Partners & Funders
The Chang Institute's programs are provided at no charge to participants. In order to continue this valuable service and program delivery, we are reliant on the forward-thinking, entrepreneurial spirit and generosity of our corporate, foundation, private and government partners:
Founding Support
Institute Founders
The Chang Institute was founded through a transformational gift that underwrites our core mission and makes all of our programs possible.
Charles & Eve Chang
Institute Endowment
The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship was established through a landmark $10M endowment from Charles and Eve Chang. Their founding gift provides a platform for growing the entreprenuerial mindset at SFU — from courses and competitions to startup incubation — and has created lasting impact for thousands of SFU students.
Program Support
Program Funders
These partners provide dedicated, multi-year support for specific programs and initiatives across the Institute.
Genome BC
SFU Innovates — Life Sciences Stream
Now in its 10th year of partnership, Genome BC funds the SFU Innovates Life Sciences Stream.
John Dobson Foundation
Student Entrepreneurship Engagement
The John Dobson Foundation provides multi-year funding to support student entrepreneurship engagement activities, deepening student participation and community-building across our programs.
The Chin-Wei Foundation
SEED — Student Engagement Fund
A generous three-year commitment powers the SEED Student Engagement fund, expanding the Institute's ability to engage and support students across all faculties at SFU and launching a new program, Catalyst Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Frances & Samuel Belzberg Endowment
Technology Entrepreneurship @SFU
Sustained annual support for promoting, supporting and delivering Technology Entrepreneurship@SFU and its follow-on programming. TechE is a transformational course where teams of interdisciplinary students tackle real-world problems, design innovative solutions, and launch high-impact startups.
SFU Partner
Beedie School of Business
Academic & Institutional Partner
Beedie is a core institutional partner, supporting the integration of entrepreneurship education across SFU's academic programs and providing ongoing operational and strategic collaboration.
Student Opportunities
Student Opportunity Funding
These partners fund programs to give students hands-on entrepreneurial experience — whether through co-op placements and internships, funded capstones, or prototype/seed funding - that make it possible to try entrepreneurship regardless of their financial circumstances.
PEAK Products
eCo-op/eGrad · 10-year partner
A decade-long commitment from SFU Alumnus John Gross (Founder & CEO, Peak Products) to support eCo-op and eGrad, enabling SFU students to earn a full-time salary for a semester to work exclusively on building or launching their own business, supported within SFU's early-stage incubator.
Fort Capital
eCo-op
Multi-year funding for eCo-op, enabling SFU students working on climate solutions or technology ventures to earn a full-time salary for a semester to work exclusively on building or launching their own business, supported within SFU's early-stage incubator.
Spencer Creo Foundation
eCo-op & Funded Capstones
Supports both funded eCo-op placements and funded capstone projects, helping students access early-stage entrepreneurial experiences regardless of their circumstances.
Shiva Nanda
2026 eCo-op
Private donor committed to expanding student access to funded, entrepreneurial co-op opportunities at SFU.
The Sinclair Foundation
2026 eCo-op
Funding towards entrepreneurial co-op opportunities in honour of the 60th birthday of their friend Nancy MacKay of MacKay CEO Forums
Showcases
Prizes & Event Sponsors
These partners sponsor Idea Prize, Opportunity Fest, and other signature showcases that celebrate and reward entrepreneurial thinking.
Event Funder & Named Award - Idea Prize
Thomas Kineshanko Memorial Entrepreneurial Prize
Established by his family to honour Tom's legacy, this prize supports students who demonstrate creativity, courage, and a willingness to challenge conventional thinking through entrepreneurship. Through its connection to the SFU Idea Prize, the award encourages students at the earliest stages of their entrepreneurial journey to take intellectual risks, pursue bold ideas, and trust their capacity to imagine new solutions.
Learn more →Event Sponsor - Opportunity Fest 2026
Prospera Credit Union
Prospera's sponsorship brings Opportunity Fest to life — the Chang Institute's annual showcase of entrepreneurial class projects, connecting students with mentors and the broader BC innovation community.
Named Award - Idea Prize
SFU Alumni
SFU Alumni sponsors an annual named prize, "The Patrick Lougheed Alumni Founder", within the Chang Institute's annual Idea Prize competition, reflecting alumni commitment to supporting the next generation of SFU student entrepreneurs.