Dragons' Den where our main goal is to celebrate small businesses and showcase the best and brightest of Canadian entrepreneurs – we see more and more pitches using AI and technology as an integral part of their growth and success. A grant like this is just as meaningful as a deal in the Den – small businesses need all the help they can get! The support AWS can offer is absolutely invaluable to the great founders we see come through the Den,” she said.
The show is a natural fit for AWS, where startup DNA and Canadian roots run deep.
“At AWS, we understand the challenges of starting a business. We’re the world’s leading cloud, but we began as a startup,” said Nielsen. “Our vision was to make powerful technology available to anyone, and we’ve been helping entrepreneurs turn their bold ideas into reality since we pioneered the cloud over 20 years ago,” she said.
Today, millions of customers around the world, including the fastest growing startups, choose AWS to help them transform their business with cloud and AI. This includes tens of thousands of organizations in Canada, where AWS has deep roots including local operations, ongoing investments, and homegrown talent across the country.
The collaboration with Dragons’ Den builds on AWS's track record of supporting entrepreneurs on the Quebec based adaptation of the program, Dans l'œil du dragon, on Radio-Canada. For the past three seasons, AWS has appeared on that show to offer business grants to pitchers who stand out through their use of technology.
Past AWS grant winners are already having a measurable impact in their communities. La 2e Classe, the 2025 winner, used its grant to reduce teachers' administrative workload by 50% through cloud and AI-based systems, allowing educators to spend more time supporting students. AquaVerti, the 2024 winner, is rethinking agriculture with a smart vertical farm that uses up to 94% less water than traditional farming. Since migrating to AWS cloud services, the Montreal-based company has increased productivity by 20% and is designing produce to stay fresh longer and reduce food waste.
"AWS's collaboration with Dans l'œil du dragon has shown the incredible impact of pairing entrepreneurial ambition with the right technology and support," said Sandra Benjamin, Head of Communications for AWS Canada. "Bringing this integration to Dragons' Den is a natural next step. AWS was born as a startup, and through programs like AWS Activate, we've helped more than 350,000 startups around the world bring their ideas to life. We're excited to continue that legacy by championing Canadian entrepreneurs on one of the country's most iconic stages."
Discover how AWS supports startups, from idea to market.
Dragons’ Den airs Thursdays, at 8 p.m. ET, on CBC and CBC Gem. Learn more about AWS's collaboration and view episodes here.
