About
About The Funding File
Last updated: Published by Cydney Mar
Who publishes The Funding File?
The Funding File is published by Cydney Mar, a product development strategist based in Montreal with 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales. It is one of a small number of websites her business publishes, created to help founders prepare the business plans, cost structures and documents that grant and funding applications ask for.
Cydney Mar's main website is cydneymar.com, where you can learn about her programs and book a strategy call.
Why this site exists
Many founders reach the point of applying for a grant or loan with a strong product idea but no business plan or cost structure a reviewer can trust. Preparing those documents is part of Cydney Mar's business strategy work, and this site shares the practical side of it openly: the template, the checklist, the cost lines and the launch paths.
Everything here reflects her own approach. It is general guidance, not financial, legal, tax or eligibility advice, and it is not an independent review.
$300M+
in global retail, TV and direct-to-consumer sales, as stated by Cydney Mar.
About Cydney Mar
Cydney Mar has been designing and building product for more than 45 years. She was an award-winning designer in New York in the late 1970s, designed Cirque du Soleil's first Boutique Collection and led design for Edwin Jeans in North America. For 15+ years she sold her own collections on QVC in 8 countries, with more than 800 hours of live television.
She is Nlaka'pamux and runs Cydney Mar Consulting, an Indigenous-owned product development firm in Montreal, operating as a certified Aboriginal company that is 100% woman owned and operated. She also founded Cydney Mar Wellness, a range of health and beauty vitamins, and serves as an expert advisor to Startup Canada and the EDC.
Her work covers three areas: product development (tech packs, sampling, sourcing, costing and production readiness), business strategy (business plans and cost structures strong enough for grant and funding applications, plus business diagnostics), and positioning and path to market.
The Concept-to-Reality Pathway
Cydney Mar's path from idea to a product on the shelf, for founders who want an expert guide rather than guesswork.
Product Clarity
Define what you are making, and who it is for.
Right Prototypes
Develop the right samples and cut costly rework.
The Right Suppliers
Vetted for quality, communication and reliability.
Cost and Margins
Build for real profit and scalability, and learn to calculate costs properly.
Production-Ready
Finalize specifications and systems for consistent manufacturing.
Launch and Scale
Take your product to market through retail, DTC or TV, and grow.
In a client's words
“Cydney is a wonderful mentor, coach and a professional. She was able to give us a clear direction on what needs to be done in order to create a successful product.”
Common questions
What is a product development consultant?
A product development consultant guides a founder through turning an idea into a product ready to make and sell: defining the product, prototypes, suppliers, costing and production. Cydney Mar is a product development strategist with 45+ years of experience and $300M+ in global product sales across retail, TV and direct-to-consumer markets.
What does a new product development consultant do for a first-time founder?
A new product development consultant gives a first-time founder a clear order of steps and checks their thinking before they spend on samples or suppliers. Cydney Mar’s Concept-to-Reality Pathway covers product clarity, prototypes, suppliers, costs and margins, production readiness, and launching through retail, DTC or TV.
Can an MVP product development consultant help me test before production?
Yes. An MVP product development consultant helps you develop the right prototypes and samples to test an idea without overspending. Cydney Mar’s pathway focuses on developing the right samples to cut costly rework, so you learn what works before you commit to a full production run and the funding it needs.
How do product development companies and firms differ from a consultant?
Product development companies and firms often handle design and engineering with an in-house team, while an independent consultant usually guides strategy and coordinates the work. Cydney Mar runs Cydney Mar Consulting, an Indigenous-owned product development firm based in Montreal that combines hands-on product development with business strategy and funding-ready business plans.
What is a product development strategy?
A product development strategy is the plan for what you will make, for whom, in what order, and at what cost and margin. It connects the product to the business around it. Cydney Mar’s strategic advisory work focuses on structure, margin clarity and scalable production systems for product-based founders and growth-stage brands.
What are the steps in the product development process?
Cydney Mar’s Concept-to-Reality Pathway sets out six steps: product clarity, the right prototypes, the right suppliers, cost and margins, production-ready specifications, and launch and scale. Each step reduces a specific risk, such as rework, unreliable suppliers or prices that do not cover costs, before you commit more money.
How much does Cydney Mar charge?
Cydney Mar does not publish prices for her programs. The clearest way to get an answer is to book a strategy call through the contact page on cydneymar.com, describe your product and where you are in development, and discuss which kind of support fits your stage and budget.
Want an experienced hand on your plan and numbers?
Cydney Mar prepares business plans and cost structures strong enough for grant and funding applications, alongside hands-on product development. Start with a strategy call to talk through your idea and map clear next steps.