Experience Entrepreneurship.
Drive Innovation.
Make Change.
The Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Social Impact (CEISI) is proud to partner with Experience Ventures (EV), powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary.
Supported by the Government of Canada, EV is a unique, project-based program that offers impact challenges and national work-integrated learning placements. It connects post-secondary students with real-world innovators through entrepreneurial projects, helping them develop essential skills such as digital literacy, agile thinking, creativity, adaptability, social and cultural awareness, and effective communication.
Entrepreneurial thinking means creatively solving problems and finding innovative solutions, whether in growing startups or established organizations. It emphasizes taking initiative, collaborating across disciplines, and driving meaningful change. Through this program, students are empowered to become changemakers and make a real impact.
The goal of the initiative is to help college and university students become “future ready” by learning the skills and mindset to thrive in the new world of work, while enabling ventures to connect with diverse talent and fresh perspectives to drive innovation.
Eligible students will receive an honorarium upon successful completion of their project. The amount awarded varies based on the type of project and the level of participation.
Student Opportunities
I-WIL: Project Impact
Immerse Yourself in Real-World Challenges and step beyond the classroom and into dynamic, industry-led projects designed by partner organizations. These hands-on experiences empower you to sharpen practical skills, build professional connections, and translate academic learning into impactful contributions.
Breakdown
- Approximately 80 hours over the course of a semester
- Open to domestic undergraduate students attending Queen’s University
- Projects will be scheduled to run at various times from September through February
- Successful participants receive an $825 honorarium upon program completion
I-WIL: Disruption Lab
Enter into the high-energy Disruption Lab and team up with peers to hack at real problems faced by our host organizations. In this fast-paced, collaborative environment, you’ll dive into challenges, explore emerging trends, understand the environment and pitch your bold, creative, outside-the-box recommendations.
You will sharpen your critical thinking, and gain hands-on experience in innovation strategy. It’s your chance to make an impact, build your skills, and show what you can do—under real-world pressure, with real-world relevance.
Breakdown
- Approximately 16 hours of participation
- Open to domestic undergraduate students attending Queen’s University
- Scheduled for January 2026
- Successful participants receive an $325 stipend upon successful completion
I-WIL: Innovation Challenge
Ready to tackle real-world challenges and make a lasting impact? Join a part-time, multi-week innovation challenge where you and your team will respond to a prompt from a real organization facing a pressing social, business, design, or community issue. Collaborate with multidisciplinary students from across the community or country to craft bold, creative, and research-driven solutions.
Throughout the experience, you will learn aspects of design thinking, problem validation, and pitching —building essential skills for innovation and project development. The challenge culminates in a pitch competition judged by industry professionals, giving you the chance to showcase your ideas, gain exposure, and connect with experts.
Breakdown
- Duration of 40 hours expected for completion
- Open to domestic undergraduate students attending Queen’s University
- Project will be scheduled to run at a time to be determined from September through February
- Participants receive a $525 honorarium upon successful completion
I-WIL: Mind Fusion
Are you game for a cross-disciplinary challenge where you’ll team up with students from different fields to solve complex, real-world problems for leading organizations? Discover how your unique expertise contributes to broader, impactful solutions—and learn to collaborate across skill sets in a dynamic, hands-on environment.
Whether you're studying engineering, business, health, social sciences, education, or any other academic discipline, this is your chance to apply what you know, learn what you don’t, and make a real difference.
Breakdown
- Duration of 80 hours expected for completion
- Open to domestic undergraduate students attending Queen’s University
- Project will be scheduled to run at a time to be determined from September through February
- Participants receive a $825 honorarium upon successful completion
Ready to Register?
Complete the form below to apply for one of the Experience Ventures opportunities.
Register NowDisclaimer: Students can only participate in one Experience Ventures opportunity per calendar year. Program details, including eligibility, duration, and stipend, are subject to change at the discretion of the Program. Please note that due to the volume of applications, only selected candidates will be contacted.
Organization Opportunities
I-WIL: Project Impact
As a host organization, you will propose a real-world project that aligns with your business goals. We will match you with talented students from a range of disciplines and backgrounds that will bring diverse perspectives and relevant skills to your challenge. Projects are part-time, allowing students to contribute meaningfully while balancing their academic commitments.
Breakdown
- Projects run for approximately 40 hours, typically completed over 6–8 weeks between September and February.
- Open to Queen’s University undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.
- Organizations provide a clearly scoped project and dedicate time for check-ins, guidance, and feedback throughout.
- Students work independently or in small teams, supported by program staff.
- No cost to participate—your time and mentorship are the key contributions.
- Ideal for organizations seeking fresh thinking, research, communications, or strategy support on a specific initiative.
I-WIL: Venture Rotation
Host short-term, high-impact projects for interdisciplinary students. Through our rotational program, your organization becomes part of a dynamic network where students collaborate with multiple businesses throughout the semester—bringing fresh ideas, energy, and problem-solving skills to each engagement.
Breakdown
- Projects run for approximately 80 hours, typically completed over 6–8 weeks between September and February.
- Open to Queen’s University undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.
- Organizations provide a clearly scoped project and dedicate time for check-ins, guidance, and feedback throughout.
- Students work independently or in small teams, supported by program staff.
- No cost to participate—your time and mentorship are the key contributions.
- Ideal for organizations seeking fresh thinking, research, communications, or strategy support on a specific initiative.
I-WIL: Disruption Lab
Partner with us and step into the Disruption Lab—a student-powered innovation sprint where your organization’s real-world challenge becomes the foundation for bold, creative solutions.
