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Pacific. Authentic. Experiences Launchpad
Have an Idea for A New Richmond Tourism Experience?
Are you an entrepreneur, business or organization with a great new idea for a tourism experience in Richmond? Need help to get it off the ground?
Put your idea forward for the opportunity to receive eight months of one-to-one mentorship, in-kind marketing support from Tourism Richmond, and $5,000 in funding.
Register here for a virtual information session at 11:30am on Thursday, October 29.
Tourism Richmond is looking for fresh tourism experience ideas with a meaningful connection to Richmond. Three ideas will be selected.
Through the Pacific. Authentic. Experiences Launchpad, entrepreneurs, businesses and organizations are invited to put forward ideas for new tourism experiences that could give visitors another reason to discover Richmond and connect with the destination. Your experience doesn’t need to be fully developed at this stage, but you must have a strong idea and be committed to developing and delivering it.
Applications open Tuesday, October 6 and close Friday, November 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT).
Download the Program Guidelines, including the full application questions to help you prepare.
What are we looking for?
We’re looking for new tourism experience ideas that celebrate what makes Richmond distinctive, including its food, culture, coastal setting and connection to nature.
- Food: Culinary experiences, local flavours and cultural connections.
- Culture: Arts, traditions, diverse communities and authentic local stories.
- Coastal: Waterfront experiences, maritime heritage and community character.
- Nature: Outdoor recreation, wildlife and connections to the natural environment.
A strong idea:
- Offers something new or fills a gap in Richmond’s existing tourism experiences.
- Gives visitors another reason to come to Richmond, stay longer or visit at different times of year, including new events that bring visitors to Richmond.
- Creates a meaningful connection with Richmond’s people, places or stories.
- Builds on what makes Richmond distinctive, including its food, culture, coastal setting and connection to nature.
- Comes from someone ready to lead the work themselves, with strong support behind them.
- Welcomes a wide range of visitors and supports Richmond’s community and environment.
Your idea doesn’t need to fit neatly into one category or be a finished concept. If you have a compelling tourism experience that celebrates Richmond, we want to hear about it.
Who can apply?
You don’t need to be an established tourism operator to have a great tourism idea. You don’t need to live or run a business in Richmond, but your experience must take place here.
The Pacific. Authentic. Experiences Launchpad welcomes ideas from individuals aged 18 or over, new and existing businesses, tourism operators, non-profits, community groups and cultural organizations. There’s no business size requirement.
Whether your idea is still taking shape or you’re ready to take an existing concept in a new direction, we’re interested in its potential and your commitment to developing it.
The person who applies should be the person who will lead the work. Launchpad is built for people who want to develop their own idea, with mentorship and support behind them.
What will selected participants receive?
Following a competitive application and pitch process, three participants will be selected for Launchpad.
- Eight months of customized one-to-one mentorship
Mentorship matched to your idea and your needs, providing practical guidance as you develop your experience and prepare to bring it to market. - In-kind marketing support from Tourism Richmond
Marketing support to help prepare your experience for market and support its promotion. - $5,000 in funding
Funding to support the development and testing of your tourism experience, including eligible market-testing costs. Funding will be provided in three installments: 25% upfront, followed by two additional installments tied to program milestones. - Access to workshops and a peer network
Access to workshops and a peer network with connections that continue beyond the program.
What participants commit to
Launchpad runs from February to September 2027. Selected participants commit to:
- Meeting with their mentor twice a month
- Attending workshops and milestone check-ins
- Presenting at a showcase in fall 2027
- Sharing photos and content from the program with Tourism Richmond
Participants sign a short participant agreement that covers these commitments and the funding schedule.
How does it work?
1. Apply
Submit a short application telling us about your tourism experience idea, its connection to Richmond, who it’s for and how Launchpad could help you develop it. The application has two parts: a short written form, and a one-minute video where you introduce yourself and your idea in your own words. Someone else can film it for you, as long as we can see and hear you clearly.
Download Program Guidelines
2. Pitch your idea
Applications will be reviewed, and five finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas in person to a selection panel. Pitches will be about five minutes plus Q&A. It’s a conversation, not a sales pitch. Finalists need to be available in person on Thursday, January 21, 2027, at a venue in Richmond.
3. Join Launchpad
Three participants will be selected to join Launchpad. After selection, you’ll meet one-on-one with the program lead so we can match you with the right mentor.
4. Bring your experience closer to market
Participants work with their mentor and Tourism Richmond to develop their ideas into tourism experiences and test them with visitors.
