BDC Pivot to Grow
Pivot to Grow is a BDC loan program for Canadian businesses exposed to U.S. tariffs. It lends $250,000 to $5 million per stream, at 0% for the first 12 months, to companies with at least $1 million in revenue and 15% or more of their sales exported to the U.S. It is available until 31 March 2028.
Start an applicationProgram facts
| Type | Loan |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Businesses with $1M or more in revenue and 15% or more of sales exported to the U.S. |
| Amount or rate | $250,000 to $5M per stream, at 0% for the first 12 months. |
| Intake status | Open. Available until 31 March 2028. |
| Run by | BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada), a federal Crown corporation |
| Checked on | 8 October 2026 |
| Official page | https://www.bdc.ca/en/financing/pivot-grow-loan |
How it pays
Pivot to Grow is a loan, not a grant, so it is repaid. The first 12 months carry a 0% rate. The terms that apply after the first year, and what the money can be used for, are set out on BDC's page.
BDC is a lender, so its own credit review applies to every file.
Funding your share while you wait
A tariff loan pays for the change the business is making. It does not fix the day-to-day squeeze that tariffs often bring with them: customers paying more slowly, suppliers asking for deposits, a slower month while new markets open.
That is working capital, and it is usually better handled by a line of credit, or by invoice factoring when unpaid customer invoices are the problem. Voxen assesses those on the business's revenue and statements, separately from the BDC file, and takes any BDC loan into account when it looks at the total.
The Voxen products that fit this program. Ranges are the ones on each product page; every file is assessed on the business's revenue and bank statements.
| Financing | Range | What it covers here |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | Credit Limit: $10,000 – $1,000,000 | Working capital while you wait for a reimbursement or a refund. Draw what the project needs, pay it down when the money arrives. |
| Invoice Factoring | Facility Size: $30,000 – $50,000,000 | Cash from unpaid customer invoices, when slow-paying customers are what makes the wait hard. |
Related programs
| Program | Type | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regional Tariff Response Initiative | Grant (non-repayable) or repayable contribution | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| FORCE (Investissement Québec) | Loan | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| Canada Small Business Financing Program | Loan guarantee | Continuous intake | 8 October 2026 |
- Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)
- FORCE (Investissement Québec tariff fund)
- Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)
- More programs for this situation: Tariffs and U.S. exposure
Not sure which program fits? Ask us
Tell us about the project and we will tell you which programs are worth a look and what financing could carry your share. Voxen does not prepare grant applications; if you want help with one, we can point you to specialists who do that work.
Notice
Voxen Capital is a private financing broker, not a government body. It does not decide, influence or guarantee any grant, credit or government loan, and it does not prepare grant applications. Program details change: check the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pivot to Grow a grant?
No. It is a BDC loan of $250,000 to $5 million per stream, at 0% for the first 12 months. It has to be repaid.
How much of my sales must go to the U.S.?
15% or more of sales exported to the U.S., along with at least $1 million in revenue.
How long is the program available?
Until 31 March 2028, according to BDC's program page.
Can I use Voxen financing alongside a BDC loan?
It depends on the business's total debt and on what each lender accepts. Voxen looks at the whole file, including any BDC loan, before placing working capital financing.