BEST Startup Experience 2025 - Transform your Idea into a Business

The BEST Startup Experience 2025 is a multi-disciplinary experiential learning opportunity that empowers students to collaborate, create, and connect while building a business from an idea.

We encourage you to consider tackling one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SGDs), tackling these challenges is a key objective at the Lassonde School of Engineering as we work to create a better world for all.

Here’s what you’ll gain from the BEST Startup Experience:

• Discover your strengths and interests while enriching your university experience
• Meet new people who share your curiosity and form lasting connections
• Explore career possibilities and grow your professional network
• Tackle real-life challenges and develop valuable skills like teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving
• Learn how to communicate your ideas effectively by building a business case and practicing your pitch

Whether you're new to this type of activity or looking to try something different, the BEST Startup Experience is a supportive space to step out of your comfort zone and have fun while learning.

Winners will not only receive monetary prizes—$1,500 for 1st place, $1,000 for 2nd place, and $600 for 3rd place—but will also gain access to invaluable resources through the BEST Program. These include mentorship and industry connections to help elevate their projects to the next level.

Students will have access to mentors, workshops, startup founders & co-founders to connect and learn from.

Who can apply?

Participation is open to all post-secondary students (upper-year undergraduates, Master's, and Ph.D. students) who are eager to collaborate, create, and connect in multidisciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions.

Note: You need to register individually for this event and add your team name and team members when filling out the registration form.

Registration Fee

There is a $10 fee to ensure student commitment because there are quite a lot of teamwork activities during the event that requires your full commitment so you can create a great project in collaboration with your team.This fee will be fully refunded upon completing the deliverables and attending all three days. Any refund requests have to be submitted before February 26th at 11:59PM. Refund requests past that deadline will not be accommodated.

Schedule

Location: Bergeron Building

• Friday, March 7, 2025 from 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm: Check in|Opening Ceremony|Working on project with teams from Opportunity Discovery to How Might We Statement
• Saturday, March 8, 2025 from 9:30 am – 8:00 pm: Working on Project with teams from Solution Ideation to Pitching
• Sunday, March 9, 2025 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Preliminary Judging|Closing Ceremony

More details:BEST Lassonde

Questions: best@lassonde.yorku.ca

BEST Program- Lassonde School of Engineering | York University