A multi-event series, our FemSTEM program looks to inspire, engage, and celebrate women entrepreneurs.
Our goal at H2i is to grow the infrastructure, practice, and local culture to translate discoveries and ideas into problem solving designs, services and product. We do this through building connections, linking people with mentors, resources, researchers, key opinion leaders, and professionals to help them translate, defuse, and scale discoveries.
With this simple but extraordinarily effective model, we’ve been able to support a record number of ventures commercializing their health innovations.
FemSTEM is our dedicated program focused on fostering an increasingly diverse and inclusive community. We are committed to supporting women and building valuable, diverse connections, uplifting women in STEM who are looking to create their own business.
FemSTEM runs between January and March each year with panels, fireside talks, and a pitch competition.
FemSTEM 2025 Dates:
Kick Off & Fireside Panel:
Wednesday January 15th, 3:30 – 5:00 PM ET (Zoom) – Registration coming soon!
Fireside Talks:
February – March | Fireside at FemSTEM
Pitch Event :
January | Call for Applications
March | 2025 FemSTEM Pitch Competition
Please read the following eligibility criteria carefully. Only ventures that meet all of the below criteria will be considered for the competition. Ventures must:
- Be innovating within the health space
- Have at least one co-founder or long-term team member who self-identifies as a woman
- Have at least one co-founder/team member who is a current University of Toronto student (undergraduate or graduate)
- Have a pitch presenter available who self-identifies as a woman
- Have had at least one team member attend at least two FemSTEM events (Kick Off, Fireside Chats)
- Winners from past FemSTEM Pitch Competitions (Winner and Runners Up) are NOT eligible to compete again. Finalists who competed but did not place are eligible.
We encourage all interested ventures to join the H2i community as client companies to access the wealth of mentorship resources we offer.
In the spring of 2021, we checked in with our women founders to ask how we could further support them. The resounding response was to expand our FemSTEM programming to be year-round, with a focus on one-on-one mentorship from women founders and networking opportunities.
As a direct result of this, H2i launched FemSTEM mentoring in early 2022, connecting H2i women founders seeking mentorship from women, with leading experts in their areas of need and focus.
To connect with a FemSTEM Mentor, talk to your lead mentor or email our FemSTEM lead at h2i.international@utoronto.ca.