
Weston Family Entrepreneurial Innovation and Sustainability Program
Duration: 5 weeks | Stage: Conception
In partnership with
Dedicated to launching innovative solutions for sustainability, the Weston Family Entrepreneurial Innovation & Sustainability program will accompany startups through the ideation, validation and early launch stages of their venture.
Comprised of a customized Lean Startup program and a startup competition, the program will build on the latest thinking on sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation, to support teams in launching purpose driven startups.
Upon completion of the Weston Entrepreneurial Innovation & Sustainability Program, participating teams will be welcomed into the Dobson X-1 Accelerator, the Mentorship Circle, and take part in the International Pre-Seed Funding Program.
“Combined with our existing programs, the Weston Family Entrepreneurial Innovation & Sustainability Program expands the realm of possibility for our entrepreneurs, particularly those with a strong focus on creating sustainability-driven business models.”
Marie Josée Lamothe
Director, Dobson Centre for Entrepreneurship
Duration: 5 weeks | Stage: Ideation
Dates: March 6 to April 5, 2023
Times: (MW) 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Duration: 7 weeks | Stage: Validation
Dates: April 26 to June 5, 2023
Startup compete for pre-seed funding:
week | Learning themes | |
---|---|---|
1 |
Why some startups fail, and others succeed
|
Focus on Innovations in Sustainability
|
2 |
Understanding your market and creating a market outreach strategy
|
Developing and validating a proof of concept
|
3 |
Defining your value proposition
|
Designing for sustainability
|
4 |
Managing your Intellectual Property (IP) & other legal aspects
|
Funding your startup & measuring its growth
|
5 |
Building a business plan
|
Crafting and articulating your vision to stakeholders
|
One-on-one coaching sessions with subject matter experts
week | Key Learnings |
---|---|
1 |
Introduction
|
2 |
Creating an effective pitch and storytelling for audience engagement
|
3 |
Pitch Practice Session |
4 |
Market research and positioning
|
5 |
Finance for startups: KPIs and revenue models
|
6 |
Challenges in Sustainability Design
|
7 |
Environment Day Startup Challenge
|
Your team has at least one founder who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Your team has at least one McGill affiliated co-founder e.g., student, faculty, staff or alumni (graduated within the last 10 years).
You are working on a prototype or/and have a functional business, developing a business plan, and preparing to launch your startup.
Your team has at least one technical co-founder, and can build your business upon a technology, science, or idea that is significantly or radically disruptive.
Your innovative solution addresses one of several major global environmental challenges in the fields of clean tech, nature conservation, agricultural science, renewable energy, transportation, waste management, food production, consumer goods, retail, packaging, or other multidisciplinary fields that are working to reduce the negative impact or increase positive effects on the environment.
Your team will be asked to demonstrate how their proposed startup aligns with the Weston Family Foundation’s mission of improving the well-being of Canadians.
Your team is composed of multi-disciplinary professionals (including learners or graduates).
You can commit to attending all the workshops and executing the project work (required to maintain your participation in the program)
If you have any questions regarding your interest in only one of the two parts, please contact dobson.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca.
Next cohort: TBC
Following completion of the Weston Family Innovation in Sustainability Lean Startup program, participants are encouraged to apply to the X-1 Accelerator and Mentorship Circle.
Have questions about the program? Email us at dobson.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca for more information