Idea Prize
INVALUABLE INDUSTRY FEEDBACK, PITCH PRACTICE & CASH PRIZES!
The annual Idea Prize competition celebrates innovative concepts and ideas from the Simon Fraser University community, emphasizing the potential of startups and their founders, based on their vision and execution plan for developing their idea.
Competitors receive support and training through dedicated workshops, peer networking and coaching sessions from Chang Institute mentors prior to finals in March.
Idea Prize is open to ideas, concepts, and early-stage startups founded by SFU students (undergrad, grad, professional programs) as well as to staff, faculty and recent alumni (within 2 years of graduation), and co-founders.
Competitors will be judged over two rounds by panels of industry experts, on the quality of their new or existing business concept, early traction, and founder focus.
Past Idea Prize winners include: CPQ Hero, Fingerprint Technologies, One Iota Performance, Employ to Empower, GameSeta (acquired by PlayVS), Pondr, Pulse Tofu, Livshows, Labora
APPLICATIONS OPEN JANUARY 13 2026!
*More details to come.
Clicking below for a sample pdf form of the Idea Prize 2025 Application. This is a sample only and will not be accepted as an application.
2026 KEY DATES
Info Session: February4, 2026, 12:30-1:30pm.
*Idea Prize 2025 Workshops: Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
- Registration Link: Coming Soon
*Pitch Socials: TBA
Preliminary & Final Dates
Idea Prize Preliminary Virtual Pitch-Offs (virtual): Monday, March 9, 2026 - Wednesday March 11, 2026.
*Idea Prize Finals & Awards (in-person): Tuesday, March 31, 2026
*Dates are tentative, subject to change, and times are TBA
To be eligible to receive award(s), applicants (including at least one SFU-connected founder) MUST be available to compete in the in-person Final Round on March 31, 2026 for the Idea Prize Finals.
Competition Eligibility for 2026
** Ventures do NOT need to be incorporated in order to compete. **
ELIGIBILITY
- Less than 1 year of operations (from date of registration / incorporation, first sale, or other significant activity like a website launch)
- Under $5,000 revenue
- Under $25,000 combined non-dilutive / dilutive investment (excluding research grants or competition prizes)
- At least 25% of intended or current ownership must be held by a member of the SFU community
- Startup may be registered or incorporated as a not-for-profit, co-op, business, or be a non-formalized research, class or other team project
- All industries and sectors welcome.
- Other eligibility factors:
- Past Idea Prize winners are not eligible to compete with the same idea/startup.
- Current Chang Institute incubator participants can not apply with their incubator-supported startup, but team members CAN apply with a NEW idea/startup
Note: The Director(s) of the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship reserves the right to make the final determination of the eligibility of submitted ideas and business ventures. More eligibility/criteria is available in the application form.
PRIZES for 2026
- More information to come
PAST WINNERS
MEET THE IDEA PRIZE 2025 WINNERS
TOP IDEA PRIZE 2025 - $5,000
CPQ Hero
Turns meeting transcripts into quotes, all within your existing tools.
SECOND PLACE - $2,000
Gear2Peer
Peer-to-peer outdoor gear rental marketplace that makes adventure more accessible, affordable, and sustainable.
THIRD PLACE - $1,000
Home Keep
A premium subscription service that provides unlimited, stress-free home maintenance—handling everything from routine handyman tasks to urgent HVAC and plumbing repairs
Patrick Lougheed SFU Alumni Founder Award - $2,500
Awarded to Royce Sin of Solo Pilot
AI-powered solution for streamlined operations, automating tasks like marketing, client management, and invoicing to save time, earn more, and be competitive