Start Something Summit
Watch the Hunter Hub's top teams take the stage at Platform Calgary and compete live for $40,000 in prizes.
The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking invites you to Start Something Summit, the definitive showcase of the 2025–2026 programming year. This event serves as the bridge between academic rigor and entrepreneurial reality, uniting the brightest minds from our Business Playbook, Launchpad, E2i, and Map the System cohorts.
Watch as the top two innovators from each program go head-to-head for a share of $40,000 in prizes. Join us for an afternoon of high-stakes pitching and community-wide celebration as we crown the year’s most promising ventures.
Event Highlights
Head-to-Head Pitches: Witness the culmination of months of intensive work as teams compete for top honors.
Award Ceremony: Celebrate excellence with the presentation of the Hunter Hub Resiliency Award and the Legacy in Action Innovation Prize, concluding with the announcement of the $10,000 grand prize winner for each program.
Networking Mixer: Connect with Calgary’s innovation ecosystem, including mentors, investors, and fellow student entrepreneurs.
Innovation Showcase: Explore member ventures of the Innovation Sandbox and discover Alumni-built businesses firsthand. This interactive exhibit features established startups emerging from the Hunter Hub ecosystem. In addition, Calgary's Post Secondary Institutions are invited to showcase their entrepreneurial programs alongside the Hunter Hub.
Schedule of Events
12:00 PM – Doors open, registration, networking, and refreshments
12:30 PM – Programming begins on the KPMG stage
12:50 PM - 2:35 PM - Live pitches from the Business Playbook, Launchpad, E2i, and Map the System cohorts. A short break will be expected halfway through
2:50 PM - Award ceremony
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM - Cocktails and celebrations on the concourse
4:00 PM – Event concludes and departure
Who is it for and why attend?
Start Something Summit is a gathering for Calgary's Innovation and Entrepreneurship ecosystem. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, talent, or your next big investment, there is a place for you here.
UCalgary Students, Staff & Alumni
Why: Support the bright minds paving new pathways on campus and find inspiration for your own entrepreneurial journey. It’s a chance to see how UCalgary turns ideas into impact.
Post-Secondary Partners & Entrepreneurial Community
Why: Engage with a city-wide network of innovation hubs. Discover how different institutions are shaping the future and find opportunities for cross-campus collaboration.
Investors & Industry Leaders
Why: Get early access to high-potential ventures and future founders. This is your frontline view of the next generation of industry disruptors and the "next big ideas" emerging from Calgary.
Aspiring Entrepreneurs & Curious Minds
Why: Not sure where to start? Witness the Start Something mindset firsthand.
Learn more and meet the teams
https://www.ucalgary.ca/hunter-hub/start-something-summit
Follow the Journey
Stay tuned for announcements and behind-the-scenes content! Follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Thank you to our Official Venue Sponsor, Platform Calgary.