Dobson Bootcamp and Cup 2026 Application

Please note that the application takes approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. As a logged-in McGill user, you can save a draft and return to it later.

To log in, use the "Log in" button at the bottom right of this webpage.

Terms and conditions

Administration

As your team may win prize money at this year's McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup Competition (MDBC), please note that this will only be paid to registered companies with bank accounts in Canadian funds, with no exceptions. If your company is not registered, please visit the following links:
- Incorporating in Quebec through Registre des Entreprises
- Incorporating in Canada through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
- Two other valuable resources on incorporation in Canada and the next steps and on permits and licences.
Judges, mentors or MDBC organizing team members will not sign confidentiality agreements (NDAs). All information disclosed in start-up plans and pitches is considered public information.
The Dobson Cup prize recipients must incorporate the winning start-up not later than six months after the end of the program – and submit proof of incorporation. If the team fails to incorporate before the stipulated timeline, they will forfeit the prize.
Please note that the start-up's Board of Directors should correspond to the co-founders declared in the MDBC application form.
Upon entering the MDBC, teams are expected to be available for all competition dates outlined in the Key Dates section, including the Awards Ceremony.
The judges' decisions are final, and enforcing the rules of the competition is solely at the discretion of the judges and the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship.
By submitting a start-up plan to the MDBC, teams agree that all information provided can be stored on McGill servers, cloud-based servers, and other electronic storage spaces and devices.
If appropriate, the MDBC reserves the right to switch teams to another track.

Media Release

In exchange for allowing you to enter the MDBC, you hereby:

Grant the McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship the right to film, tape, sound record and/or photograph specific activities connected with the MDBC and (if applicable) any prizes provided. However, you will be made aware of any filming or photographs to be taken of your team. If you want the MDBC to refrain from filming, taping, sound recording and/or photographing your team, please notify us via email. The MDBC team will respect your wishes.
Agree that we may use your name and/or likeness, voice, photographs and/or video footage of you, biographical information and corporate email address provided by you and/or any statement made by you concerning the MDBC and/or the prize(s) in connection with publicizing the MDBC. If you do not want the MDBC to use this material, please notify us via email. The MDBC team will respect your wishes.

Workshops

The McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup Competition aims to support teams through the development of their start-up. For this reason, we expect at least one member per team to be present at 100% of the workshops.
The Finalists will also have access to Financial, Legal and specific industry-related clinics by appointment.
Start-ups selected for the McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup Competition must participate in both the Dobson Cup Competition and 100% of the workshops and clinics offered within the Bootcamp course plan.

Your team certifies that all its members read and agreed to the guidelines.

I agree to the Terms and Conditions listed above *

I agree to the Terms and Conditions listed above

1. General Information

1.1 What is the name of your company? *

1.2 Which Track of the McGill Dobson Cup are you selecting? *

Health Sciences Enterprise Track

Technology Driven Enterprise Track

Social Impact Enterprise Track

Environmental Enterprise Track

1.3 Please enter the 30-word public description of your company, which you placed on the cover page of your five-page startup plan *

NOTE: The Dobson Centre reserves the right to use this description for public relations purposes.

1.4 Which of the following four choices best describes your company? *

We have an idea without any form of working prototype and/or service

We have a very basic prototype of our product and/or service

We have a fully functioning product and/or service, with no customers/clients/beneficiaries

We have a fully functioning product and/or service, with customers/clients/beneficiaries

1.5 When did you start working on your startup project? *

Month

Day

Year

1.6 In which sector does your company primarily operate (select the main one)? *

Please specify if necessary

1.7 Is your company a: *

For profit

Non profit

1.8 Is your company incorporated? *

Your company does not have to be yet incorporated to enter the Cup Competition. However, please note that prize money won in the Finals can only be transferred to incorporated companies with Canadian bank accounts. The Dobson Cup prize recipients must incorporate the winning startup no later than six months after the end of the program.

When was your company incorporated? *

Month

Day

Year

What is the total percentage of equity owned by the McGill affiliated members of the team? *

Explain and name the members if relevant. If there was no equity split, please mention it.

