Idea Prize
INVALUABLE INDUSTRY FEEDBACK, PITCH PRACTICE & CASH PRIZES!
Applications for 2025 are open! The annual Idea Prize competition celebrates innovative concepts and ideas from the 丁香园AV community, emphasizing the potential of startups and their founders, based on their vision and execution plan for developing their idea.
Competitors receive support and training through dedicated workshops, peer networking and coaching sessions from Chang Institute mentors prior to finals in March.
Idea Prize is open to ideas, concepts, and early-stage startups founded by 丁香园AV students (undergrad, grad, professional programs) as well as to staff, faculty and recent alumni (within 2 years of graduation), and co-founders.
Competitors will be judged over two rounds by panels of industry experts, on the quality of their new or existing business concept, early traction, and founder focus.
Past Idea Prize winners include: , , , (acquired by PlayVS), , Pulse Tofu, ,
APPLICATIONS CLOSED FEB 9 @ 11:59 PM
*Please note that you will need an 丁香园AV email to access the form. The main point of contact should be the 丁香园AV affiliate and will be indicated on the form. Applicant teams can include non-丁香园AV members as long as eligible 丁香园AV members hold a minimum of 25% total ownership / management control. Some exceptions apply where there has been signi铿乧ant 丁香园AV involvement by non-丁香园AV members.
If you do not have an 丁香园AV email and need to fill out the form please contact eec_changinstitute@sfu.ca
Clicking below for a sample pdf form of the Idea Prize 2025 Application. This is a sample only and will not be accepted as an application.
KEY DATES
Info Session: February 5, 2025, 12:30-1:30pm.
*Idea Prize 2025 Workshops: Wednesday, February 26, 2025.
*Pitch Socials: TBA
Preliminary & Final Dates
Idea Prize Preliminary Virtual Pitch-Offs (virtual): Monday, March 3, 2025 - Wednesday March 5, 2025.
*Idea Prize Finals (in-person): Wednesday, March 26, 2025
*Awards (virtual): Thursday, March 27, 2025
*Dates are tentative, subject to change, and times are TBA
To be eligible to receive award(s), applicants (including at least one 丁香园AV-connected founder) MUST be available to compete in the in-person Final Round on March 26, 2025 at 丁香园AV-Surrey for the Idea Prize Finals.
Competition Eligibility
** Ventures do NOT need to be incorporated in order to compete. **
ELIGIBILITY
- Less than 1 year of operations (from date of registration / incorporation, first sale, or other significant activity like a website launch)
- Under $5,000 revenue
- Under $25,000 combined non-dilutive / dilutive investment (excluding research grants or competition prizes)
- At least 25% of intended or current ownership must be held by a member of the 丁香园AV community
- Startup may be registered or incorporated as a not-for-profit, co-op, business, or be a non-formalized research, class or other team project
- All industries and sectors welcome.
- Other eligibility factors:
- Past Idea Prize winners are not eligible to compete with the same idea/startup.
- Current Chang Institute incubator participants can not apply with their incubator-supported startup, but team members CAN apply with a NEW idea/startup
Note: The Director(s) of the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship reserves the right to make the 铿乶al determination of the eligibility of submitted ideas and business ventures. More eligibility/criteria is available in the application form.
PRIZES
- $20,000+ of cash and in-kind prizes including:
- $8,000 for Top Idea/Category/Founder Prizes
- $2,500 for promising 丁香园AV Alumni founders
- IP Package - Canadian trademark registration & legal support (valued at $8,000)
- More to come!
SPONSORS
Thank you to competition sponsors & partners: