LaunchPad

LaunchPad is a program for ambitious like-minded students eager to validate, launch, and build their ideas. This driven group of Mount Royal students hold each other accountable to goals, foster peer-to-peer mentorship, receive guidance from industry experts, and have opportunities for funding. LaunchPad fosters a sense of belonging outside the class by creating a safe space for students to ask questions and fail with the support of the Institute and their peers.

Impact:

$91,600

in awards granted

168

students engaged

67

alumni members 75 community members engaged 370+ hours of personalized mentorship and coaching

Research

Entrepreneurial talent is critical to the growth and innovation of firms and Postsecondary Institutions contribute to the development of the entrepreneurial talent that the economy requires. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the impact of entrepreneurship education, specifically co-curricular programs and their ability to develop competences. In Spring 2019, the Institute’s Jenn MacDonald initiated an academic research project, alongside Dr. David Finch and Research Assistant, Stephanie Ross, to explore how participation in the LaunchPad program affords entrepreneurial learning outcomes through the development of competencies. The research engaged 30 founders across the eight-year history of the LaunchPad program. While the research publication is expected in 2021, early insights reinforce the value of our mentor-centred approach that is core to the LaunchPad program.

JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition

The JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition is Mount Royal University’s largest student entrepreneurship celebration of the year. This year was unprecedented in a lot of ways, including this event.

Since 2013, students and recent alumni from across campus have pitched their ventures for the chance to win their share of up to $80,000 in cash and in-kind services. This celebration has grown to a 300+ person event filled with eager community members, faculty, fellow students, and investors interested in hearing about the next great idea.

This year, in light of the pandemic, the event had to adapt to a quarantine world. The seven student founders selected to participate adapted on the fly and pitched digitally to a panel of esteemed judges. Thank you to our students for your adaptability, and to our judges, Nan Eskenazi, Danny Way, Christy Lane, and Kevin Franco for supporting our students digitally this year.

2020 Ventures

It’s Legit is an authentication service for the booming sneaker reselling industry. Founded by Matt S., It’s Legit mitigates risk for individuals investing in the shoe resale market by providing fast and accurate legitimacy checks. Awarded: $10,000 JMH & Co.; A spot in Platform Calgary’s Student Summer Incubator

Karina Zapata and Sarah Green are the Founders of Femme Handbook. Femme Handbook is a print magazine dedicated to providing women with a platform to share their vulnerable stories through creative mediums. Awarded: $10,000 JMH & Co.

Ryan Doel is the Founder of Paintabotics, a robotic painting solution for the auto body industry. Through automation, Paintabotics takes painters out of the toxic painting environment, reducing costs and increasing quality. Awarded: $10,000 JMH & Co.; $15,000 LaBarge Weinstein

Brett Miller is the Founder of Dodge Queue. Dodge Queue is an anti-bullying platform tackling verbal abuse in online gaming by giving players control over who they play with. Awarded: $5,000 Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; A spot in Platform Calgary’s Student Summer Incubator

Home Service is a SaaS solution for the home building industry. Founded by Peter Morrison, Home Service tackles the inefficiencies in the management of home warranties and trade workers. Awarded: $5,000 Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Quest Climbing Innovations creates the ultimate home play structure for families. Founded by Logan Grasby, Quest Climbing builds customizable climbing walls that can be installed easily in any home. Awarded: $10,000 JMH & Co.; $15,000 Grant Design

Donors

The LaunchPad Program would not be possible without the enthusiasm and generosity of our donors including JMH & Co, LaBarge Weinstein, Grant Design and Platform Calgary.

JMH & Co is a regional accounting firm with offices in Calgary, Brooks and Medicine Hat who are having an oversized impact on their communities. Starting in 2012, JMH & Co has committed $550,000 over 10 years to the LaunchPad Program. Each year at the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition the Institute has the honour of giving away $40,000 in JMH & Co awards to Mount Royal founders.

For three years in a row, LaBarge Weinstein has donated $15,000 in-kind legal services to the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition. Having a good lawyer at your side is extremely valuable when starting a business and LaBarge Weinstein is one of the best startup law firms in the country.

Aislinn Grant and her newly launched branding firm, Grant Design, returned as a donor this year. Grant Design donated $15,000 in-kind professional branding and design services to the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition. The Institute is especially proud to have Grant Design as a donor as founder Aislinn Grant was one of the very first LaunchPad participants.

New to supporting the JMH LaunchPad Pitch Competition this year was Platform Calgary. Two funded spots in Platform’s newly launched Student Summer Incubator Program were awarded to support the continued acceleration of student founders. While two funded spots were awarded, three additional Mount Royal student founders were also accepted into the program this summer.

“Year after year, I am so impressed by the creativity and courage of students in the LaunchPad program. The city is in good hands with this next generation of entrepreneurs. I have had the pleasure and rewards of volunteering with these energized students.”