Schulich Venture Academy Secures Over $3 Million to Propel Startups in Southern Ontario
The Schulich Venture Academy at York University’s Schulich School of Business is set to receive a significant boost with an investment of over $3 million from the Government of Canada. This funding, announced by the Honourable Ruby Sahota, Minister of Democratic Institutions and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), aims to enhance the Academy’s programming and support for startups and entrepreneurs in the region.
“Today’s investment highlights our government’s commitment in empowering businesses and entrepreneurs as they expand and drive economic growth,” said Minister Sahota. “York University’s Schulich Venture Academy is delivering vital training to nearly 500 businesses and 1,000 entrepreneurs in critical sectors, equipping them with the skills and resources needed to strengthen our economy.”
The Schulich Venture Academy, established in 2024, has already trained more than 100 high-potential founders and startup executives. With this new funding, the Academy will launch 10 cohorts featuring an enhanced curriculum that includes sector-focused training in emerging clusters such as artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and clean tech.
“On behalf of the entire Schulich community, I want to extend my sincere thanks to The Honourable Ruby Sahota and FedDev Ontario for this incredible investment,” said Dean Detlev Zwick. “At Schulich, we believe that great companies are built not just by visionary founders, but also by the highly skilled professionals who power them – finance leaders, operations experts, talent strategists, and venture capitalists. Thanks to this new investment, we will be able to reach even more entrepreneurs and professionals who are eager to make their mark in the innovation economy. It will enable us to scale the Schulich Venture Academy, expand access to world-class entrepreneurship education, and develop new programs that address critical skills gaps in our tech ecosystem.”
Chris Carder, Executive Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Schulich School of Business, highlighted the importance of the support: “The support from FedDev Ontario arrives at the absolute perfect moment in time. We need to support our startup founders and leaders to build smarter, go further and ignite our economy with their dreams and drive. The key is to arm them with insights, strategies and systems from people who have built, led and funded truly great companies and that is exactly what the Schulich Venture Academy is designed for.”
The Schulich Venture Academy, co-developed with Schulich ExecEd, offers specialized training designed and delivered by leaders from some of Canada’s most successful tech companies. The Academy’s programs are tailored to meet the needs of entrepreneurs and startups, providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to succeed in today’s competitive landscape.