About Experience Ventures
Experience Ventures empowers college and university students to impact real-world innovation through entrepreneurial thinking placements. Elevate your entrepreneurial potential and earn an honorarium through this thrilling opportunity!
Experience Ventures is funded in part by the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and delivered in partnership with Conestoga College.
Experience Ventures prepares both students and companies for the future
Become future ready
Hone entrepreneurial thinking skills, working alongside real world innovators. Experience and contribute to new technologies. Gain and apply digital skills.
Make an impact
Design the future through work on cutting edge projects. Energize new companies with the next generation of talent. Innovate across disciplines to amplify impact.
Build innovative networks
Cultivate multi-dimensional innovation networks. Promote creativity and collaboration in the workplace with multi-disciplinary talent. Build the bridge between school and the new world of work.
Eligibility criteria
Any student from any discipline and faculty who is:
- A Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.
- Currently enrolled in a full-time or part-time post-secondary program.
Why should I participate
Benefits for students:
- Apply in-class learning to the challenges and opportunities facing ventures.
- Explore Canada’s evolving innovation economy.
- Network and meet industry leaders and employers.
- Discover the latest technologies being incubated in Canada.
- Enhance your resume with a unique experience.
- Develop your work-ready skills.
- Receive compensation for your placement.
Benefits for companies:
- Engage students with minimum impact on your time and resources.
- Diversify the talent pool that seeks to work in social impact and/or tech innovation.
- Recruit early talent to your local innovation economy.
- Contribute to the success of your campus-linked incubator.
- Tap into the different insights and perspectives of students.
- Evaluate prospective talent.
- Give your up-and-coming team members the opportunity to develop their managerial skill set.
How does Experience Ventures work?
For students:
- Students apply for one of five types of placements, depending on availability
- Get approved
- Complete onboarding
- Participate in their entrepreneurial thinking opportunity with company
- Submit evaluation
- Receive an honorarium
The honorarium amount varies based on the type of placement.
For companies:
- Companies apply
- Get approved
- Decide on project for students, and structure project for student opportunity (in-kind)
- Complete onboarding
- Participate in entrepreneurial thinking opportunity
- Complete survey post-project
What is an entrepreneurial thinking placement?
An entrepreneurial thinking placement is a structured, short-term opportunity (with honorarium) with a startup or social venture that has partnered with a student’s school. The goal is to empower students to develop and apply entrepreneurial thinking skills aimed at making them future ready.
Experience Ventures offers five types of entrepreneurial thinking placements.
Learn more about Experience Ventures
For inquiries about available the Experience Ventures program or opportunities, please contact experienceventures@conestogac.on.ca
Experience Ventures team
