Supporting youth in entrepreneurship
YukonU’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) has created a summer entrepreneurship program for youth. The Summer Biz School is a part-time program for university students to develop their skills and potential business idea with the support of I&E and local entrepreneurs.
The Summer Biz School provides a model environment to foster Yukon youth’s business ideas, with up to $2500 of funding support for each participant. The participants will work with local entrepreneurs and have access to I&E’s network of over 100 business mentors. This two-and-a-half-month-long program will provide the students with enough time and exposure to develop an entrepreneurial mindset and determine the viability of their business idea, with a commitment of 10 to 15 hours per week.
“We are committed to supporting entrepreneurs of all ages, and this program will introduce youth to an entrepreneurial way of thinking - of seeing challenges as opportunities with the possibility of turning their ideas into reality,” said Lauren Manekin Beille, department head, Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “We have gathered some of Yukon’s top entrepreneurs who are keen to mentor these youth and support them in developing their skills and business ideas.”
The participants will receive real-life business experience and test their ideas with the I&E team, IncubateNorth participants, and the following business sponsors: Northern Vision Development LP, Kobayashi Zedda Architects, Total North, and Apprendo.
“Total North has a long history of innovation and entrepreneurship in the North thanks to the assistance from the community at large," said Dan Johnson, President, Total North. “It’s because of this support that we can contribute to such a promising program as both funders and mentors to help build the next generation of entrepreneurs.”
The program will kick off with a bootcamp in May, where students will begin to validate their idea and build the foundation of their business. The students will be trained on how to develop a successful pitch, explore funding opportunities, and receive customized tools and resources to grow their idea by the end of summer. The Application deadline is April 1, 2021.
Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) is a Yukon University service that supports innovators and entrepreneurs through funding, resources, expertise and incubation. I&E is located at NorthLight Innovation with funding contributions from Government of Yukon Department of Economic Development and the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor).
About YukonU
Yukon University is a flexible post-secondary institution that includes a place and pathway for every learner. Our students are grounded in education and research relevant to the North. Our resourceful and creative graduates are building a resilient, versatile and ambitious future for all northerners.
With over 50 degree, diploma, certificate and trades programs, local learners can access opportunities without needing to leave home—those from across Canada and internationally are invited to deepen their understanding of our rapidly changing circumpolar world.
Our 13 campuses are located on the traditional territories of the 14 Yukon First Nations. We respect and honour Yukon First Nations knowledge, worldviews and educational priorities in every aspect of YukonU.