The Dunin-Deshpande Innovation Centre at Queen's University (DDQIC) is excited to introduce the Queen’s Founders and Innovators Initiative (QFII) — a transformative, part-time program designed for aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs. Starting in January, participants will have 8 months to start a venture from scratch or take their existing early-stage startup to the next level.
The program offers award winning and internationally recognized entrepreneurship training, mentorship from industry professionals and entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to unlock seed funding. You will pitch to advance to the next phase of the program, culminating in an immersive residential experience, held on campus, for teams who have demonstrated the most dedication and commitment. Those who earn the residential experience may receive a cost-of-living stipend, depending on faculty support.
Join as an individual or as a team, with or without a specific venture idea — all you need is a willingness to start a venture!
Queen's Founders and Innovators Initiative (QFII) provides award winning and internationally recognized entrepreneurship training, mentorship from industry professionals and entrepreneurs, and the opportunity to unlock seed funding.
Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Applications will close on December 18, 2024.
Apply NowProgram Benefits
We provide participants who demonstrate a willingness to learn, take risks, and commit themselves fully with the best that our innovation centre has to offer.
- Receive world-class training and tips from seasoned entrepreneurs, award winning faculty, and other experts.
- Get matched with mentors from our network of 150+ entrepreneurs and industry experts around the world to help you on your path to success.
- Receive up to $4,000 in seed funding for your team, along with a chance to compete for up to $30,000 in the final pitch.
- Access co-working space and get a chance for dedicated office space in the Rose Innovation Hub on Queen’s Campus.
- Meet new people and be part of a community of like-minded founders and innovators.
Who We're Looking For
We are looking for innovators, dreamers and changemakers from any background with an interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, or social impact. You must be:
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A person who is broadly curious, coachable, and willing to wear multiple hats
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A person with the ability to effectively contribute to a multidisciplinary team
Program Timeline
Phase 1: Explore (January-March)
Candidates have several months to demonstrate their commitment to the entrepreneurial process by completing the training and progressing on their ideas' respective milestones. Participants will attend mandatory and optional in-person and virtual speaker sessions and participate in regular 3-2-1 pitch presentations about the work they are doing as they transform their ideas into scalable startups.
Guiding Questions:
- Who is my customer?
- What can I do for them?
Milestones:
- Make observations through interviews or some other means
- Clearly define and validate the problem you are solving by speaking to end users
- Validate or invalidate key assumptions which are the basis of creating the solution you want to work on
- Ideate – generate solutions to the problem you are solving
- Create a journey map of your end users’ experience using your solution
Phase 2: Ignite (May-August)
Participants who have excelled at the milestones set out in phase one will be selected to join this phase. Those who show initiative and dedication will have the option to work full-time in the DDQIC’s Rose Innovation Hub co-working space during the summer. Participants will attend mandatory and optional in-person and virtual speaker sessions and participate in regular 3-2-1 pitch presentations about the work they are doing as they transform their ideas into scalable startups.
Note: In Summer 2025, Phase 2 and 3 will be combined.
Guiding Questions:
- How does your end user acquire your solution?
- How will this be funded or become financially sustainable?
Milestones:
- Develop channels to market and reach out to any necessary partners
- Create a business model or a plan for funding your solution
- Prototype your solution in the simplest way possible that still allows you to generate meaningful feedback from end users
- Validate all critical assumptions by creating experiments and test your solution using your prototype
Phase 3: Launch (May - August)
During this phase, participants will get the opportunity to work on their ideas, access seed funding, attend mandatory and optional in-person and virtual speaker sessions, and participate in regular 3-2-1 pitch presentations about the work they are doing as they transform their ideas into scalable startups.
Guiding Questions:
- How do you execute your solution?
- How can you scale it?
Milestones:
- Pilot your solution in a more real life scenario
- Generate expressions of interest, end users, or customers
- Create a plan to scale
Important Dates
Deadline to Apply:
December 18, 2024 at midnight (11:59 PM EST) - Apply here.
Mandatory Hackathon/Bootcamp:
(In-person suggested, virtual available)
January 11 & 12, 2025