The Wine Innovation Challenge: Mobilizing innovators to adapt the Canadian wine industry to the challenges of tomorrow

SF4C is excited to welcome applicants for the Wine Innovation Challenge: a 4-month innovation challenge with industry leading mentorship and a fall pitch competition for more than $10,000 in cash prizes.

This challenge is designed to bring the best and brightest emerging researchers and entrepreneur teams to the forefront of designing solutions to some of the wine industry’s most pressing challenges.

Over the course of this challenge, small teams will work together to design and implement a solution to key climate-related issues facing the wine industry, such as the following:

• frost damage and cold weather variability
• drought resilience and water stewardship
• smoke exposure and smoke taint mitigation
• heat stress and extreme weather adaptation
• climate-resilient grape varieties
• supply chain resilience and risk management

With the guidance of an expert team of mentors, structured workshops and resources, participants will move from early-stage ideation to minimum viable product development.

The Challenge is intended to attract early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs, ranging from individuals with a promising idea and an initial business model concept to ventures that have undertaken preliminary market testing. The program is designed to support participants operating within Readiness Levels 2-6.

Application deadline: July 15, 2026

To Apply: Submit this 1-minute survey: BC Wine Innovation Challenge – Fill out form