We match your project with cross-disciplinary student teams ready to dive deep, explore emerging trends, and pitch outside-the-box recommendations to the problems you face. In this fast-paced, facilitated environment, students sharpen their critical thinking and apply innovation strategies to bring fresh perspectives and actionable ideas.
Breakdown
- Projects run for approximately 16 hours, typically completed over 1–2 weeks between September and February.
- Open to Queen’s University undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.
- Organizations provide a clearly scoped project and dedicate time for check-ins, guidance, and feedback throughout.
- Students work independently or in small teams, supported by program staff.
- No cost to participate—your time and mentorship are the key contributions.
- Ideal for organizations seeking fresh thinking, research, communications, or strategy support on a specific initiative.
I-WIL: Innovation Challenge
Have a pressing challenge in your organization? Let top student talent take it on.
Through our multi-week, part-time innovation challenge, your organization presents a real-world issue, and we match you with multidisciplinary student teams ready to dive into the problems. These students bring fresh perspectives, research-driven thinking, and creativity to build actionable solutions tailored to your company's needs.
As they begin to understand the concepts of design thinking, problem validation, and pitching, your organization benefits from:
- Creative, outside-the-box recommendations
- Insights from across disciplines
- Exposure to emerging trends and new approaches
- A final pitch competition judged by leading experts and representatives of your company
Breakdown
- Projects run for approximately 40 hours, typically completed over 6–8 weeks between September and February.
- Open to Queen’s University undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.
- Organizations provide a clearly scoped project and dedicate time for check-ins, guidance, and feedback throughout.
- Students work independently or in small teams, supported by program staff.
- No cost to participate—your time and mentorship are the key contributions.
- Ideal for organizations seeking fresh thinking, research, communications, or strategy support on a specific initiative.
I-WIL: Mind Fusion
Collaborate with high-performing student teams from multiple academic disciplines to solve real-world challenges facing your organization. These project-based partnerships allow companies to tap into fresh thinking, diverse skill sets, and emerging talent—while contributing to experiential learning. Gain cross-functional insights from students in fields like engineering, business, arts and science, and education.
Breakdown
- Projects run for approximately 80 hours, typically completed over 6–8 weeks between September and February.
- Open to Queen’s University undergraduate students from a range of academic backgrounds.
- Organizations provide a clearly scoped project and dedicate time for check-ins, guidance, and feedback throughout.
- Students work in a small team, supported by program staff.
- No cost to participate—your time and mentorship are the key contributions.
- Ideal for organizations seeking fresh thinking, research, communications, or strategy support on a specific initiative.
Ready to Register?
Complete the form below to supply a project for one of the Experience Ventures opportunities.
Register NowBenefits & Incentives
Collaborate
Collaborate in specialized teams to develop complete, actionable solutions addressing real-world challenges.
Get Hands-On
Gain important hands-on experience through workshops, mentorship, and project development.
Build Your Network
Engage with industry professionals and receive guidance on refining and advancing your solutions.
Access Innovative Solutions
Gain fresh perspectives and actionable ideas from student teams working on your organization’s real-world challenges.
Talent Engagement
Connect with motivated students who will bring creativity, technical skills, and diverse thinking to your project.
Community Contribution
Support the development of future leaders while advancing solutions that may benefit your organization and the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply to Experience Ventures?
You can find the application link for each program on our website. Please note that not all programs are open for intake at the same time. Applications for additional Experience Ventures programs will be opened during the Fall and Winter semesters.
Who is eligible to participate in Experience Ventures?
Experience Ventures is open to all domestic students that are currently enrolled in a publicly funded post-secondary institution. Unfortunately, international students are not eligible for the Experience Ventures payments currently.
What does the acceptance application look like for Experience Ventures?
The team at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact are seeking eager students that are interested in learning more about entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact. You do not need to have a background in either topic area to be eligible, all students are welcome to apply. Please note that there are limited spots available per academic year.
What is the compensation for participating in Experience Ventures' programs?
Experience Ventures offers compensation for each program type. The compensation amount will vary depending on the type of experience and the time commitment. Refer to the specific opportunities to learn more about the compensation that is available.
When do I receive compensation for my participation in Experience Ventures?
You will receive your payment approximately 8-10 weeks after completing the Experience Ventures opportunity. You will be required to complete all aspects of the program to be eligible for compensation.
How is Experience Ventures different from a job?
Experience Ventures is a short-term engagement in the world of innovation, entrepreneurship, and social impact. Experience Ventures is like an internship or co-op placement.
How is Experience Ventures different from other Work-Integrated Experiences?
Experience Ventures opportunities do not need to be related to your field of study, which provides students with unique learning opportunities. All Experience Ventures programs are non-academic and will not provide any academic credits.
Can I still participate in Experience Ventures if I have no formal experiential learning option in my program?
Absolutely, Experience Ventures operates separate from any other for-credit experiential learning program, so everyone is welcome to participate.
Do I get an academic credit for participating in Experience Ventures?
No, Experience Ventures is a non-academic program and is viewed as an extracurricular opportunity.
Can I do more than one experiential learning placement?
Students are only eligible to participate in one Experience Ventures opportunity per academic year. If you participated in an experience last year you are eligible to participate again the following year.
Ready to get involved?
Complete and submit the following application to register your interest in participating. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact.
Student Registration
Ready to get involved?
Complete and submit the following project proposal. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Social Impact.