Programs

Student Founders Program

Harness the possibility in your student life.

Prerequisites:

About

As a student founder, you want to harness the power of the possibility of your idea but maybe you have no idea where to start. The Student Founders Program offers student entrepreneurs building an early-stage innovative product or service our full support to help you launch. We can help transform your idea for solving some of the world’s most pressing problems into reality. In the program’s first year in 2020, we worked with 10 student founder/co-founders to help transform their idea into a growing startup, including FLIK, Fly & Fetch, Elev Homes, and Agriolabs.

Student Founders will be guided through a mandatory, weekly, live curriculum designed to help:

Identify and develop early customers
Prove your market
Build a strong foundation for your product, team, and company
Learn to sell your product and company to customers and investors

Details

Note: This summer’s Student Founders Program cohort concluded on August 22, 2022. Stay tuned for information on application dates to the next cohort.
In order to be eligible, you must live in Edmonton/attended an Edmonton-based post-secondary during the 2021/2022 school year.
Virtual delivery (mostly Zoom)
Taking this program costs $0, made possible by Alberta Innovates through the Edmonton Regional Innovation Network.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Regular coaching sessions
Access to mentors and advisors
Peer-to-peer sessions with your cohort
Opportunity to showcase your company/product at a demo and a pitch night

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When does the program take place?

This summer’s Student Founders Program cohort concluded on August 22, 2022. Stay tuned for information on application dates to the next cohort.

Who should apply for the program?

We encourage all student entrepreneurs with an early stage innovative product or service to apply for the program.

What’s the time commitment?

You must be committed to attending 2.5 hours of evening sessions each week plus a flexible coaching session. We also recommend students spend 4-6 hours per week outside of the sessions to apply the concepts and move your project forward.

How do I know if I qualify for the program?

We are looking to invest in people, to help their growth as an entrepreneur. As such we looking for quality student founders at various stages. The ideal applicant will have:

an innovative business concept that you’re ready to commit time to pursue
aspirations to grow your product/concept into your full time venture
attended a post-secondary institution in the 2021/2022 school year
to be available for the weekly sessions throughout the summer 2022

Applicants must live in Edmonton/attended an Edmonton-based post-secondary during the 2021/2022 school year.

What else does the program offer?

In addition to a weekly curriculum, selected founders will also receive:

Access to a network of other founders and community members
Engagement with legal, accounting, and investment mentors
Invitations to all community events and socials

How many founders will be accepted into the program?

We accept a maximum cohort of 10 business ideas/companies.

What does the summer schedule look like?

The commitment by accepted companies will be around 4 hours weekly, whereby companies are expected to be in attendance for online program delivery.

A Student Founders Program calendar of the full 15-week schedule will be sent out to applicants with the acceptance offer.

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