(Toronto – July 15, 2015)
The Next 36 has launched its annual search for the country’s top young entrepreneurs at Canada’s largest startup festival in Montreal. Interested undergraduates and recent grads from all academic backgrounds have until October 20th to submit their application, however, those looking for a headstart on their peers can compete for the Top Young Entrepreneur Award at this year’s Festival, which guarantees one exceptional founder a spot in next year’s program.
The Next 36 is recognized as Canada’s most innovative and demanding founder development program and has garnered incredible support from the country’s academic and business communities. In less than five years, it has won the backing of the presidents of nine Canadian universities from coast to coast and from a long list of prominent Canadian business leaders including Galen Weston, Paul Desmarais Sr., Jimmy Pattison. Investor, John Albright of Relay Ventures calls The Next 36, “The best organization in the country for future entrepreneurs”.
Those familiar with the program will identify a number of design changes for 2016, intended to attract the growing number of student entrepreneurs who are creating companies earlier in their lives. This year, all successful applicants will be able to choose their own co-founders and will have the option of bringing in an existing idea/venture or build a company from the ground up. “The timing was right for this evolution to our program”, says Peter Carrescia, Managing Director. “Our venture creation process reflects that the quality of the team is one of the biggest determinants of venture success.”
Each year, 36 exceptional undergraduates from across Canada are chosen through a rigorous national selection process. During the seven-month program, the young entrepreneurs build a business, while receiving unparalleled support that includes mentorship from Canada’s top business leaders, up to $50,000 from top venture capitalists, and academic instruction from some of the world’s top faculty. This year’s cohort will showcase their start-ups on August 18, at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.
Young entrepreneurs who wish to be part of The Next 36 can submit their full application online by October 20th. Entrepreneurs are encouraged to apply early, as exceptional applicants will be offered an advanced invitation to National Selection Weekend in December.
About The Next 36
The Next 36 addresses Canada’s deficit of high impact entrepreneurship by providing world class education, business mentorship and venture building programs to the country’s most promising young entrepreneurs. We believe that by fast-tracking the development of Canada’s most talented young innovators, we will help create industry-changing businesses and grow Canada’s long-term prosperity. The Next 36 is supported through strong national partnerships with EY, MaRS, MasterCard, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP and TD Bank Group. The Next Founders is the second program from The Next 36 and is designed for founders of tech start-ups looking for personal development, a peer network and support to scale quickly.
For more information, please visit: www.thenext36.ca
For further details please contact:
Jon French
Director, Marketing & Communications
The Next 36
jon@thenext36.ca
