News Summary

The Schulich Venture Academy (SVA), launched by York University’s Schulich School of Business, aims to address the upskilling needs of Canadian tech startups. Since its inception in 2023, SVA has trained over 200 tech founders and professionals through three successful cohorts. The program, co-created by Cherry Rose Tan and Chris Carder, provides courses led by experienced Canadian operators. It is designed to fill a market gap in mentorship and training for scaling businesses. Recently, SVA secured over $3 million CAD from the Government of Canada via FedDev Ontario to further its mission, expecting to impact nearly 500 businesses and 1,000 individuals. Notably, the academy plans to introduce three new courses by 2029, focusing on sectors like artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and cleantech. SVA courses, which are six-week long with live virtual instruction, offer significant opportunities for students to gain practical insights and achieve career growth. Ontario participants can access the programs at a subsidized fee, with scholarships available for those outside the province. SVA continues to recruit for its fourth cohort, introducing a new venture sales course aimed at aspiring sales leaders and founders.