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- 2026
- 2025
- 2025 Chang Institute Idea Prize Winner
- Incubator Alumnus Kenny Tung
- From Transit to Transformation: Highlights from the Inaugural Catalyst Challenge
- Announcing Inaugural EIR Shiva Nanda
- Igniting Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Opportunity Fest 2025
- Designing the Future of Energy: Highlights from the Catalyst Challenge
- 2024
- MAIS Student Laila Shaheen Transforms the AI Landscape with Educator-based Venture
- Innovative use for ancient plant takes top prize in pitch competition
- Unlocking Entrepreneurial Potential at Opportunity Fest 2024
- Practicing Entrepreneurship for Career Readiness
- 2024 Year in Review
- Entrepreneurship Co-op empowers FHS student to expand non-profit program beyond Lower Mainland
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Mentor Meet
Explore your startup idea with one of our Mentor-In-Residences at any one of our Mentor Meet sessions! These 15鈥�20 minute conversations are designed for quick, feedback-focused conversations about your SPARK workbook, business idea, or early-stage venture.
These free sessions are offered virtually and are open exclusively to the entire 51社区黑料community (students, staff, faculty, and recent alumni). Please see mentor schedule for available meeting dates.
Not sure how to explain your idea quickly and effectively? We run Pitch Workshops throughout the semester where you鈥檒l learn how to structure and practice a clear, concise pitch. Check out our Events page to sign up for free.
Questions? Email cip_changinstitute@sfu.ca
What is Mentor Meet best used for?
- SPARK workbook feedback
- Validating your idea before you build
- Getting clear on your target customer
- Refining how you explain your idea
- Advice on what to do next
What can you expect?
- You鈥檝e only got 15鈥�20 minutes, so come prepared to explain your idea clearly and succinctly
- Bring 1鈥�2 specific questions or materials you鈥檇 like feedback on
- Mentors will give direct, practical input, so be ready to receive feedback
- Not every question can be fully resolved, the goal is to help you move forward
What is Mentor Meet not for?
- Networking requests or job referrals
- Industry or investor introductions
- Legal, tax, or accounting advice
- Ongoing mentorship beyond the 4 Mentor Meet sessions allocated per student per semester
- General 鈥渃offee chats鈥� or open-ended exploration. Mentor Meet is designed for feedback on an existing idea, not for discovering one
Schedule
You鈥檒l have 15-20 minutes with a Mentor-in-Residence (MIR) so maximize that time by booking your Mentor Meet slot ahead of time and prepare for your session.
Please note that some mentors require bookings to be made up to a week in advance.
Note: All sessions are virtual unless otherwise stated. Each participant is limited to 4 Mentor Meet bookings per semester.
While the Chang Institute engages over a dozen Mentors-in-Residence across its various programs, the MIRs below are currently available for Mentor Meet bookings.
Rachel Chase
Mondays 4:00 鈥� 5:00 PM (PST)
May: 11, 25
June: 15, 29
July: 13, 237
August: 10
Book a meeting
(book at least 1 day in advance)
Areas of specialization
-Market Research/Discovery
-Fundraising Strategy
-Ecosystem Building
-Business Strategy
-Building Initial StartUp Functions
Doug Fast
Fridays 11:00AM - 12:00PM (PST)
Book a meeting
(book at least 2 days in advance)
Areas of specialization
-Leadership development
-Embedded systems
-Product management
-Systematic Innovation
GARRY CHAN
Mondays 1:00 鈥� 2:00 PM (PST)
May: 11, 25
June: 8, 22
July: 6, 20
August: 10
Book a meeting
(book at least 7 days in advance)
Areas of specialization
-Business scaling
-Product strategy and management
-Customer value proposition
-AI-powered startups
MELODY LIM
Elizabeth Thorsen
Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00 PM (PST)
May: 14, 28
June: 11, 25
July: 9, 23
August: 6
Book a meeting
(book at least 1 day in advance)
Areas of specialization
-Sectors (Cleantech, CPG/Retail, High tech, Biotech, Finance, Agritech)
-Business Operations
-Marketing
-ESG (Internal Sustainability, Team & Culture, ESG Plan Development, Strategic Initiatives, KPI Setting/Measurement)
Shiva Nanda
Thursdays 4:00 鈥� 6:00 PM (PST)
Book a meeting
(book at least 3 days in advance)
Areas of specialization
-Sustainable & Circular Business Models
-Global Growth Strategy
-Startup Leadership & Operations
-Environmental Technology & Asset Recovery
Mentor Minute
A video series where Chang Institute current and past Mentors-in-Residence offer entrepreneurial advice, from tips on cultivating a good team dynamic to the first steps of finding funding 鈥� they are here to help YOU. With new videos launched periodically, new topics will be explored to ensure you start your business off on the right foot.