Turn your idea into a real-world project. Pitch, prototype, and gain hands-on startup experience with mentorship and resources from CDM.
Program at a Glance
- Build a team of 3-4 founders
- Ideate & Pitch in Term 2, Validate & Prototype in Term 3, Future-plan in Term 4 and onwards.
- Spend 12 dedicated weeks in Term 3 turning a problem into a working prototype with faculty support.
- Create something you own
- Expect a startup-style workload: fast, creative, collaborative
What You’ll Get
- Real pitch experience with structured feedback
- A chance to build on your venture with:
- A dedicated space to collaborate and build together
- A project budget to support your venture efforts
- Mentorship from faculty and industry
- Creative autonomy and decision-making power
- A prototype you can demo, test, and continue after CDM
- A standout story for your portfolio and interviews
Venture Pathway Timeline
Forming a Team
Term 1
Week 13
Venture Pathway Info Session
-> What it is / isn’t
-> Timeline + Expectations
Term 2
Week 1
Decision Making
-> Come up with an opportunity statement – Clarity helps you recruit teammates.
-> Think about your idea & skill sets you need on your team
Term 2
Week 2/3
Attend Ideation Session
-> Review requirements and workshop your idea for faculty input. Students interested in joining a venture but don’t have an idea are encouraged to attend.
Term 2
Week 6
Submit Intent to Pitch
-> Follow the step by step Guidelines
November
January
February
What’s in the Decision Guide
- What a Venture is and how to know if it’s right for you
- Venture timeline from Idea -> Pitch
- Benefits, challenges & workload at a glance
- How to shape your Opportunity Statement
After Submitting Your Intent to Pitch
Term 2
Week 6
Attend SFU Pitch
Workshop
Term 2
Week 7
Practice Pitch Day
Term 2
Week 8 & 9
Submit Package
Term 2
Week 10
Pitch
Panel with Industry Experts
-> Learn how to structure your pitch and slides.
-> Rehearsal in front of your cohort and faculty
-> Submit Package by Week 8
-> Submit Presentation by Week 9
-> Pitch
-> Get feedback from a panel of industry experts.
February
March
April
What’s in the Guidelines?
- Examples & Templates to help structure submissions
- Submission package criteria and where to submit it
- Pitch criteria – what faculty & panel look for
Outcomes
There are 2 outcomes:
Approved
- Your team will have the option to work on the venture in place of Projects III.
- You get a project room, a faculty advisor, and a project budget.
- Your team will have the option to pitch again and continue working on the venture during the internship term.
Not Approved
- Your team will have the option to re-pitch and work on your venture in the internship term.
Past Ventures
Timbridge – a SaaS platform that builds for the Canadian timber industry
Timbridge is a venture project that aims to address these challenges by developing a practical digital platform that improves workflow efficiency and production visibility within existing lumber operations. Rather than replacing current ERP systems, the project focuses on creating a more accessible and user-friendly layer that supports smoother inventory management and semi-automated data input.
AI-Driven Wellness App with Horaizen
Horaizen is an AI-powered emotional wellness platform designed to help stressed young adults build long-term resilience through adaptive stress-relief training, utilizing high-fidelity Figma prototypes and functional no-code app demos to pioneer designer-led smart product development.
XR Interaction Game Prototype with VGS Studio
VGS Studio is an interactive media and emerging technology studio exploring how natural interaction can improve intent communication across immersive digital experiences.
We are developing an action RPG game prototype that explores players having agency over the characteristics and behaviors of their enemies.
The Canadian Video Game Museum (CVGM) aims to celebrate the country’s rich gaming history as its first physical museum dedicated to Canadian game development, launching a temporary exhibit to test digital, interactive, and gamified media solutions for an engaging educational experience.