Do you have what it takes to make it in Silicon Valley?
The University of Ottawa is pleased to invite students, alumni and faculty who have created startup ventures to participate in a competition that will result in up to three companies being selected for an exclusive trip to Silicon Valley in May, 2022. Each selected startup will receive $4,000 (CAD) in financial support for the trip and benefit from a semi curated trip alongside our Telfer EMBA cohort.
Benefits
- Introductions to uOttawa alumni in the Valley who could provide feedback, validation and introductions
- A semi curated trip to the most fertile environment for concept validation, funding and mentorship.
- Possible connections to academic institutions and potential licensees or customers
- Engagement with startup accelerators and innovation organizations.
Consider applying if
- Your venture is incorporated or expected to be incorporated within the next 6 months
- Your idea has reached a development stage where it can be demonstrated and comprehensively described
- Your product or service has been validated by users and/or customers
- Your founding team is complete or nearly complete
- Your venture has attracted (or is in the process of attracting) experienced advisors
- You can gain tangible benefit from the rich startup ecosystem in San Francisco and Bay area – note the competition is designed to favor those who can best be helped in this ecosystem.
Deadline
December 12th 2021, 11:59pm – Registration form is coming soon
Questions?
If you are unsure if you qualify, or if you have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Stephen Daze
daze@telfer.uOttawa.ca
Application Form and Eligibility Criteria
- The competition is open to uOttawa students, alumni, and staff.
- The company applying must have a minimum of 1 Co-Founder with the appropriate uOttawa affiliation.
- In the event that we deem that no submission has met our established criteria, or where circumstances beyond our control dictates, we reserve the right to award no prize for that year.
- Money awarded will be paid first to the business entity (if applicable), or in the event that no such entity exists, divided equally among the team members identified on the application form.
- A selection committee and a panel of judges will determine the finalists and winners of the competition; as such, all applicants acknowledge and agree to the sharing of all materials submitted with the organizers of the competition, the judges and selection committee.
- By submitting an application, all applicants must confirm that the work presented adheres to the fraud policies as outlined in the Academic Regulations in the University’s Undergraduate Studies Calendar. https://www.uottawa.ca/administration-and-governance/academic-regulation-14-other-important-information.
- Important dates and requirements
Stage 1 – Internal review
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Dec/Jan
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– Internal committee to determine short list to move on to stage 2.
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Stage 2 – Local expert review
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Mid Jan
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– External committee reviews applicants, meets with candidates to determine suitability: market and/or investor readiness.
– Top companies move to stage 3.
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Stage 3 – SF alumni review
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Beg Feb
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– SF alumni council reviews short-short list to determine fit and ability to assist.
– Video pitch (date tbc).
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Stage 4 – Final selection
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Mid Feb
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– Final recipients confirmed and announced.
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Stage 5 – Trip preparation
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Mid Feb – May
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– Further meetings with local external committee to prep investor readiness and get ready for possible vc meetings.
– Meetings with SF council to help with preparation and determine needs.
– Startup to book meetings, plan, prep etc.
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Stage 6 – Travel
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Mid May
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– To coincide with EMBA trip to SF.
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8. Cash Prize: $4,000. In kind support provided by local mentors and San Francisco based alumni.
Note: You must be available to: meet with advisors in January 2022; deliver an elevator pitch on February 7th 2022; and, if you are chosen, be available to travel in May of 2022 alongside our EMBA cohort, exact dates tbc.