Our Programs

Helping startups ideate, and innovate

At ICUBE UTM, we offer many different programs and services to help innovators and entrepreneurs succeed. Our programs provide resources, mentorship, and support for startups at any stage.

Whether you’re starting with an idea or looking to grow your business, we have the tools and guidance you need. Join us to turn your ideas into impactful ventures.

Ideation Lab

An experiential learning program that follows the school’s 3 semesters schedule, for anyone with a great idea who wants to make it happen.

Ideation Lab Program work with change-makers from all backgrounds and industries to help turn your big ideas into reality. We offer the resources and teach the skills you need in order to map out a sustainable business or organization.

Whether you have been building an invention, dreaming of starting a non-profit, or see a nagging problem that you know you could fix – this program will help you make it happen.

Program length: 4 months

Check out this program if:

You have identified a business idea and are in the ideation or early startup phase
You are open to exploring and changing as you work through the program
You are ready to commit at least 5 hours a week on your venture
You are looking for collaborators and advisors
You are serious about pursuing this idea, or an entrepreneurial idea in the future, and are committed to completing the program
You are a U of T student, recent alumni, staff or resident of the Peel region

Benefits:

Online/In-class Sessions: Online learning modules that support in-class live training sessions.

Access to Facilities: Grant access to ICUBE, OnRamp facilities, and member perks.

Networking Opportunities: Facilitate connections at UTM and within the wider community.

Advisors/Mentors: Access guidance from ICUBE advisors and mentors.

Pitch Opportunities: Apply for the chance to pitch for cash and prizes with your business idea.

ICUBE Membership: One year of access to ICUBE’s resources and programs.

Studio Access: Provide 25 hours of free access to ICUBE Studio.

Venture Forward

A boutique-style remote program to support your business development and help you grow through one-on-one support. This program is open all year.

Venture Forward is designed to accelerate your business growth in a sustainable way. Work with mentors and industry professionals in a boutique-style experience.

Join a community of entrepreneurs all working toward the same goal: making an impact, and scaling up!

Program length: 12 months

Check out this program if:

Must have a launched initiative or MVP with demonstrated market fit and some traction
You must be dedicated to solving a compelling problem (all venture structures/industries welcome)
You are diverse, coachable and collaborative teams
The business idea must be in alignment with University of Toronto’s applicable policies and legislation and ICUBE’s values
You are a U of T student, recent alumni, staff or resident of the Peel region

Benefits:

ICUBE Membership: One year of access to ICUBE’s resources and programs.

Student Talent Access: Access to U of T student talent and subsidies for hiring.

Access to Facilities: Grant access to ICUBE, OnRamp facilities, and member perks.

Volunteer and Co-op Placement: Receive volunteer and co-op student placement on a project basis.

Advisors/Mentors: Access guidance from ICUBE advisors and mentors.

Pitch Opportunities: Apply for the chance to pitch for cash and prizes with your business idea.

Professional Office Hours: Office hours with professional partners (IP, legal, finance, etc)

Capital: Access to capital (Grants, Investors, Loans, etc.)

Press Opportunities: Opportunity to get featured on BetaKit, The Varsity Publication and ICUBE's website

IP Grant: Opportunity to receive a $3,000 grant towards IP legal services

Studio Access: Provide 50 hours of free access to ICUBE Studio.

Indigenous Entrepreneurship

Indigenous business training program created by RedBird Circle Inc. in partnership with UofT Libraries, ICUBE UTM and The Bridge at UTSC.

Based on traditional knowledge and created in partnership with Indigenous experts, this program aims to build entrepreneurship competencies, eliminate barriers, facilitate partnerships and mentorships, and build pathways to success for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Program length: 14 weeks

* the program is followed by an additional 3-month peer to peer support, network and mentorship program to enhance participants’ experience, called Redbird Network.

Check out this program if:

Benefits:

Online/In-class Sessions: Virtually through Zoom and Redbird LMS

Access to Facilities: Grant access to ICUBE, OnRamp facilities, and member perks.

Advisors/Mentors: Access guidance from ICUBE advisors and mentors.

Focused workshops: Attend exclusive training around fostering indigenous identity, increase active citizenship, promote environmental stewardship and more...

ICUBE Membership: One year of access to ICUBE’s resources and programs.

Creative Studio

ICUBE Studio intends to serve the prototyping and design needs of the ICUBE and other University of Toronto Entrepreneurship start-ups, while also providing UTM students with a professional work-integrated-learning (WIL) experience while they are still enrolled in school.

ICUBE Studio’s students are talented consultants, marketers, business individuals, designers, and software developers who have undergone a screening process and are supervised by faculty and staff who have extensive business experience. Students work individually or in small creative teams and take responsibility for all project stages — design, production and implementation.

Note: Members of Ideation Lab and Venture Forward are provided with free access to the creative studio for up to 25 hours and 50 hours respectively.

Services:

Branding: Create a unique brand and identity for your startup that helps your customers resonate, connect and grow with you.

Graphic Design: Create graphics package and templates for your needs. These may include product packaging, social media templates or posters.

Search Engine Optimization: Improve your SEO and better reach your audiences through technical, local and managed SEO services and packages.

Web/App Development: Create unique, responsive & optimized platforms to better grow, prototype & sell to your audiences.

Digital Marketing: Create impactful social media and marketing campaigns to increase engagements.

UX/UI: Create beautiful and user friendly designs for any need of your products and solutions, including website, app, web technology and many more.

CTO as a Service: Get access to our fractional CTO services that is designed to help you at any stage of your journey, whether you are just starting out or looking to scale your venture.

Pitch Competitions

ICUBE provides many different opportunities for our members to be able to pitch their businesses on a stage to a set of judges for feedback and cash prizes.

Case Competitions

ICUBE creates different case competitions with our partners to help promote innovative thinking around students and help create future business opportunities.