Founders Program
Our Founders Program empowers Western's future generation of entrepreneurs by strengthening their entrepreneurial skillset and enabling them to be community builders. Through this program, students gain access to education, mentorship, a $20,000 tuition bursary, and the opportunity to grow their entrepreneurial network on campus. Applications are now open for full-time students completing 1st year.
Applications Close: March 22, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (EST)
Program Starts: September 2026
Founders Program at a Glance
Founders students are an integral part of the Morrissette Institute team. Founders are entrepreneurship ambassadors and help to promote and represent entrepreneurship within their faculty while helping to build the entrepreneurship community on campus. Students who have a strong entrepreneurial passion and see entrepreneurship as part of their future career path are encouraged to apply.
✔️ Mentorship
Our Founder Program participants gain exclusive access to some of Western's top alumni as mentors. These mentors can help you learn how to navigate the many different challenges entrepreneurs face when starting (or growing) a venture.
Every participant in our program is matched with a qualified mentor by hand, based on their needs, skills, and personalities. We offer an engaging introduction session during which the Founders Program participants and mentor are matched and work together over the course of a year to develop a beneficial relationship.
✔️ Education
The education taught in the Founders Program is a pathway that helps develop the next generation of entrepreneurial experts. We accomplish this by teaching each student the foundations on which they can build a thriving enterprise. This entrepreneurial education is also transferable and can translate to all aspects of one's career.
Move your thinking from...
“I want to be an entrepreneur, but don't know where to start.”
... to ... "I can succeed as an entrepreneur, I know how to do it."
✔️ Leadership
As part of the Founders Program, each participant is given a leadership role within the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship supported by the Institute staff. Roles and responsibilities include marketing, events, outreach, advisory services and more. Throughout each year, Founders work together within committees towards a common goal where participants can develop valuable skills and have a strong impact on the entrepreneurial community at Western.
🏆 Award Snapshot
Total Award Value
$20,000 (CAD) distributed over three years.
This monetary award will be deposited each year into a student account to offset tuition costs.
Year 2, Value: $5,000 (CAD)
Year 3, Value: $5,000 (CAD)
Year 4, Value: $10,000 (CAD)
Eligibility
Open to all full-time students starting second year in Sept 2026.
Students must be enrolled full-time at Western University or an Affiliated University College. Students must have a minimum cumulative average of 70%.
⏰ Time Commitment
The time commitment of this program is approximately 15-20 hours per month. The program runs over eight months, from September to April each school year. A selection committee determined by the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship will select the winning program participants.
At the end of each year, all Founders will be re-assessed based on their participation in the program and engagement with the community in order to continue in the program for Years 3 and 4. In addition, students must maintain full-time status, have an average of over 70% and complete coursework on Western's campus (i.e. students can not be on exchange as part of the program) to remain as part of the program.
📅 Mark Your Calendar
We accept ten students into this program each school year. Keep an eye out for these important dates associated with our application.
Testimonials
Awards for the Founders Program were made possible by the following generous donors:
The Dobson Foundation | Kevin Sullivan | Ronald D. Schmeichel | Sabourin Family Foundation | In Memory of Paul Woolford.