ideaBUILD is a 10-month rigorous program that offers founders a $10,000 grant towards prototyping materials, a 12-week bootcamp, and deep-tech-leading industry advisers who work alongside them to validate and build their product’s first operational prototype.
Who is idaBUILD for?
- Founders pioneering physical products that are transforming the planet in Ag Tech, Med Tech, Clean Tech, Ocean Tech, Circular Economy, or other industries.
- Founders building physical products that are engineering-based or require engineering support in the creation or production of their physical products.
- Founders in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada. Note that you don’t have to be associated with Dalhousie University. We welcome ALL community members to apply.
- 1st time founders and experienced founders.
HUB Alumni have backgrounds in the full range of engineering disciplines, as well as business, medicine, neuroscience, environmental science and more.
Ideal candidates
- Between 1-4 founding team members
- Have a well-formulated product idea to build an operational prototype
- Seeking more industry and faculty advisors to refine their product
- Most work full time but are seriously exploring starting a company if their product is viable
- Research focused and need a prototype for proof of concept
ideaBUILD overview
10-month term:
- $10,000 per company to purchase materials to build operational prototype
- 12-week bootcamp with a 2 hour weekly session on Fridays
- Access to hot desks (workspace) in the HUB
- Mechanical, Electrical and Additive Manufacturing Labs in the Emera ideaHUB with engineering expertise on-site
- Venture Manager, Engineering Lead and Academic Director supporting you on achieving your Action Plan
- Engineering Feasibility Report by Enginuity
- 8 hours of Engineering support by Enginuity
- 2 Prototype Days to get feedback on your product development by ideaHUB’s team, Enginity, and Venture Coaches
Our next cohort will launch in April 2025 and runs until February 2026. The 12-week bootcamp will run between April and June 2025. More information coming soon! Stay tuned!
Applications for April 2025 cohort will open in February. Stay tuned for more details!
ideaBUILD 10-month Snapshot
Meet the ideaBUILD Fall 2023 cohort
DAKU Tech
KISS Bread
MetalloSil
Revilong
Tyler Henery
Merivale Software & Robotics
Meet the ideaBUILD Spring 2024 cohort
Gáamai Hair
MRI Pulse
CAIG
Retssop
Valley Finder Ltd.
Applications
Please apply to the ideaBUILD program below. Note: this is not a closed application process – we are here to help. Contact ideahubprograms@dal.ca if you have any questions.
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