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Schulich Startups Advisory Program
Entrepreneur in Residence
Schulich Student and Alumni Founders and Innovators can schedule concierge support or ongoing coaching sessions with our Entrepreneur in Residence (Cherry Rose Tan). Our EIR is joined in supporting our community by an active team of Schulich Alumni Volunteers (Entrepreneurs & Venture Capitalists) and our Executive Director, Chris Carder.
Meet our Advisors
Mentorship Program
This program connects top Schulich student and alumni early-stage founders with our established Schulich alumni in the innovation ecosystem. Curated mentor/mentee matches work together over 4 months. Schulich Startups was announced as one of the ten pilot sites in 2022-23, as part of MindFrame Connect's mission to advance the craft of mentorship in Canada. The program is led by Cherry Rose Tan, with training hosted by Brice Scheschuk, Managing Partner of Globalive Capital.
Pitch Deck Advisory Council
This advisory program features 12 prestigious Schulich Alumni who work closely with our community startups to help them perfect their pitch decks. There are separate mentors for each stage of funding.
Meet the Advisory Council
Tarun Agarwal
MBA 2020
Associate, Strategy and Corporate Development
CIBC
Abdel Ali
MBA 2021
Founder
Kiwi Charge
Ujwal Arkalgud
MBA 2009
Executive Vice President
Lux Research
Snita Balsara
MBA 2012
Principal
BDC
Stuart Browne
MBA 2009
Chief Executive Officer
Pycap
Artem Chaykovskyy
JD/MBA 2024
Graduate Associate
Storytime Capital
Shelley Li
MBA 2019
Director, Innovation Banking
CIBC
Peyvand Melati
EMBA 2018
General Partner
Archangel Network of Funds
Nikhil Nayar
MBA 2021
Senior Associate
Rogue Insight Capital
Leah Perry
MBA 2022
Senior Manager, Cleantech
MaRS Discovery District
Mudit Rawat
MBA 2009
Head of M&A
Tao Digital Solutions
Sarah Willson
Associate
Panache Ventures
Founder Fridays - Returning Fall 2024
Schulich Startups Founder Friday, brought to you by AWAKE Chocolate, gives Schulich entrepreneurs the change to get up close and personal with our community and receive special in-person support from the Schulich Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
Each Friday, 1-2 Schulich Founders are able to visit the Schulich Startups offices and receive:
- In-Person Consultation Sessions with Schulich Startups Executive Director Chris Carder: Customized strategy sessions to tackle the biggest challenges/opportunities facing the startup, plus exclusive network introductions to boost the business!
- Guided Tour and Workspace for the Day: Access to the Founders/VC lounge, conference room, team office, co-working space, and media room equipped with the tech and resources you need for professional meetings and recording content. It's also a great chance to meet the many Schulich Innovators working from the space.
- Video and Instagram Promo: It's your time to shine on Schulich Startups' social media channels with 2-3 minute interviews highlighting your experience, expertise, vision, and prospects.
- Instagram Takeover: Startups ready to shine online can also request a Schulich Startups Instagram account takeover opportunity to document their visit. Get ready to show the world what a day in the life of a founder looks like!
- Schulich Startups Library Drive: Founders are encouraged to give a signed book that has influenced their entrepreneurial journey for our 'Donate a Book' initiative. Founders then record a video, reading their favourite part of the book and sign the book to 'future generations' of Schulich Founders.
- A book of AWAKE Chocolate (Co-Founded by Schulich Alumni and ENTR Instructor Dan Tzotsis) for the startup team.
Schulich Startups Signature Events
Schulich Startup Night
Schulich Startup Night is a premier startup pitch competition where students and alumni from the Schulich School of Business present their startups for a chance to win cash prizes and professional services. Schulich founders pitch their ventures to a hand-selected judging panel of top industry professionals, as well as an audience of elite entrepreneurs, investors, students, and other members of the innovation community.
One of Schulich Startups’ signature events, Startup Night is hosted annually in the spring. Since the inaugural event in 2014, it has grown to over 300 attendees and is recognized as a “must-attend” pitch competition.
Meet our Latest Champions
Student Champion
Ayomikun Akintayo (Tech MBA '24)
Kian Rastegar (Tech MBA '24)
Co-Founders of Edufund
Alumni Champion
Abdel Ali (MBA '21)
Co-Founder of Kiwi Charge
People's Champion
William Jones (MBA '14)
Co-Founder of Leynek Medical
VIP Series
In the VIP series, fireside chats and keynote addresses bring you face-to-face with trailblazers from Canada's innovation ecosystem. Hosted by a leader from the Schulich Startups community, these sessions offer an intimate glimpse into the lives and minds of some of the most influential figures in the industry.
Our fireside chats are candid and engaging, featuring a blend of personal and professional insights. Founders share their passion for entrepreneurship, while venture capitalists discuss their dedication to supporting the ecosystem. From inspiring crowd-sourcing stories to the journeys of unicorn founders, our VIP Sessions showcase a rich tapestry of innovation and leadership.
