McMaster is gearing up to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week with a focus on encouraging everyone to develop an entrepreneurial mindset — no matter who you are.
McMaster Entrepreneurship Week (MEW) will run from November 17 to 21 and features a slate of programming that highlights how the university’s vibrant innovation ecosystem supports entrepreneurship and transforming lab discoveries into real-world impact.
This year’s theme is “Together We Build”, focusing on the ways in which McMaster is making entrepreneurship accessible for current and aspiring entrepreneurs, regardless of where they might be in their innovation journey.
Come out and discover “Made at Mac” startups from a wide range of entrepreneurs who are seeking to inspire and empower other burgeoning innovators, regardless of background, experience, or industry.
Whether you are curious about startups, want to connect with like-minded peers, or are ready to bring your business idea to life, McMaster Entrepreneurship Week has something for everyone.
Here are some of the events McMaster is hosting throughout the week.
The Clinic Residency Pitch Competition
Monday, Nov. 17, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | The Clinic Collision Space (Health Sciences Library, 1st floor)
Join the Clinic as it celebrates the incredible residents of the Spring 2025 cohort at the Residency Innovation Pitch Day!
Come and see what’s next for the finalists and their ventures, which are rooted in real health challenges and have been refined through expert mentorship over the past six months. Whether you’re a student, clinician, researcher, or simply passionate about health innovation, this is your chance to see what the next generation of McMaster innovators has to offer.
Postdoc Entrepreneur Pitch Competition
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. | The Loft (4th floor of the Hub)
Who will win up to $75K to commercialize their research? Watch post-doctoral students and fellows pitch their startups for the Postdoc Entrepreneur Fellowship. Plus, meet and connect with members of the University’s dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystem.
I Am An Entrepreneur, Ask Me Anything
Monday, Nov. 17 to Tuesday, Nov. 18, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Arts Quad (between KTH, TSH, DSB, MUSC)
Join Tej Sandhu (BCom ’10), Entrepreneur in Residence at the DeGroote School of Business, for pop-up office hours and learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation at McMaster and beyond.
From Side Hustle to Startup: Financial Conversations
Tuesday Nov. 18, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Virtual event
Join Declan Sweeney from the Student Success Centre for a discussion about financial considerations for students considering turning their side hustles into startups.
INSIGHT Launch & Learn
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. | Virtual event
This is a monthly series of interactive sessions featuring leaders in the human-centred design space.
For McMaster Entrepreneurship Week, November’s session — “Beyond the Bright Idea: Embedding Human-Centered Design Thinking into Staff Innovation at Cambridge Memorial Hospital” — will feature guest experts Erin Skimson and Ilana Bayer from McMaster University and Kyle Leslie from Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
The Forge Startup Survivor Pitch Competition
Wednesday, Nov. 19, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | L.R. Wilson Hall
Five McMaster student startups will pitch in front of a live audience and a panel of investor judges. After deliberations, three winners will be crowned — taking home a share of $30,000.
Whether you’re a student, professor, staff, founder, or startup enthusiast, the Survivor Startup Pitch Competition gives everyone a front-row seat to innovation.
The Forge Office Hours
Thursday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | JHE-A214 or virtual
Are you exploring if entrepreneurship is right for you? Do you have questions about how to decide between business ideas? Are you looking for upcoming entrepreneurial opportunities? No matter where you are on your innovation path, we’re here to help.
Innovation Inspo: Fundraising as a Student Founder
Thursday, Nov. 20, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. | The Clinic Collision Space (Health Sciences Library, 1st floor)
The Clinic is hosting a dynamic panel discussion aimed at empowering student entrepreneurs with real-world insights on raising capital. This session will bring together panelists from both sides of the table — startup founders navigating through the journey, and investors who’ve backed early-stage ventures. Together, they’ll share candid perspectives, offer practical advice, and provide recommendations on how student founders can navigate the early days of building and financing their ideas.
McMaster Makers Market
Wednesday, Nov. 19 to Friday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | See locations below
Drop by the Makers Market to shop and support student, staff, faculty, and alumni entrepreneurs. Wednesday’s market will be held at the Hamilton Farmers Market at 35 York Blvd., while the McMaster University Student Centre will host the market on Thursday and Friday.
New Venture Pitch Challenge: Live Pitch and Business Networking Night
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. | Innovation Factory, 175 Longwood Rd. S.
Join us at Innovation Factory for our in-person presentation of the finalists from the first New Venture Pitch Challenge program. Watch our top five early-stage companies present their five-minute pitches with live feedback from guest judges. Network with our Innovation Factory companies, close partners, and ecosystem members while enjoying complimentary snacks and drinks.
Got questions? Check out the McMaster Entrepreneurship website for resources available to aspiring entrepreneurs.