Venture Connection

WHERE IS VENTURE CONNECTION? 

The Venture Connection program was launched on all 3 campuses in 2008 as an exploration of student entrepreneurship at SFU.  Through the generous support of many partners, funders and donors, it grew over the next 15 years to engage 20,000+ participants in entrepreneurship and innovation activities, and supported the launch and/or development of over 300 early-stage startups, including Moment Energy, Ionomr, MetroLyrics, Buyatab, SPARK Foundation, Employ to Empower, Spexi Geospatial, BAK’D and Mala the Brand.

With a rebranding in 2024, all continuing programs – like Mentor Meet, SPARK, Idea Prize and the early-stage incubator – are now fully supported within the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship.

So please explore this new Chang Institute site – you'll find all the familiar programs, staff, mentors and startups, and more.

We are tremendously grateful to all of those who helped to launch and grow the Venture Connection program from 2008-2024, particularly to Coast Capital, contributing to putting SFU on the world stage as #1 in Entrepreneurial Spirit (WURI Rankings 2023).  

VenturE CONNECTION FOUNDING PARTNERS

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  • Beedie School of Business 
  • Faculty of Applied Science 
  • SFU-Surrey Campus 
  • University Industry Liaison Office (now Technology Licensing Office)

With special thanks to Joanne Curry, Jade Bourelle AND Justine Bizzocchi

Key Funding Partners 2008-2024

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  • Coast Capital
  • Western Economic Diversification (now PacifiCan)
  • NRC-IRAP 
  • BCIC (now Innovate BC)
  • Dobson Foundation
  • Discovery Foundation
  • Genome BC