Startup Garage Exploration Circuit

About

University of Ottawa and Ontario post-secondary student, researcher and alumni founders can receive non-dilutive funding, mentorship, workspace and professional guidance to advance ventures toward product-market fit or investment readiness.

Benefits

• 💰Funding
  Selected participants can receive up to $12,000 in non-dilutive funding.
• 🧑‍🏫 Mentorship
  Selected participants receive 1:1 mentorship from seasoned professionals.
• ⚖️ Professional support
  Selected participants receive expert support from lawyers, accountants, HR, brand and leadership specialists.
• 🎯Strategic guidance
  Selected participants receive guidance toward product-market fit and investment readiness.
• 🏢Workspace
  Selected participants receive workspace at the eHub.
• 📚Training
  Selected participants receive training and specialized professional guidance.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants can be University of Ottawa students, researchers, or alumni from any faculty.
• Applicants can also be current students or recent graduates of any Ontario post-secondary institution who have a serious interest in advancing an invention or innovation for commercial or social impact.
• The startup must be incorporated.
• Participating companies must be either pre-revenue or within their first 12 months of sales.
• Applicants must be able to articulate and prove a compelling gap or problem.
• Applicants must demonstrate the ability to deliver on their product or service.
• The venture must have a working minimum viable product or prototype.
• The venture must have early product-market fit, such as a first sale or pre-order.
• Applicants must have considered a go-to-market strategy and be able to provide a high-level overview.
• The leadership team must be driven and coachable.
• The venture must have dedicated and committed team members who can move the business forward.
• The venture must have market validation and a clear target audience.

Participation Commitments

• Applications are assessed through written applications, interviews and pitches.
• Participants must be ready to take part in a milestone-based program.
• At least one founder is expected to commit full attention to the startup and cannot hold a full-time job outside of running the company.

Target Sector

Sector agnostic, Agriculture & Food, Defense & Security, Education, Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Government & Public Sector, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Retail & Consumer, Semiconductors & Electronics, Sports & Fitness, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Travel & Hospitality, Other

Target Location

University of Ottawa students, researchers and alumni from any faculty; current students or recent graduates of any Ontario post-secondary institution.