Together Mission 6.0 Strengthens India–Canada Innovation Bridge
Together Mission 6.0, co-organized by Schulich Startups, Startup India (Government of India), the Consulate General of India in Toronto, and Ekonnect Knowledge Foundation, marked one of the most ambitious cross-border entrepreneurship initiatives between India and Canada. This year’s program brought together Indian student founders, Schulich business students, and mentors from both countries, supported by global trainers and industry leaders. Over several weeks, teams collaborated to build and refine early-stage ventures that culminated in a global pitch competition with $16,000 in cash prizes.
At the heart of Together Mission is a shared commitment to preparing young entrepreneurs in both nations to build ventures grounded in self-reliability, sustainability, and social purpose. Now in its sixth year, the initiative has supported more than 1,000 founders from India and over 300 Schulich students, with guidance from more than 100 mentors and 20 global trainers. The Schulich students also prepare for the program by training with Schulich Instructor Vanessa Rementilla, taking ENTR 6500 – The Together Mission. More than $200,000 has been awarded in cash prizes through this partnership, helping empower India’s next generation of innovators.
This year’s edition featured ventures addressing challenges in e-mobility, environment and energy, healthcare, fintech, food and agriculture, telecommunications, textiles, and education. Schulich BBA, MBA, and Tech MBA students served as venture advisors, supporting founders with market sizing, customer discovery, strategy, go-to-market planning, and investor readiness. Senior mentors from Canada and India challenged teams to sharpen their strategy, while expert faculty delivered training in storytelling, pitch design, financial modeling, and founder psychology, creating a dynamic, real-world startup environment that encouraged rapid iteration and cross-cultural collaboration.
“This program is a true example of cross-border innovation in action. When founders, students, mentors, and institutions from two nations collaborate, the ideas become stronger and the impact grows exponentially. Together Mission is helping shape a new generation of entrepreneurs who think globally from day one,” says Chris Carder, Executive Director of Schulich Startups.
The pitch competition concluded with three standout winners. MEINE Electric earned first place and $10,000, along with the inaugural Thomas Bata Future Vision Award, for its metal–air fuel cell technology. Future Farming India secured second place and $5,000 for its platform supporting smallholder farmers with financing, advisory tools, and market access. Third place and $1,000 went to TraceXero, a carbon-capture venture working toward gigaton-scale CO₂ removal.
Together Mission 6.0 also welcomed distinguished guests from both countries, including senior officials from the Government of India, the High Commissions of India and Canada, and leaders from York University and the Schulich School of Business. Their participation underscored the growing importance of international collaboration in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Students described the experience as transformative and deeply practical. “Being part of the Together Mission 6.0 was honestly one of the most memorable experiences I have had during my BBA… What stood out most was how much ownership and trust we were given. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me a lot more confident in working across cultures and building something that was tangible,” said Zoha Malik, BBA.
MBA student David Kebede reflected similarly, noting, “Taking ENTR 6500 and participating in The Together Mission Experience has been one of the most impactful parts of my MBA journey at Schulich… This experience strengthened my ability to collaborate under pressure, communicate across diverse teams, and lead through influence.”
The program was supported by a diverse network of partners across India and Canada who contributed funding, mentorship, and industry access, including Friends of Bata R&D LLP, TiE Toronto, Tangentia Ventures, HostelFund, DHANDO, Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, Campus Fund, YSpace, and York University.
Together Mission 6.0 stands as a flagship example of what becomes possible when government, academia, and industry work together to develop emerging global entrepreneurs. It reinforces Schulich’s leadership in innovation-driven, experiential learning—and strengthens the bridge between India and Canada’s entrepreneurial ecosystems.
