Desjardins Startup Prize (University of Toronto)
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Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A pitch competition for University of Toronto Entrepreneurship community startups, with over $100,000 in prizes across early-stage and later-stage categories, plus in-kind benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
- At least one founder must be a current full-time U of T student, post-doc, or a recent alum from a full-time program (graduated no earlier than June 2023)
- Open to all faculties and sectors; affiliation with a U of T Accelerator is strongly encouraged
- Primary applicant must complete U of T's IP Education Level 1 course by the application deadline
- Early-Stage category: less than $50,000 cumulative funding or investment AND less than $25,000 cumulative revenue as of the cutoff date
- Later-Stage category: between $50,000 and $250,000 cumulative funding or investment AND less than $100,000 cumulative revenue as of the cutoff date
- Startups may only pitch once per category
- Companies do NOT need to be incorporated at the time of application; Canadian incorporation is required only to receive prize money if selected as a winner
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $40,000 (Later-Stage 1st place); individual prizes range from $4,000 to $40,000.
- Type
- Award
- Level
- Private
- Deadline
- 2027 cycle: applications open Fall 2026; pitch competition the week of March 1-5, 2027 during U of T Entrepreneurship Week
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Desjardins Startup Prize (University of To...
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 5-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipDo not wait to incorporate — companies do not need to be incorporated to apply, only to collect prize money if they win. The two gating items are U of T affiliation for at least one founder (current full-time student, post-doc, or alum who graduated within roughly the last three years) and completing U of T's IP Education Level 1 course before the deadline. Pick your category carefully: cumulative funding, not stage narrative, decides Early vs Later.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application steps not yet documented.
Required Documents 5
Deadline Notes
Annual. The 2026 application window ran October 14 – November 24, 2025 (5:00 pm deadline); applications for the 2027 Desjardins Startup Prize open in Fall 2026, with the pitch competition the week of March 1-5, 2027. Ten finalists are notified before the event.
Applying for Desjardins Startup Prize (University of Toronto)? Our Grant Proposal Template ($19) mirrors the section structure Canadian reviewers actually score on. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Stacking partner data not yet available.
How Desjardins Startup Prize (University of To... Compares
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