Award
Private
Between Intakes
Desjardins Startup Prize (University of Toronto)
Desjardins Business / University of Toronto Entrepreneurship
Prize
Up to $40,000
2027 cycle: applications open Fall 2026; pitch competition the week of March ...
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Lump Sum
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Desjardins Startup Prize (University of Toronto) provides Up to $40,000 (Later-Stage 1st place); individual prizes range from $4,000 to $40,000. 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. Applications are accepted 2027 cycle: applications open Fall 2026; pitch competition the week of March 1-5, 2027 during U of T Entrepreneurship Week.
Eligibility check
Could you win this award?
Get your instant eligibility verdict plus a head start on the application. Free, no account needed.
Takes about 20 seconds. We use this program’s real eligibility rules.
Want your full match picture across 650+ programs? Take the 2-minute quiz →
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Free
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 2024)
- Applicants with no U of T affiliation will be removed from the competition
- 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; a Level 2 Topic can be substituted for applicants with an existing strong IP foundation, by requesting a waiver of the Level 1 prerequisite on the Level 2 Registration Form
- IP course registration is not automatic and takes 2-3 business days to process — late registration will affect your ability to complete the application on time
- 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
- Funding thresholds include dilutive and non-dilutive funding: investment for equity, grants, and previous awards or prizes
- UTE may reassess Early-Stage startups after selection and reserves the right to reclassify a startup to the Later Stage category based on the eligibility criteria
- Startups may only pitch once per category
- Entrants must be able to present to the selection committee in person during U of T Entrepreneurship Week
- 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
Provinces
Industries
Business Stage
Quick Assessment
Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
First-Timer
Friendly
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
Competition
High
Deadline
Between Intakes
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium
See your real odds on this program — and exactly what it takes to win it.
What's in this Playbook
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
- 7-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
$19 covers this one program. $39/mo covers every program, plus the workspace that walks you through each application.
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Premium
Insider TipDo not wait to incorporate — companies do not need to be incorporated to apply, only to collect prize money if they win.
Premium
See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.
Evaluation Criteria
Premium
See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t lose this one to a preventable rejection
Common rejection pitfalls, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
The $19 Playbook covers this one program. Premium covers every program, plus the application workspace.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Premium
7 steps
5 docs
Application Steps
1
Confirm at least one founder carries U of T affiliation 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). U of T states plainly that applicants with no U of T affiliation will be removed from the competition. Open to all faculties and sectors; affiliation with a U of T Accelerator is strongly encouraged but not required.
Required Documents 5
✓ Proof of U of T affiliation for at least one founder
✓ U of T IP Education Level 1 completion
Deadline Notes
Ineligible Organizations
Premium
Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.
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
Premium
Stacking partner data not yet available.
Combined Funding Potential
See your total funding potential
Premium
See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
How Desjardins Startup Prize (University of To... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
Free
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desjardins Startup Prize (University ... | Up to $40,000 | Hard | Lump Sum | 2027 cycle: applications... |
| Innovative Solutions Canada | up to $150,000 | Hard | Milestone-Based | Challenge-specific — new... |
| Ontario Innovation Tax Credit | Up to 8% tax credit | Moderate | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Alberta Innovation Employment Grant | up to $4M | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... | 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
Related Programs
Other programs you might be eligible for
Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Desjardins Startup Prize (University of To...
Free
Do I have to be incorporated to enter?
No. U of T states companies do not need to be incorporated at the time of application. Canadian incorporation is required only in order to receive prize money if you are selected as a winner.
Who counts as U of T-affiliated?
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 who graduated no earlier than June 2023. Applicants with no U of T affiliation are removed from the competition.
How do I know which category I am in?
Cumulative funding decides it, not your stage narrative. Early-Stage is under $50,000 in cumulative funding and under $25,000 in cumulative revenue; Later-Stage is $50,000 to $250,000 in funding with under $100,000 in revenue. Grants and previously won prizes count toward the funding total.
What is the IP course requirement?
The primary applicant must complete U of T's IP Education Level 1 course by the application deadline, or substitute a Level 2 Topic with a waiver request. Register early — U of T warns registration is not automatic and takes 2-3 business days to process.
When can I apply for the next round?
Applications for the 2027 Desjardins Startup Prize open in Fall 2026. The pitch competition runs the week of March 1-5, 2027 during U of T Entrepreneurship Week, and ten finalists are notified before the event.
Browse More Funding
Full Playbook: Desjardins Startup Prize (University of To...
7 steps · 5 docs · reviewer insights