CATALYST - an entrepreneurship challenge
Looking for an introduction to entrepreneurship but don't yet have your own idea?
The Chang Institute's Entrepreneurship Challenges will guide you through development of innovative solutions to real issues faced by community partners. Through workshops, an at-your-own pace workbook, mentoring, and other tools, over 6-8 weeks you (as an individual or team) will explore a problem space and opportunities for change, and develop a potential solution to pitch to a panel of industry experts.
For a Spring 2025 pilot, the Chang Institute collaborated with to offer the first of these challenges, "Catalyst", with community partner .
This Fall 2025, the Chang Institute will be collaborating with and our community partner .
Eligibility: All SFU registered students, staff, faculty, and alumni within 2 years, and their team partners (each team must have at least 1 SFU community member)
SFU’s Catalyst Entrepreneurship Challenge is an initiative based on open-source discussion, encouraging an open exchange of ideas for both SFU students and our community partner's members. Any contributions made here may be freely used by any participant.
Cost: None
Time Period: 6 weeks over October-November 2025
Time Commitment:
- Attend the in-person kick-off event
- 2 workshops
- Final round & closing cermony
- Complete the challenge workbook, SPARK (online, on your own time).
- Optional pitch practice, additional mentoring and events.
Perks:
- Students are eligible for Co-Curricular Record (CCR)
- Cash prizes for challenge winners
- Skills training and development of your entrepreneurial mindset
- An introduction to SFU's entrepreneurship eco-system
- Network with peers and industry mentors / partners
Key Dates
All events held at SFU Burnaby
Note: Dates and times are subject to change
- Kickoff Event – Friday, October 17, 2025
- Teams Check-in – Week of Oct 20
- Workshop 1 – Week of Oct 27
- Teams Check-in – Week of Nov 3
- Workshop 2 – Week of Nov 10
- Final Pitches & Awards – Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Registration
*Please note that applications close October 14th @ 11:59PM
Fall 2025 Community Partner
Our Fall 2025 Community Partner is Moment Energy!
The team are alumni from our incubator program, who have successfully made their place in the field of energy storage. They strive to provide greater access to renewable and reliable energy storage. As creators of battery units that can be used in a variety of applications, they are currently focused on storing energy for offgrid, end of grid customers and plan on powering remote communities in the future.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact eec_changinstitute@sfu.ca if we you have any questions or would like to learn more.