Ryerson University has the largest entrepreneurship program in Canada with over 14 full-time professors and major and minor programs. It is also home to the only student-run entrepreneurship centre in Canada, which has over 120 active members and helps start and expand businesses through various education, resources, and funding opportunities. This includes business competitions, grants, loans, and angel investor networks. The centre has helped launch over 80 projects, 86 businesses, and created 218 jobs while investing over $500,000. It has also supported entrepreneurship among high school students, first nations people, and communities in places like Kenya.

1. Entrepreneurship at
Ryerson University
Dr. Steven A. Gedeon

2. Ryerson University
• One of Most Sought After Schools in Canada
– Largest % Listed as “First Choice University”
– Largest Applicant to Acceptance Ratio in Canada
• Largest Continuing Education in Canada
• Largest Business School in Canada
• Largest Entrepreneurship Program in Canada
– 14 Full-Time Profs, Major and Minor Programs
• 3 MBAs, Dozens of PhD Programs…

3. Universities are Strange…
• Very Organized for Teaching Courses
• Amazing Facilities
BUT
• No Apparent Infrastructure for Anything Else
• No Apparent Funding for Anything Else
• Nobody’s Really “in Charge”
• Hard for “Outsiders” to get Involved

4. Only Student Run Entrepreneurship
Centre in Canada

5. 120+ ACTIVE MEMBERS

6. Sustainable Organization
• Fully-Equipped Marketing Dept.
• Events Team (80+ Events per Year)
• Videography Team (75+ On-Line Videos)
• Web Development Team (Dozen Brands)
• Cross-Campus Network
• Business Development Team (70+ Partners)

7. First Place National Entrepreneurship Champions
Prosperity Leadership Award, Canadian Urban Institute 2010
World SIFE Championship Semi-Finalist 2010
National Champions, ACE National Exposition 2010
National Champions, HSBC Financial Literacy Challenge 2010
National Champions, HSBC Financial Literacy Challenge 2009
National Runner-Up, TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge 2009
National Runner-Up, Walmart SIFE Green Challenge 2009
National Runner-Up, ACE National Exposition 2009
Best Campus Administration Award, ACE National Exposition 2009
National Runner-Up, ACE National Exposition 2008
National Champions, TD SIFE Entrepreneurship Challenge 2008

9. Helps Start & Expand Businesses
Education Resources Funding

10. Education
• 10+ Speaker Series (Demo Camp…)
• 20+ Bootcamps and Workshops
• 20+ StartMeUp Training Track Seminars
• 30+ Idea Consultations
• 45+ StartSmart Fin Lit Training Events
• Conferences

11. Resources
Market Testing Mentorship Consulting
Focus Group
Templates Graphic Design
Podcasts
Training Track Events
Business Development Opportunity Spotting
Virtual Coaching
Seminars Pitching
C.E.O. Society Workshops Business Plan Review
Intellectual Property Legal and Marketing Services
Articles Legal Advice
Online Courses
Make Your Business Greener

13. Participant Selection | Sustainability | Overall Strategy

15. Funding
Access to Grants and Loans
Micro Financing Seed Venture Investments
Business Plan Competitions
Commercialization Fellowships
Ontario Center of Excellence
Angel Investor Network
Community Capital Funds

16. Funding
$25,000
Business Plan
Competition

17. Funding
$35,000
Social
Entrepreneurship
Competition

18. Funding
$30,000
In Loans

19. Funding
$30,000
Micro-financing
Seed Venture Fund

20. Funding
42 Angels
$800,000+
Investment

21. 279 Student Entrepreneurs

22. 180+ At-Risk Youth

23. 77 Children

24. 98 Innovators

25. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

26. FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE

27. Dago, Kenya

28. 82 Projects
86 Businesses
Turning Ideas
218 Jobs
Into Reality
9,634 Individuals
Invested $552,404

29. “Ryerson is becoming the University for
Entrepreneurship & Innovation…”
- Provost Alan Shephard