True Blue Fund
Accelerating student entrepreneurship
The True Blue Fund is an opportunity for donors and partners to support our emerging entrepreneurs and double their impact.
About
Through the True Blue Fund, the University is committing $2.5 million to match donations in support of student and recent alumni awards, fellowships and entrepreneurial activity through U of T accelerator funds.
Universities play a huge role in fostering the innovation that drives economic and social prosperity for all Canadians. Among the top three universities in the world for research output, U of T’s excellence in cutting-edge fields such as AI, blockchain, cleantech, machine learning, and regenerative medicine is virtually unmatched.
Situated in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology hubs, in recent years, the University of Toronto has launched an astounding number of successful companies, products and services. A challenge remains, however: many U of T startups lack the funding required to develop their innovative ideas for market.
Help unlock the potential of tomorrow’s innovators and entrepreneurs by making a gift in support of the highest priority needs of any of the accelerators.
Current opportunities and initiatives funded by the True Blue Fund
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND SUSTAINABILITY (CECCS)
Do you have a sustainable student-led idea, project or startup? Apply for the Adams Sustainability Innovation Prize – an annual competition offering $25,500 in prizes to recognize, reward and accelerate U of T’s most innovative sustainability ideas. Ideas may be for market-based products or social innovation solutions. Click here to learn more.
THE BRIDGE (UTSC)
The African Impact Initiative is an organization committed to building the future of Africa through its early innovators; by empowering them to create sustainable solutions to our biggest challenges. They achieve this through initiatives centered around impact-driven entrepreneurship, community engagement and career development. Learn more.
Cassels Women in Entrepreneurship Fund
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP (UTE)
The Cassels Women in Entrepreneurship Fund is used to support women in entrepreneurship, creating and enhancing opportunities for students across the entire U of T Entrepreneurship community. This opportunity is open to U of T accelerators only by application. To learn more, contact entrepreneurs@utoronto.ca
Desjardins Startup Prize
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP (UTE)
The Desjardins Startup Prize is U of T’s annual business pitch competition offering over $100,000 in prizes to recognize, reward, and accelerate the university’s most innovative startups. Ten finalists will be selected to present their business idea in a pitch competition taking place during U of T Entrepreneurship Week.
Dongjun Wang Family True Blue Prize
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP (UTE)
As part of Desjardins Startup Prize, the top 10 finalists who advance to the pitch competition will be eligible to win an additional $4,000 People’s Choice Award prize thanks to the generous donation of the Dongjun Wang Family.
New Venture Program – Young Entrepreneur Scholarship (YES)
THE BRIDGE (UTSC)
The New Venture Program connects academics with experience. It is a rigorous program that involves the completion of several training modules, sessions with our team of mentors and collaboration with UTSC students in the classroom. Students are supported in the creation of a comprehensive business plan, investor deck and go-to-market strategy.
The Hatchery Funding (Various)
FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
The Hatchery provides a comprehensive suite of programs and services designed to help students with entrepreneurial ambitions form teams, develop new competencies and launch their Startup companies. Students can apply to one of the five programs:
If you have any further questions, please visit uoft.me/hatchery.
Nobellum
SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISE
Nobellum is a social and technology enterprise with a focus on strengthening the Black business ecosystem through accelerator programs and initiatives that increase access to capital. Their mission is to support diverse founders in building innovative businesses and to foster economic development and equip Black millennials with the tools to start and scale their own businesses. Their vision is to see a more diverse tech startup community with equitable access to funding and they collaborate with financial institutions, angel investors and venture capitalists to create opportunities and access for our ecosystem.
Contacts
| To find out more about the True Blue Fund matching opportunities, please contact: | To find out more about U of T Entrepreneurship, please contact: |
| Glenn Best, Associate Director, Major Gifts glenn.best@utoronto.ca 416-978-2540 | Jon French, Director, U of T Entrepreneurship jon.french@utoronto.ca 416-978-8434 |
U of T’s Innovation Ecosystem
U of T’s campus-linked accelerator and incubator programs are serving students and faculty from all disciplines and levels of experience.
Get to know U of T accelerators.