Student Entrepreneur National Competition

The Student Entrepreneur National Competition is one of the largest national programs to focus solely on full-time post-secondary student entrepreneurs in Canada. It recognizes and rewards student entrepreneurs from across the country for their dedication and ambition, while offering support to ensure the success of their business.

Since 1997 Enactus Canada has hosted this competition to celebrate the commitment, determination, and achievements of student entrepreneurs. This competition is open to full-time students at Canadian universities and colleges who are simultaneously operating their businesses. To celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit of post-secondary student entrepreneurs, Enactus Canada runs the Student Entrepreneur National Competition. This competition highlights the success of full-time students operating businesses.

Every year, student entrepreneurs present their businesses to panels of Canada’s industry leaders in national competitions in order to be named Student Entrepreneur National Champion.

Learn more about previous winners of the Student Entrepreneur National Competition. Eligibility: To be eligible for the award, students and their businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Be a full-time undergraduate and/or graduate student at a Canadian university or college for the current academic year. Students must be enrolled full-time in at least two of three semesters between May 2024 and April 2025 to be eligible for the competition.

• Be a founder and have at least 25% ownership of the company with no other individual or group with greater ownership, and must be the individual primarily responsible for the business’ operation.

• Have not been a previous National Champion of this competition or competed in the Final Round of the Student Entrepreneur National Competition in the previous school year.

  
  

Competition details: Nomination and Application Process:

• For all competition details, please reference our 2024-2025 Student Entrepreneur Handbook.

• In the Fall of every year, nominations for the Student Entrepreneur National Competition are accepted through an online nomination process. The nomination deadline is December 5, 2024 by 11:59PM ET.

• Upon nomination, nominees receive an application via email

• Nominees have until January 5, 2025 by 11:59PM ET to submit their completed application to Enactus Canada
  

Finalist Selection Process:

• Nominees are asked to submit a written application outlining their company and their experience as an entrepreneur.

• Judges review applications and independently rank their top thirty (30) applications.

• A separate panel of judges will independently select their top twelve (12) applicants to be named finalists in the Student Entrepreneur National Competition.
  

Digital Round of Competition:

• These twelve (12) finalists will then compete in a digital round of competition where they will have a recorded video pitch, up to 5 minutes in length, about their business to supplement their application form.

• Judges will independently rank according to the judging criteria and will select three finalists who will move on to the live in-person Final Round of Competition.

Final Round of Competition:

• The three (3) finalists will present their ventures to a panel of top executives and industry leaders at the Enactus Canada National Exposition taking place May 6-8, 2025 in Calgary, Alberta.

• Judges will determine the Student Entrepreneur National Champion

Additional details can be found in the 2024-2025 Student Entrepreneur Handbook.

Prizes:

Three (3) finalists will receive complimentary lodging and travel (from within Canada) to attend the Enactus Canada National Exposition

• The Student Entrepreneur National Champion (1st) will receive a $10,000 cash prize

• The Student Entrepreneur National Runner-Up (2nd) will receive a $4,000 cash prize

• The Student Entrepreneur National Second Runner-Up (3rd) will receive a $2,000 cash prize

Deadline to Nominate: December 5th, 2024 at 11:59PM ET

If you have any questions, please reach out to programs@enactus.ca.