Launching Innovative Startups to Address Major Global Challenges

Stage: Validation
Industry: Sustainability

Weston Family Sustainability Startup Challenge

Dedicated to launching innovative solutions for sustainability, the Weston Family Sustainability Startup Challenge will accompany Founders along the stages of developing and pitching their innovative solutions as startups. A complement to the Dobson Bootcamp, industry-specific workshops will focus on the latest trend in sustainability entrepreneurship, sustainable fundraising, and business practices with another pitch competition.

Program format

  • Startup Pitch Competition: A pitch competition comprising two rounds, followed by an Awards Ceremony.
  • Workshops: Delivered by business experts, these sessions walk participants through creation and delivery of all the elements that go into a winning pitch presentation.
  • Coaching sessions: Participants benefit from one-on-one coaching sessions to review their progress and the development of presentation.
     

In partnership with

Weston Family Foundation

Who is this program for?

We welcome teams with:

  • at least one McGill affiliated co-founder e.g., student, faculty, staff or alumni (graduated within the last 10 years).
  • one founder who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • an innovation advancing the sustainability agenda and providing innovative solutions to address 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.
  • alignment on how the proposed start-up follows the Weston Family Foundation’s mission of improving the well-being of Canadians.
  • multi-disciplinary backgrounds (including learners or graduates) and at least at least one technical co-founder who can build your business upon a technology or science.
  • commitment to attend all the workshops and executing the project work (required to maintain participation in the program).


Awards

Weston Family Awards

Startups enrolled in the Weston Family Challenge can win one of three prizes:

  • 1st Place - $25,000
  • 2nd Place - $15,000
  • 3rd Place - $10,000


Have questions about the program?

Email us at dobson.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca for more information.

 

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