Slaight New Venture Competition (NVC)
Slaight New Venture Competition
Are you a Ted Rogers School student with a business venture idea? Apply to pitch at the Slaight New Venture Competition (SNVC) for a prize of $25,000!
We are proud to continue supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of students at the Ted Rogers School of Management through the Slaight New Venture Competition. This school has a strong track record of nurturing innovative, socially conscious entrepreneurs who are eager to take on real-world challenges—and that’s exactly the kind of impact we want to champion.
About the Competition
Established in 2001, the Slaight New Venture Competition, for over 24 years, generously supported by the Slaight Family Foundation, has fostered student entrepreneurship by awarding two $25,000 prizes of startup money to two Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) students – one female and one male.
The Competition allows six student finalists to compete for the opportunity to pitch their business idea for two prizes of $25,000 seed money to support their business venture.
Eligibility & Rules:
- One prize is awarded to a female-led venture and the second prize is awarded to a male- led venture. Both options are open to everyone who identifies as a woman; identifies as a man and everyone who identifies as trans+ or non-binary.
- The presenter must be a full-time Ted Rogers School of Management student
- The presenter must have equity in the business as an equal or majority shareholder.
*Exception can be made based on a review
How & when can I apply?
2026 Slaight New Venture Competition
Do you want to spend your summer working on your startup? Are you a TRSM student looking for some seed funding to help your business? If you answered yes to both those questions then apply to the annual Slate New Venture Competition.
Applications Close: March 15th, 2026
Competition Date: March 25th, 2026 6pm CUI Atrium
Award: Two prizes of $25,000 startup seed money
2025 Winners
Over the past 23 years, we’ve seen this competition grow into a powerful launchpad for student-led ventures, and this year’s winners—Chris Playfair and Viona Chang—are outstanding examples. Prolific Hockey and Golden Connections both show how creativity and purpose can come together to meet a need. We’re honoured to support the next generation of business leaders as they build ventures that make a difference.
Elite hockey coaching shouldn't be a luxury. Prolific Hockey’s digital platform brings pro-level instruction and AI-powered feedback directly to players at an affordable price. We’re breaking down the barriers to elite training, one drill at a time.
"Winning the Slaight New Venture Competition is a huge milestone in my journey as an entrepreneur. It validates the work our team has poured into Prolific Hockey and gives me the resources and confidence to scale our impact"
Meaningful senior engagement shouldn't be fragmented or intimidating. Golden Connections’ AI-powered ecosystem unifies older adults, senior centers, and businesses through a co-created, barrier-free digital hub. We’re transforming award-winning ideas into market-validated impact, one connection at a time.
“With this additional funding, I’m looking forward to elevating our platform to the next level — building stronger partnerships, integrating innovative features and ultimately creating something that makes a real difference in people’s lives.”
2025 Judges
Strategic soundness meets entrepreneurial grit. The 2025 Slaight New Venture Competition judges brought a 360-degree view to the finalists. From supply chain analytics to scaling global brands, this panel ensured every venture was built for professional success and social impact.
- Michael Mihalicz (Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy)
- Mina Mohammadi (Adjunct Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy)
- Alejandro Domenech-Pereda (Founder, Viable Ads; 2023 Slaight New Venture Competition winner)
- James Desmoulin (Entrepreneurship and Strategy Program Advisory Council; 2025 Chang Volunteer of The Year Recipient)
- Dean Skurka (President, WonderFi)
- Majed Masad (President, Mejuri; 2012 Slaight New Venture Competition winner)
Competition Articles
Contact us
Ryan Wilock
Lecturer- Entrepreneurship & Innovation
Start-up Advisor- Zone Learning
Lead Mentor TRSM Top 50 Program