A collaborative space for students to explore ideas and push the boundaries

If you are a student with a business idea or passion to make change, Collide is the right program for you.

Collide, a free eight-week, hands-on series is hosted by the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship. It is designed to give students the skills and experience they need to develop their idea into a business model. The program is primarily targeted at undergraduate students from any discipline, but graduate students are also invited to participate.

“The Collide program is a great opportunity for students to explore their business ideas,” says Jeff Larsen, executive director of innovation and entrepreneurship. “It will give students the chance to test out their assumptions in a safe and supportive environment, while encouraging them to push the limits.  If students have wondered if entrepreneurship is for them, Collide will help them to answer that question.”

The program will run from Tuesday, February 4 - Tuesday, March 31 in The Collider (Killam Library, room 2600). The topics that will be covered include:

•    Introduction of Lean Canvas (February 4)
•    Customer Discovery (February 11)
•    Market Research (February 25)
•    Value Proposition (March 3)
•    Pitching & Slide Decks (March 10)
•    Small Business Finance (March 17)
•    Marketing and Branding (March 24)
•    Pitching and Business Presentation (March 31)

Sessions will be two hours long. Participants will be provided with dinner while Gillian McCrea, the former Entrepreneur in Residence of Propel ICT, delivers an hour-long lecture. They will then have the opportunity to work on their ideas for an hour with facilitator support. At the end of the program, students will pitch their ideas to compete for thousands of dollars in funding.

“Success, for the students, is having the opportunity to test their business idea, experience the process of creating a business model, and the chance to start a business,” says Grace O’Hara, the program coordinator and office manager for the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship. “For Collide, we are aiming to create a supportive, collaborative space for students to explore ideas and push the boundaries.”

Students interesting in participating in Collide should have a business idea or have identified a problem they would like to solve by creating a business. Additional information, and the application form for the program can be found here.