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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

Learn more about Indigenous Education and Cultural Services

Ontario Tech University strengthens commitment to building entrepreneurship ecosystem of excellence

Brilliant Ventures Fund launching in Fall 2023 will focus on supporting startups in the community and beyond

Business and Information Technology Building at Ontario Tech University's north Oshawa campus location.
Business and Information Technology Building at Ontario Tech University's north Oshawa campus location.

Turning an idea into a viable business can be an exciting process, but it requires a significant investment of finances, time, mentorship and research along the way.

As a champion of innovative and entrepreneurial culture, Ontario Tech University nurtures an environment of research and discovery that supports turning new ideas into business ventures and innovations. The university’s Brilliant Catalyst, an innovation and experiential learning hub, currently offers a number of unique learning opportunities and programs that support entrepreneurial activities at the university and provide key access points for community companies looking to connect with on-campus talent and campus facilities. Under the Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation, Brilliant Catalyst brings together a community of experts, influencers, entrepreneurs and advisors to prepare the next generation of innovative thinkers to launch and grow successful businesses.

In the Fall of 2023, external startup companies will have access to even more support from Brilliant Catalyst through the Brilliant Ventures Fund (BVF), an exciting new university-operated fund for startups. BVF will focus on providing startup capital investment (money raised by an entrepreneur to help cover business costs until it can turn a profit), and venture support (help for growing startups) for projects aligned with the university’s key priorities, including ‘tech with a conscience’: improving the lives of humans and the planet through the ethical application of technology.

Brilliant Catalyst seeks to connect with tech-focused or tech-powered startups in the earliest stages of getting their operations off the ground. Preference will be given to companies that are based in Canada to facilitate partnerships with, and contributions to, the Canadian market and its partners.

Companies that receive funding through BVF will have access to Brilliant Catalyst resources, including the ability to tap into a unique pool of talent and innovation at the university (students, alumni and faculty members), through experiential learning and research activities.

To learn more or apply for BVF, contact Dr. Osman Hamid, Director, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Brilliant Catalyst, Office of the Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

Quote:

“Without initial funding, particularly at the earliest stages where ideas are still being developed, many startup companies would never get off the ground. Through the Brilliant Ventures Fund, Ontario Tech University once again demonstrates its commitment to driving economic growth, regional development and social innovation in Ontario, and in the Canadian and global contexts. By joining the Brilliant Catalyst ecosystem, entrepreneurs will receive funding and access resources that will enable their companies to thrive and contribute to a better future within and beyond our community.”
Dr. Osman Hamid, Director, Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Brilliant Catalyst, Ontario Tech University