EXPERIENCE
VENTURES
Building the future leaders of tomorrow through experiential learning.
WHAT IS EXPERIENCE VENTURES?
Experience Ventures provides students with unique paid experiential learning opportunities with a focus on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Our goal is to inspire your creativity, resiliency and vision, so that you can seize your future with the right skill set. Develop in-demand skills that employers are looking for.
Make an impact alongside experienced innovators and entrepreneurs. Get paid to hone your entrepreneurial thinking skills while working with innovative ventures and startups that are shaping the future.
HOW DOES EXPERIENCE VENTURES WORK?
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Apply.
Students apply for an entrepreneurial placement coordinated by Brilliant Catalyst, through Experience Ventures.
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Collaborate.
Companies collaborating with Brilliant Catalyst contribute support including time, space or expertise, all while students are paid for their contributions through Experience Ventures.
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Grow.
Companies collaborating with Brilliant Catalyst contribute support including time, space or expertise, all while students are paid for their contributions through Experience Ventures.
OUR PROGRAMS
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Get paid to learn while gaining valuable work experience!
Brilliant Catalyst is regularly recruiting students to work on projects for start-ups and community partners. Students participating in Brilliant WIL have collaborated with community partners like the Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs (DRABPE). During this opportunity, students assisted DRABPE in completing their database to further their brand and solidify existing connections in the community.All eligible students will receive $825 for completing the required 55-60 hours of the Brilliant WIL program!
If you are ready to apply with your up-to-date resume, click here! -
In partnership with the University of Calgary and other post-secondary institutions from across Canada, Brilliant Catalyst will be hosting a National Hack-a-thon.
The Experience Ventures National Hack-a-thon is an annual event that celebrates the diversity of student talent participating in Experience Ventures and showcases the power of entrepreneurial thinking to find innovative solutions to real-world problems facing society.
All eligible students will be paid $325 for participating in the event with opportunities for additional prize money if they are selected to pitch at the national event.
The next National Hack-a-thon is has not been announced. Check back soon for updates!
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The Catalyst Challenge is an annual challenge running from August 8 to 18, showcasing the best Canadian digital innovators in post-secondary institutions. This challenge, is based on real world problems faced across Canada shared by sponsors and experts in industry. The Challenge empowers students over 10 days to learn, build, and grow a successful venture that addresses these challenges faced across Canada.
The 2022 Catalyst Challenge: CleanTech Coast-to-Coast. Canada has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. In order to reach this goal every Canadian and person living in Canada must do their part to support this transition to a cleaner society. Help Brilliant Catalyst find an innovative solution to this problem.
If you’re interested in making a difference in the community, sign up today and we’ll be in touch soon with the details of the challenge! Deadline to apply is July 24, 2022.
For more information about the 2022 Catalyst Challenge click here!
Learn more about the 2021 Catalyst Challenge here!
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Looking for a crash course in entrepreneurship? We’ve got just the thing for you!
Brilliant Idea is a three-day workshop series in which students can learn about entrepreneurial concepts, business models and how to pitch a brilliant idea from industry experts.
Brilliant Idea is program designed to help you become more familiar with entrepreneurial concepts while working on a solution to a real-world problem. This event is a great way to network with industry professionals and students from across Ontario.
You will be taught key entrepreneurial concepts (such as design thinking, customer validation and pitching skills) by seasoned entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. By the end of the program you will have the knowledge and tools to present a solution to a real-world problem being experienced by our industry partner.
Want more information? Learn more here.
WHY SHOULD YOU PARTICIPATE? BECOME A CHANGE MAKER.
The goal of Experience Ventures is to help students become future ready by developing their skills and mindset to thrive in the innovative economy.
Experience Ventures opportunities will enable you to:
Apply in-class learning to the challenges and opportunities facing ventures.
Enhance your resume with a unique experience and develop your work-ready skills.
Network and meet industry leaders and employers.
Receive compensation for your placement.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE?
Any student from any discipline from Ontario Tech University is eligible to participate in Experience Ventures. Additionally, any post-secondary students in Canada in the process of receiving their undergraduate and graduate education are also eligible.
Unfortunately, International students are not eligible to participate at this time.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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You can find the application links for each program on our website. Please note that not all programs are open for intake at the same time. Applications for additional Experience Ventures programs (including Project-Based WIL and Brilliant Idea) will be opened during the Fall and Winter semesters.
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Experience Ventures is open to all domestic students that are currently enrolled in a publicly funded post-secondary institution. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for the Experience Ventures payments currently but are still welcome to apply to the program for the experience!
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We are looking for eager students that are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship and innovation. For Brilliant Idea, Catalyst Challenge, and National Hack-a-thon, there are no skill or experience requirements. For Project-Based WIL experiences, we will ask for a summary of your skills and experience and use that information to match you with a project.
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Every Experience Ventures opportunity is paid. Depending on the type of experience, the time commitment and corresponding payment will change. Please refer to each specific program page to learn more about the compensation that is available for each experience.
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You will receive your payment approximately 4-6 weeks after completing the Experience Ventures opportunity.
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Experience Ventures is a short-term engagement in the world of entrepreneurship and innovation and typically only 2-8 weeks in duration. Experience Ventures is closer to being a micro-internship or co-op placement rather than an actual job.
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Experience Ventures opportunities do not need to be related to your field of study, which provides students with unique learning opportunities that they may otherwise not be able to take advantage of. All Experience Ventures programs are non-academic and will not provide any credits towards your academic record.
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Of course! Experience Ventures operates separate from any other for-credit experiential learning program, so all are welcome!
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No, Experience Ventures is completely non-academic and is an extracurricular activity.
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Students are only eligible to participate in 1 Experience Ventures opportunity per academic year (April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023). If you participated in an experience last year you are eligible to participate again this year!
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Solo and group applications are both welcome! If you are applying as an individual, you may be grouped with other students to work with throughout the experience. If you have some friends that you think might be interested spread the word and apply as a team!
Please note that applications to Project-Based WIL are individual only, team applications will not be accepted for this program.
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If you have any questions about Experience Ventures, email us at Brilliant@ontariotechu.ca! You can also swipe down to the Request More Information section of the page and use the form to ask a question or join our Discord community here!
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Please see below for the application deadlines for our Experience Ventures programs. This will be updated regularly as more information becomes available about our Experience Ventures offerings for the 2022-23 academic year!
Catalyst Challenge: Deadline to apply is July 24, 2022.
Brilliant Idea: Applications open January 2023.
Project-Based WIL: Applications open in August / September 2022.
National Hack-a-thon: TBD (Winter 2023).