Recent VIP Speakers
Trung Pham
CEO and Founder
RYSE
Kishore Moorjani
Former Senior Managing Director & Head of Tactical Opportunities
Blackstone
Janet Bannister
Managing Partner
Staircase Ventures
Uri Levine
Co-Founder
Waze
Peter Marrone
Executive Chairman and CEO
AlliedGold
Eva Wong
Co-Founder & COO of
Borrowell
Venture Series
The Venture Series brings together Toronto’s venture capital leaders for a high-caliber panel discussion. Selected for their deep experience and contributions to the event's theme, these experts represent the pinnacle of the VC world.
At Schulich, we’re proud of our extraordinary community of venture capitalists. The conversations at our Venture Series are infused with high-level insights and engaging dialogue. Each panel brings a diverse array of perspectives, sparking curiosity and providing a wealth of experience. Expect stimulating discussions that not only captivate but also inspire, offering attendees a front-row seat to some of the most compelling conversations in venture capital today.
Recent Venture Series
Women in VC Leadership
Zahin Hussain - VP, Partnerships at Ankur Capital
Sonia Lagourgue - Purpose and ESG Leadership at Georgian
Snita Balsara - Principal at BDC
Shambhavi Mishra - Director, Growth & Portfolio at Antler
Starting your Angel Investment Journey
Abdel Ali - Co-Founder of Kiwi Charge
Sarah Stevens - CEO and Founder of Innov8 Green
Jennifer Turliuk - Founder of Koru Labs
Peyvand Melati - CEO of QEA Tech
Idea Jam
Innovation meets collaboration in an electrifying brainstorming session! In these dynamic events, the founder of a high-potential startup from the Schulich Startups community takes the stage to present their top challenges—unfiltered, candid, and real.
These session offer a deep dive into the actual issues that founders face. As they open up about their struggles, our community of innovation leaders, armed with diverse expertise, rallies to brainstorm actionable solutions.
Recent Idea Jams
Eatable Idea Jam
Featuring Charlene and Vincent Li
Community Mixers
Twice a year, Schulich Startups hosts an exclusive mixer in partnership with our long-time sponsor, Bereskin & Parr LLP. This dynamic event brings together over 150 founders, venture capital leaders, and industry professionals from the Schulich Startups community.
Our mixers are more than just networking events; they are a celebration of our collective achievements and milestones. These gatherings offer a unique opportunity to connect with peers, share success stories, and forge new collaborations.
Schulich Startups Ecosystem Initiatives
Together Mission
Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Venture Competition
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Venture Competition features pairs of inspired Indian Student Entrepreneurs (handpicked from over 17,000+ Indian colleges and 700+ universities), working with Schulich MBA Students. Each venture team presents ideas across sectors of national importance for India and works with Canadian/Indian Mentor Pairs.
Schulich Venture Academy (SVA)
Schulich Venture Academy is a first-of-its-kind academy empowering the next generation of Canadian startup/venture talent. SVA is providing specialized, 30-hour certificate courses for participants to land job roles/promotions or to master the skills necessary to operate/invest in startups.
We have partnered with prominent figures in the ecosystem, who serve as SVA Program Directors:
Venture Talent
Jenny do Forno
Chief People Officer at Touch Bistro and ex-Head of Talent at OMERS Ventures
Venture Operations
Izabella Gabowicz
VP of Operations at Q2 and ex-COO at Sensibill
Venture Finance
Leen Li
CEO of Wealthsimple Foundation and ex-CFO at Wealthsimple
Venture Talent
Prashant Matta
General Partner at Panache Ventures
Not just a program or a certificate, Schulich Venture Academy provides these benefits:
- Access to two in-person Venture Alumni Events each year, bringing together all Program Directors, Venture Alumni, and key influencers/leaders brought by Schulich Startups
- Being part of an extended network of veteran founders and VCs, as you upgrade your job/career network in the startup/VC space
- Walk away with real world collateral - alongside the skills, processes and strategies you will acquire, each track culminates in a Practical Capstone Project applicable to your business or career.
- A Schulich Masterclass Certificate in the venture track of your choice, plus a badge to showcase on your resume/LinkedIn
Schulich Venture Scholars Program
Each cohort, there are a limited number of students who are accepted as Schulich Venture Scholars. A one-time scholarship opportunity for exceptional candidates with outstanding and/or high-potential backgrounds, we look for candidates who possess the drive and commitment to take their startup/venture career to the next level.
Want to know if you are eligible for one of our limited Venture Scholar spots? Contact Shivam Sharma, Head of Sales, to learn more.
Project JumpSTART
Schulich Startups, in collaboration with YSpace, Treefrog Accelerator, and the Town of Georgina, are leading Project JumpSTART, an international entrepreneurs accelerator with specialized support for women tech founders, attracting Foreign Direct Investment and supporting women entrepreneurship.
Knowledge Hub
Schulich Startups has launched the Knowledge Hub, an eLearning video platform to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge for success. The platform offers short video courses designed to nurture entrepreneurial skills and foster innovation.
The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship welcomes partners committed to the advancement and education of entrepreneurship.
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