5. Showcase your experience
Participants present their experience at a showcase event in fall 2027, celebrating what the cohort has built.
6. Launch to the public
With mentorship complete, participants launch their experience and join a network of Richmond experience operators and mentors that lasts beyond the program.
Key Dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, October 6, 2026 | Applications open |
| Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time (PT) | Information session (virtual, recorded) |
| Friday, November 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) | Applications close |
| By mid-December 2026 | Five finalists invited to pitch and non-finalists informed |
| Thursday, January 21, 2027 | Pitch day, in person |
| By Friday, January 29, 2027 | Three participants announced |
| February to September 2027 | Mentorship and workshops |
| Fall 2027 | Showcase and launch |
Built on what works
Launchpad builds on lessons from Tourism Richmond’s earlier Pacific. Authentic. Experiences initiative, and from similar visitor experience programs across BC, where mentorship and peer networks have made the biggest difference. That’s why Launchpad pairs every participant with a mentor, builds in a community of fellow participants and past alumni, and keeps that support going after the program ends.
In their words
The Pacific. Authentic. Experiences program was integral to getting Dine Like A Critic off the ground. As a new tourism entrepreneur, I received practical support on everything from itinerary development and storytelling to insurance, sales platforms, photography and website development. Once the business launched, Tourism Richmond continued to support me with valuable sales leads, marketing exposure, promotion and even an award nomination. Their support didn’t just help me launch the business—it gave me the tools, confidence and momentum to make it succeed.
— Alexandra Gill, Dine Like A Critic
Richmond is a fantastic place to build a tourism experience. The abundance of parks, birds and wildlife in incredibly close proximity to the city makes Richmond particularly special, and the perfect place for me to showcase the beauty of the region to visitors from around the world. Having guidance in developing an impactful experience helped me refine my offerings, and inform my tourism business in Richmond and beyond.
— Liron Gertsman, Birding 101
Ready to put your idea forward?
If you have an idea for a new Richmond tourism experience, we want to hear about it.
Application deadline: Friday, November 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time (PT)
Questions – fundingprograms@tourismrichmond.com
FAQs
Do I need to be an established tourism operator to apply?
No. We welcome ideas from entrepreneurs, new and existing businesses, non-profits, community groups, and cultural organizations. There’s no business size requirement, and a strong idea matters more than how established you are.
Does my idea need to be fully developed already?
No. Bring us a strong idea with a meaningful connection to Richmond and the commitment to develop it. Mentorship and support exist to help you get from idea to market-ready.
What counts as a “tourism experience”?
An experience goes beyond a product or attraction. It’s immersive, tells a story, and leaves visitors feeling connected to Richmond. That said, a strong product with real experience potential is welcome too, and we don’t want a good idea set aside for not being “experiential enough.”
Does my idea need to fit neatly into one theme?
No. If it celebrates what makes Richmond distinctive and has real potential to bring visitors to Richmond or give them a reason to stay longer, we want to hear about it, even if it touches more than one theme.
What does “new” mean?
New to Richmond, not necessarily new to the world. Bringing an idea that works elsewhere and making it distinctly Richmond counts. As a general guide, this means something that hasn’t been operating in Richmond for more than six months.
Are events eligible?
Yes. A new event that draws visitors and connects to Richmond fits alongside experiences and products.
Can I apply if I’m not based in Richmond?
Yes. The experience itself needs to happen in Richmond, but you don’t need to be based here yourself.
Can I apply with a partner or as a team?
Yes. Tell us who is involved in your application. One person should be the lead applicant who takes part in the mentorship and workshops. We encourage partnerships with other individuals and businesses.
What can the funding be used for?
Developing and testing your experience, including market testing. Funding can’t be used for ongoing operating costs or capital purchases, such as renovating premises, installing permanent signage, or major technology investments.
How much time will it take?
Plan for about two mentor sessions a month from February to September 2027, plus workshops, milestone check-ins and a showcase in fall 2027. Finalists also need to be available in person on January 21, 2027.
How does the selection process work?
It happens in two stages. First, a review panel scores each complete application, including the written responses and video, and invites five finalists to pitch. Then, an in-person judge panel hears the pitches and selects the three participants who will join Launchpad.
What happens if I’m not selected?
All applicants will be notified of the outcome, whether or not they are invited to pitch or selected for the program. All applicants receive links to helpful resources and an invitation to stay connected for future opportunities, while finalists who pitch receive structured feedback.