The Power Up Program
The Power Up Program helps students and early-stage entrepreneurs in the Clean Energy Zone develop a deeper understanding of global challenges and real-life issues that face the industry. This four-month long, full-time paid internship program will guide participants through the stages of development of a minimum viable product under the guidance of the Clean Energy Zone, completing milestone activities like formal pitch presentations and demos that can be daunting without support. Through wrap-around business and energy sector support and knowledge, this program provides young entrepreneurs with the leadership experience, business savvy, and communication skills they need to build their innovations or transition between university and the job market.
The Power Up Program invites all Toronto Metropolitan University students with a clean-energy based idea or students who are passionate about clean energy to apply to this summer’s Power Up Program.
Why Power Up?
- Work While You Network
- While you work on your venture, you’ll build your networking skills by engaging with your mentors and industry experts.
- 1:1 Mentorship
- You will be matched with entrepreneurial and industry mentors and coaches.
- Unlock Professional Development Resources
- You can access a series of entrepreneurial training resources designed to help you work on your innovative project and feel prepared for your journey into entrepreneurship.
- Supercharge
- Once you develop your MVP and graduate from Power Up, we’ll invite you to participate in our Supercharge program.
How it Works
- Full-time or part-time student enrolled at Toronto Metropolitan University
- Able to attend in-person events in Toronto, ON
- Are legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with the relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations
International students are eligible and encouraged to apply.
We offer free access to our co-working office and workspace, equipped with wi-fi, and coffee & tea in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Programming will be in-person at the Centre for Urban Innovation, 44 Gerrard St E, Toronto.
Yes, you can still apply! Students without ideas can participate in the program. These students will either be given a project idea or added to a team that would benefit from their skillset.
Venture:
Alphacor Sustainability Solutions Limited (Alphacor) aims to research, develop, and operate world-class energy and carbon reduction technologies to dominate the energy and carbon management market. Alphacor is developing its inaugural product, ecotapp™, a web and mobile application energy and carbon management virtual assistant for building owners, operators, and tenants. ecotapp's vision is to be the most efficient and reliable enabler of sustainable energy use and carbon reduction in the built environment.
Founder:
Bofa Udisi is a sustainability professional with over seven years in the energy and environment industry. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Energy and Petroleum Studies from Novena University in Nigeria and graduate certificates in Energy Management and Environmental Project Management from Seneca College in Toronto. In 2020, he graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Master of Environment and Business degree. He is a Ph.D. student in the Building Science program at Toronto Metropolitan University (Formerly Ryerson), researching whole life carbon in the built environment.
Bofa's work experience is primarily in the built environment, working in the private and public sectors in roles that involve structural and environmental assessment of building structures, HVAC engineering design and sales, and facilities management. He is a Program Manager in the Smart Buildings and Energy Management Unit, Facilities Management division at Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC).
Bofa Udisi
Building Science, TMU
Venture:
The Breeze Glory is a green flame in the dark! As a result of the massive use of fossil fuels, climate change has caused chaos and has adversely affected the entire ecological system. Electricity generation accounts for a quarter of this. The demand for sustainable energy is constantly growing due to the fast depletion of fossil fuels, and achieving zero-emission power is crucial. Bulk transportation and long-term storage of diesel fuel pose significant environmental threats.
Due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon footprints reduction, all areas should use as much electricity generated by renewable energy sources as possible. Breeze Glory addresses these issues. This innovative wind structure provides a reliable and environmentally friendly energy system even in extreme weather conditions, which is cheaper - (up to 40% compared to conventional wind turbines, and 50% to fossil fuel generators).
Founders:
There are 3 members at the core of the group, all are pursuing their Master of Engineering Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Toronto Metropolitan University.
Elham Shams Zadeh Amiri is an innovative technical thinker who has an Architecture background and has worked in environmental sustainability and architectural teaching with knowledge in traditional structures.
Mohammad Rezaei Mirghaed is an energy systems engineer who is an expert in renewable energy technologies, especially wind and solar, with a Ph.D. in energy systems engineering. He is a specialist designer.
Karan Singh has a mechanical engineering background, renewable energy practical experiences, and business consultation competence. With experience in tech sales at world-class organizations, Karan is the commercialization lead for Breeze Glory.
Elham Shams Zadeh Amiri
MEIE, TMU
Mohammad Rezaei Mirghaed
MEIE, TMU
Karan Singh
MEIE, TMU
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Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
"The Alectra GRE&T Centre is proud to partner with Ryerson University's [TMU] Clean Energy Zone to support and promote energy leaders of the future. We look forward to actively contributing to innovation in clean energy technologies that will help support Canada's transition to a low-carbon economy."
Neetika Sathe,
Vice President, Green Energy and Technology (GRE&T) Centre
Toronto Metropolitan University is committed to providing an accessible learning environment. Please contact us if we need to make any accessibility accommodations to ensure your inclusion in this program.
If you have any questions about this program, please contact:
Dr. Bala Venkatesh
Director, Clean Energy Zone
Toronto Metropolitan University
Email: bala@torontomu.ca