Meet the new Ideate program
Ideate is a two-week, self-paced experience where you take on a shared challenge, develop an idea, represent your faculty, and compete for prizes.
What is Ideate?
Ideate is a two-week Hunter Hub program where you’ll explore a shared challenge, develop and test an idea, and turn it into a 90-second pitch. Along the way, you’ll work through self-paced online learning modules that guide you through each step of the process.
You don’t need to see yourself as an entrepreneur or have an idea ready to go to take part. Ideate is a place to explore entrepreneurial thinking, build skills, and experience what the Hunter Hub has to offer. Just bring your perspective and curiosity.
The core learning is self-paced, with optional skill-building sessions and additional mentorship support available when you need it.
Open to UCalgary undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a master's, MD, JD, or DVM degree. It is not open to PhD candidates or postdoctoral fellows
Spots are limited, only 10 teams from each faculty will be accepted for the fall 2026 cohort on a first come, first served basis.
Enrollment closes October 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST.
Hear from our program lead and learn more about Ideate
Watch our virutal information session to learn how Ideate works and what to expect during the program.
Fall 2026 Theme
How would you make life on campus better?
Every Ideate cohort starts with a new shared challenge. This fall, we’re asking you to look at the UCalgary experience and find something you think could be better. What would you change, improve, or rethink?
Bring your perspective, explore the problem, and develop an idea over two weeks.
You don’t need to show up with the answer. That’s what Ideate is for.
How Ideate works
Choose your team + sign up
Enroll individually or in a team of up to 4, with all members from the same faculty. There is no team formation: who you sign up with is who you compete with.
Each faculty has space for 10 teams. After that, entries join their faculty’s waitlist in order of registration. If a spot opens, the first entry on that faculty’s waitlist gets the spot.
Explore the challenge
Enrolled teams will access D2L, where an asynchronous online learning module will guide you through entrepreneurial thinking skills, including problem-finding and solving, communication, and pitching. Students can work through the modules at their own pace.
Using the resources provided, you’ll apply these skills to tackle this semester’s problem.
Make your case
As you work through the module, you’ll build the skills and confidence to create your 90-second pitch video. Everything is online and self-paced. Teams can also attend an optional in-person workshop to learn from experts.
You’ll have two weeks to complete the module and submit your pitch.
Finale selection & pitch
A judging panel will review the pitch videos and select one winning team from each faculty. Faculty winners will be notified and given a week to refine and rehearse their pitch before the Campus-Wide Finale.
At the Finale they’ll pitch live, answer judges’ questions, and compete for a share of the $4,000 prize pool.
Fall 2026 key dates
Oct. 13, 2026
Enrolment confirmation sent
Oct. 18, 2026
Participation confirmation deadline
Oct. 19, 2026
Ideate begins + self-paced learning module released
Oct. 26, 2026
Optional in-person skill-building session
Oct. 26, 2026
OCTOBER 26–30
Mentorship hours available
Nov. 1, 2026
90-second video pitches due
Nov. 16, 2026
90-second live pitches at the Campus-Wide Finale
Build skills you can take anywhere
The skills you build through Ideate can be applied well beyond the program, from your degree and future career to projects and opportunities you take on next.
Frequently asked questions
Did we not answer your question? Email us at hunterhub@ucalgary.ca.
No. Each Ideate cohort starts with a shared theme. This fall, you’ll develop an idea around how you could make life on campus better.
No. Ideate is designed for students from all faculties and no previous business or venture experience is required.
Ideate is open to UCalgary undergraduate students and to graduate students pursuing a master's, MD, JD, or DVM degree. It is not open to PhD candidates or postdoctoral fellows. You don’t need an existing idea, business experience, or venture experience.
Enrolment is first-come, first-served, with space for up to 10 teams per faculty. Once a faculty’s spots are full, additional teams will be added to the waitlist.
Teams can range from one participant up to four. On a multi-person team, you can choose to have one person pitch or have everyone speak — just keep the 90-second limit in mind and plan for efficient handoffs between speakers.
Teams for this program must be made up of students within the same major. If you're a double major, you'll need to choose one major to compete under — you can't apply under both.
We'll provide the theme for the semester — beyond that, it's entirely up to you. As long as your idea aligns with the theme (and is appropriate), you have full creative freedom.
Fall 2026 challenge: How would you make life on campus better?
Since the pitch is only 90 seconds, teams aren't permitted to use slide decks or any digital material, including tablets for speaking notes. You're welcome to bring written notes for reference, but no other materials are allowed.
Fourteen teams, one representing each faculty, will pitch live. Each team has 90 seconds to pitch followed by two minutes of questions from the judges. A total of $4,000 in prize money will be awarded.
- 1st Place - $1500
- 2nd Place - $1000
- 3rd Place - $500
- People's Choice - $1000
Enrolment closes October 11, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST Sign up
Where could Ideate take you?
Ideate is only the beginning. The skills and experience you gain through this two-week program can go in different directions. Apply them to your degree or career, continue developing your idea or explore another Hunter Hub opportunity.
KEEP BUILDING
Continue developing your idea after the program concludes. Join the Innovation Sandbox and gain access to our co-working space and mentorship opportunities.
KEEP EXPLORING
Explore more Hunter Hub programs. Find the next opportunity that fits where you are and where you want to go.
KEEP GROWING
Apply what you learned to your degree, career and future opportunities. Keep building your skills through upcoming events and experiences.