McMaster University is thrilled to introduce the Student Seed Fund – a entrepreneurship program designed to help students and recent alumni take their startups to the next level.  

The Student Seed Fund is open to high-potential student and recent alumni startup founders who have completed or are enrolled in entrepreneurship programming at McMaster. Successful applicants will receive $10,000 in funding and access to hands-on mentorship to fast-track their company growth. 

Learn more about the program below and apply online by March 1, 2026.  

Program Benefits

  • $10,000 in funding through milestone-based payments 
  • One-on-one mentorship from successful serial entrepreneur 
  • Access to advisory from professional service providers, such as lawyers and accountants 

Startup Commitment

  • Program duration is eight months: May – December 2026
  • Founder commits 20 hours per week to working on their business 
  • Founder meets bi-weekly with Resident Entrepreneur for business advisory

Program Outcomes

This program aims to fast-track McMaster startups to market, enabling them to achieve significant milestones, grow their businesses, hire McMaster talent, contribute to the economic prosperity of the Hamilton community, and help build a Brighter World. 

Program Capacity

The program will fund up to 10 McMaster startups per year.

Startup Eligibility

1) Company 

  • Must be a McMaster-affiliated startup.
    Industry sectors include but are not limited to: software and mobile apps, medical devices and healthcare technologies, life sciences, cleantech and greentech, manufacturing and materials, social innovation.
  • Must have a scalable business model.
    Any business that is already creating or has plans to create jobs, provide products or services that will have a positive impact on society, and generate enough revenue or sources of funding to be sustainable and grow.

2) Stage 

  • Must have evidence of product-market fit. Includes but is not limited to sales, pre-sales, pre-orders, pilots, letter of intent, etc.

3) Founder/Team 

  • Startup must be founded by at least one McMaster University student (undergraduate or graduate) or recent alumni (up to two years from graduation).
  • Founder/team has completed or is enrolled in entrepreneurship programming at McMaster.
    Eligible programs include but are not limited to The Forge Startup Survivor, The Clinic Bootcamp/Residency, Lab2Market, Master of Biomedical Innovation, Innovation Minor, MEEI, MTEI, etc.
  • Founder/team must commit minimum 20 hours/week to working on their business throughout the duration of the program. 

Application Process

  • Up to 20 applicants will be invited to pitch their business to Investor Analyst Fellows. 
  • Investor Pitch Days are scheduled for March 10 and 11, 2026.
  • Up to 15 Semi-Finalists will be invited to pitch their business to an Investor Review Committee.  
  • Investor Pitch Days are scheduled on March 24 and 26, 2026.
  • Up to 10 Winners will be announced at the Made at Mac Event on April 1, 2026. Program begins on May 1, 2026. 

Information Session

Want to learn more about the Student Seed Fund? Attend a virtual information session. Register for a session below to receive the Zoom link. Both sessions cover the same content, so please only choose one. 

Questions? 

Please contact Mariya Leslie, Manager of Student Entrepreneurship at The Forge.