Eligibility Criteria

The Startup Garage application process will help founders move through each of the four phases of the program. Leveraging written applications, interviews and pitches, the application process will involve internal and external partners to help assess whether or not founders can move through the program.

  • • Must have a business idea

    • Must be able to attend all in-person sessions

    • Team must have at least one founder that is a current student, faculty member or researcher at the University of Ottawa

  • • Be able to articulate and prove there is a gap / problem through customer and partner conversations and market research.

    • Be able to build a Minimum Viable Product of the offering

    • Have message market fit for the solution (customer conversations, stakeholder conversations, industry conversations, etc).

    • Team must have at least one founder that is a current student, faculty member, researcher or alumni (within 5 years) of the University of Ottawa

  • • Be able to articulate and prove there is a compelling gap / problem

    • Demonstrate the ability to deliver on their product / service

    • Having a working Minimum Viable Product / prototype

    • Have early product market fit (first sale, pre-order, etc).

    • Has considered their go-to-market strategy and able to provide a high-level overview

    • Driven, coachable leadership team

    • Have dedicated and committed team members who can move the business forward. Ready to participate in a milestone-based program

    • Startup is incorporated

    • It is expected that founders in this circuit can commit their full attention to their startup. Therefore, at least one founder cannot hold a full-time job outside of running their company.

    • Team must have at least one founder that is a current student, faculty member, researcher or alumni (within 5 years) of the University of Ottawa

 

Qualities of a Successful Startup Garage Candidate

We have a group of external partners who support the entrepreneurial ecosystem or are entrepreneurs themselves that help us select companies that will move through the Circuits. The following list is what they will be looking for as you move through each Circuit.

  • Founder Qualities:

    • Has an Idea

    • Passionate

    • Availability

    • Commitment

  • Founder Qualities:

    • Professionalism

    • Open-mindedness

    • Self-Discipline

    • Persistence

    • Defined Problem to Solve

    Startup Qualities:

    • Defining their Customer Segments

    • Validation

    • Early Product Market Fit

    • Able to articulate the initial business model and assumptions made, with clear plan to test those assumptions.

    • Ability to take action

    Indicators for Success:

    • Have a Minimum Viable Product

    • Pilot with Minimum Viable Product

    • Conducted Market Research

    • Have feedback from customers / partners / stakeholders

    • Have a tech lead or path to find a tech lead.

    • Understanding of competition in the market.

  • Founder Qualities:

    • Ambition to Succeed

    • Dedication

    • Passion

    • Coachable

    Startup Qualities:

    • Sound Business Model

    • Knowledge of Competitors

    • Proof of Customer Discovery and Validation

    • Working Prototype

    Indicators for Success:

    • Proof of Concept in Simulated Environment

    • Team Roles & Responsibilities Established

    • Pilot with Prototype

    • If a patentable invention, clarity on Freedom to Operate or path to protection established.

    • Problem definition validated.

    • Customer segments identified.

    • Demonstrate customer or investor traction.

    • Have a tech lead (when applicable)

 

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