Build What’s Next
The University of Windsor Innovation Fellowship is designed to support early-stage founders, creators, and entrepreneurs who are ready to take the next step in developing their innovative idea or venture.
Through the Fellowship, participants gain access to mentorship and advisory support, weekly workshops, networking opportunities, and seed funding to move their idea forward.
Whether you’re developing a product, service, or solution, the Fellowship provides the structure, support, and guidance to help you move from early-stage development toward validated progress and a clear path to implementation, commercialization, or continued growth.
Applications are now closed for the 2026 Innovation Fellowship.
Who can apply
This Fellowship is open to both individual applicants and teams.
Eligible applicants for the 2026 cohort include:
- Current University of Windsor students.
- Recent graduates within the past three years; graduates from Spring 2023 or later are eligible.
- Faculty members.
- University-affiliated researchers.
Teams are welcome and may be interdisciplinary. Teams are considered a single enrollee within the cohort and share access to program funding.
We welcome participants from all disciplines and backgrounds. You do not need to be in a STEM or technology-based field to apply. Innovation happens across every sector, from health and science to business, social innovation, education, and the creative industries.
The Fellowship is rooted in the University of Windsor community. Current students and recent graduates from other Ontario universities and colleges may also be eligible to participate.
Who we’re looking for
We are looking for individuals and teams who are actively working on and testing their concept.
Strong applicants will typically:
- Be developing an innovative product, service, process, or solution with real-world potential.
- Have taken steps to build their concept, such as conducting research, engaging potential users, testing assumptions, or developing a prototype.
- Be actively exploring how their work could be commercialized, implemented, or scaled.
- Be motivated to learn, open to feedback, and committed to advancing their work.
This Fellowship is not intended for individuals who are only at the initial idea stage. Applicants should be able to demonstrate meaningful progress beyond ideation.
What you’ll gain
Through the Fellowship, participants will:
- Advance a defined concept or early-stage venture toward real-world application through validation, refinement, and implementation planning.
- Receive guidance on intellectual property protection strategies, including how to assess what should be protected and the options available, such as patents, trademarks, and other forms of protection.
- Strengthen their approach to customer validation and market understanding.
- Build a business model and define next steps.
- Receive direct feedback from mentors, advisors, and experienced founders.
Participants will leave the Fellowship with tangible progress on their venture, evidence to support key decisions, and a clearer direction for next steps.
Funding
All participants in the Innovation Fellowship are eligible to receive up to $12,000 in non-dilutive funding to support validation, development, and early growth. Teams share access to program funding as a single enrollee.
Funding is contingent upon meeting all program requirements and milestones throughout the Fellowship.
What the experience looks like
The Fellowship is a structured, hands-on program.
Participants will be required to engage in:
- Weekly workshops focused on key areas of venture development.
- Applied working sessions to advance their own ideas.
- Opportunities to test concepts with customers, mentors, and industry experts.
- A final pitch experience to share progress and next steps.
Is this Fellowship right for you?
This Fellowship is a strong fit if:
- You are already advancing a defined concept or early-stage venture, with evidence of development such as user research, testing, or a prototype.
- You want to validate your work and explore pathways to implementation, commercialization, or scaling.
Key Dates: 2026 Cohort
- Applications open: Wednesday, April 1, 2026
- Applications close: Monday, May 4, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
- Interviews: Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8, 2026
- Candidates notified: Monday, May 11, 2026
- Fellowship begins: Friday, May 22, 2026
- Final pitch competition: Friday, August 21, 2026
- Fellowship concludes: Friday, August 28, 2026
Program commitment
The weekly session schedule for the 2026 cohort is:
- Day and time: Fridays, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
- Program dates: May 22–August 28, 2026
- Format: In-person participation required.
In addition to weekly sessions, participants should expect to spend time outside of sessions advancing their work, including customer discovery, validation, and preparation for program milestones.
Given the cohort-based nature of the Fellowship, consistent attendance and active participation are essential.
Limited accommodations may be available for scheduling conflicts. Please indicate any conflicts in your application.
Application
Applications are now closed for the 2026 Innovation Fellowship.
Program Support
This program is generously supported by Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON).
Key Contact: For program-related inquiries, please contact Sydney.Thompson@uwindsor.ca.