1.9 Currently, in which country are your company's main operations? *

1.10 In which city and country is your company headquartered? *

1.11 Has any founder on your team previously entered this startup idea into the McGill Dobson Cup? *

Which year was the idea previously entered into the McGill Dobson Cup? *

What was the name of the company at that time? *

Please provide a short description of the very significant progress and development since that time. *

1.12 Which of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is your organization working on or hoping to contribute to? *

For more information on the 17 goals: UN Sustainable Development Goals

1.13 If you are working or plan to work on achieving an SDG, how do you intend to measure your progress? *

1.14 In addition to the Dobson Cup Awards, your team may be eligible for several other prizes. Please select all the criteria that applies to your founding team or project

One or more founders are currently full-time students in the Faculty of Engineering with a venture that is technologically focused.

One or more founders are student Mastercard Scholars.

The project focuses on social responsibility.

The project has a direct positive impact on freshwater.

The project has a sustainability impact that will benefit Canadians.

2. Communication Platforms

2.1 Do you have an active website? *

Yes

No

Website: *

2.2 Do you have an active Facebook page? *

Yes

No

Facebook page: *

2.3 Do you have an active Instagram handle? *

Yes

No

Instagram handle: *

2.4 Do you have an active LinkedIn page? *

Yes

No

LinkedIn page: *

2.5 Do you have an active X (formerly Twitter) handle? *

Yes

No

X (formerly Twitter) handle: *

3. Intellectual Property

3.1 Do you have, or are you in the process of obtaining, any of the following? *

Patents

Industrial Designs

Trademarks

None of the above

Select all answers that apply to your company.

3.2 Please specify (number, type, dates)

4. Revenue and Traction

4.1 To date, what is your company’s total cumulative revenue since founding? * CAD$

Please do not include any philanthropic investments or donations in this amount.

4.2 To date, how much did your company borrow/receive from all funding sources (equity, debt, government grants and incentives, philanthropy, or other) since founding? * CAD$

4.3 To date, excluding the founding team, how many users or paying customers or benefactors do you currently have engaged? *

5. Team Composition

Please note that the maximum of participants for the Bootcamp and Dobson Cup is 5 per team. If your team has more than 5 members or co-founders, please select the 5 that will officially enter the Cup and present them here.

5.1 How many founders are working on the company full time (more than 35 hours per week)? *

5.2 How many founders are working on the company part-time (less than 35 hours per week)? *

6. Application Documents

6.1 Five Page Startup Plan

Please note that your startup plan must use the provided Word template provided here.
It must be a pdf document, no longer than 5 pages (including appendices, excluding cover page and references), and should be named according to the following model:
- NameOfStartup_TrackEntered(TDEorEEorHSEorSIE)_SemiFinals_MDBC2026.pdf

For example, if a company is named "Technology for All" and they are entering the TDE Track, the file name should read: TechnologyForAll_TDE_SemiFinals_MDBC2026

For more information, please read the McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup Guidelines.

6.2 Please enter the URL of an unlisted* 2 minute YouTube or Vimeo video introducing your product or service *

*Please mark the video as "unlisted" and not "private." If you mark it as private, we cannot access it. The video should contain nothing except the founders talking. Before submitting the video, please play it and ensure you can hear yourself. The video must be a maximum of 2 minutes.

To finalize their application, all teams must select “I Agree” to the following statement.

Declaration

By submitting this Registration Form, you testify that the information provided in your form is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge. You will provide McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup organizers any documents requested to support the information and statements in your application. You understand and agree that providing false or unverifiable information will cancel your participation in all 2026 McGill Dobson Bootcamp and Cup events.

I agree *

I agree

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Bootcamp & Cup Competition

Dobson Bootcamp and Cup 2026 Application

Terms and conditions

Administration

Media Release

Workshops

Your team certifies that all its members read and agreed to the guidelines.

1. General Information

2. Communication Platforms

3. Intellectual Property

4. Revenue and Traction

5. Team Composition

5.3 First Founder and Primary Contact for your startup

5.4 Second founder

5.5 Third founder

5.6 Fourth founder

5.7 Fifth founder

6. Application Documents

Declaration

Department and University Information

McGill Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship