Asper School of Business

Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator Course

Take your business to new heights in this six week accelerator course! Experience hands-on learning with practical tools, real-life case studies, and insights from instructors with over 13 years of expertise in social entrepreneurship.

Applications open March 18, 2026! 

Applications open March 18, 2026
Students sitting in the Asper School of Business
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    Open to all UM Students

    Students from all faculties are welcome to apply

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    Virtual Classes Every Wednesday

    7:00pm - 8:30pm on zoom

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    Recorded Sessions

    Learn at your convenience with pre-recorded sessions, question-and-answer classics, and recorded classes for your review and learning.

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    $2,500 in prizes

    Added prize money to help you launch your social enterprise idea

About The Course

Students studying in the Asper School of Business

What is the Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator Course?

This six-week accelerator course offered in partnership with the Stu Clark Centre and Trico Charitable Foundation has been designed to give UM students the opportunity to take their business ideas to the next level, explore the impact of their businesses, and make a difference. 

Plus, students will have the opportunity to pitch for $2,500 in cash prizes!

Open to all UM students of all faculties

 

Applications opening March 18, 2026

Course Experience

How does it work? 

Over six weeks, students will attend online classes every Wednesday from 7:00pm - 8:30pm with the Trico Charitable Foundation. 

In each of these classes, new topics will be covered as seen in the course weekly schedule below. Students will have the opportunity in each class to ask questions, utilize tool demonstrations, and dive into 8 social enterprises. 

At the end of the course, students will participate in a pitch competition for $2,500 in cash prizes. 

What will you have access to? 

  • 4.4 hours of recorded class material
  • Weekly online meetings that focus on dialogue and practical demonstrations
  • Case studies of real world social enterprises
  • Tools to dig deep into your own ideas 

At the end of this course upon completion, you will receive a certificate and pitch for $2,500 in cash prizes. 

Students studying in the Asper School of Business
Students studying in the Asper School of Business

Course Application Details

Applications opening March 18, 2026

Applications Opening Soon! 

Are you ready to make an impact with your business idea as a force for good?

Mark your calendars for March 18, 2026 where applications will open for this NEW Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator Program, where you will get practical tools and examples of what you can achieve in entrepreneurship.

Open to all University of Manitoba students. 

Stay tuned for March 18! 

Stu Clark Centre Accelerator Course Opening Soon

Course Weekly Schedule

  • Week 1: May 27, 2026

    Orientation, Recap of the Basics and Their Limits

    Meet and greet your instructor, review beginning content, and ask questions about the program.

  • Week 2: June 3, 2026

    Inspiring You: What is possible with P.I.E.S

    Recap how business models can bring Profit, Innovation, Efficiency, and Social Impact to addressing the world’s challenges. A deep dive on two examples shows how this can be done at scale.

  • Week 3: June 10, 2026

    Empowering You (Part 1): 3 Tools

    Review the tools that help you navigate areas that typically trip up social entrepreneurs: how everything fits together, options for impact, and the surprisingly tricky (and contentious) idea of profiting from social impact.

  • Week 4: June 17, 2026

    Empowering You (Part 2): More Tools + Pitch Preparation

    Recap the tool that addresses the most difficult, yet overlooked, issue of all: how the social and entrepreneurial actually work together. A deep dive on two more examples shows how this can be done at scale. Plus, groundwork for your final pitch with expectations, structure, and evaluation criteria.

  • Week 5: June 24, 2026

    Pitch Submission and Judging

    Participants submit their video pitches. Judges review ventures based on impact clarity, financial viability, and overall feasibility.

  • Week 6: July 8, 2026

    Winners Announcement

    Celebration of participant progress and announcement of winning ventures. Recap key takeaways and discuss next steps for further development.

Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship
Room 212 Drake Centre 
181 Freedman Cres.
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5V4

Ben.Isakov@umanitoba.ca
204-474-8443