Innovation OnBoard: U of T’s Student-Led Launchpad for the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs
Starting a company is hard. The gap between an idea and a real-world business is enormous—filled with unknowns, obstacles, and a lot of trial and error. Students at University of Toronto created their own chapter of Innovation OnBoard (IOB), to close that gap and empower their fellow students to create impact through innovation.
IOB U of T’s power comes from being student-led—driven by the creativity, boldness, and ambition of students who are shaping the future. This isn’t just a program; it’s a launchpad powered by the energy of a community that dares to challenge the status quo, rethink what’s possible, and build the next wave of innovation. A place where ambitious students from diverse backgrounds come together, learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, and turn ideas into viable ventures. With a mix of high-impact workshops, top-tier mentorship, and a two-round pitch competition, IOB is the program that gets students from zero to one in the startup world.
The Program: Where Ideas Meet Execution
The magic of IOB lies in its structure. Throughout the academic year, students participate in hands-on workshops that teach the core skills needed to build a startup—team building, problem framing, market validation, and pitching.
One highlight event was Co-Founder’s Day, where IOB used a speed-dating format to bring together like-minded individuals. The session led to the formation of several teams that went on to compete in the pitch competition, turning shared ideas into tangible opportunities.
Learning in a vacuum isn’t enough. That’s why IOB creates an ecosystem where students connect with U of T’s leading incubators, like the Health Innovation Hub (H2i), UTEST, and the Hatchery, gaining access to resources that accelerate their growth.
The culmination of the program is their flagship two-round pitch competition, where teams compete for a shot at funding and mentorship. But unlike traditional business plan contests, IOB prioritizes real-world execution over theoretical ideas. Every participating team got paired with an industry mentor, ensuring they receive strategic feedback and guidance to refine their venture before facing the judges.
The first round of the pitch competition consisted of an Innovation Fair, where 32 teams presented their concept and venture through poster presentations, evaluated by a team of industry experts as judges. Nine teams were selected to move onto the live pitch competition, hosted the following week. Watch a video recap of the Innovation Fair here!
This Year’s Success: Big Wins, Bigger Momentum
IOB is growing fast. This year alone, over 600 students participated in the program—attending workshops, finding co-founders, and refining their business ideas. The results? A lineup of impressive startups that could shape the future of innovation.
The winners of the Pitch Competition were:
🥇 CELLECT Laboratories – Ibukun Elebute, Kirk Geier, PhD, and Paula Duru
🥈 VRIT – Avantika Vaidya, M.Eng, and Sushant Singh
🥉 aiko. – Anmol Mahajan, Catherine Xiong, and Selena Lombardi
Watch a video recap of the final pitch competition here!
IOB isn’t just about the winners—it’s about the ecosystem it’s building. Even teams that didn’t place are continuing to refine their ideas, proving that IOB’s impact extends far beyond a single event. Following IOB’s pitch competition, many teams have participated in other competitions, including the early-stage category of the Desjardins Startup Prize—the largest pitch competition at UofT. Notably, VRIT secured third place, while Medium AI, whose team met through the Co-founder’s Day, achieved second place. The momentum is real, and the entrepreneurial fire is spreading.
What’s Next for IOB?
This year, IOB saw brilliant scientific ideas—but many lacked a clear market strategy. That’s why the next step is to bridge the gap between technical expertise and business acumen. By strengthening ties with the Rotman School of Management, IOB is set to connect scientists, engineers, and business leaders like never before. The goal? More startups that don’t just set out to solve big problems but also scale into successful companies.
If you’re a U of T student with an idea, this is your chance. Innovation OnBoard is where you’ll find your co-founder, get real-world mentorship, and take the first step toward building something impactful. The next generation of game-changing startups is being built right now at U of T—will you be part of it?
Join the movement. Build something that matters. Stay up-to-date with Innovation OnBoard U of T’s programming by followed them on LinkedIn or emailing innovationboard.uoft@gmail.com to be added to their mailing list.