John F. Wood Centre’s LaunchLab Expo: A Showcase of Student Entrepreneurship
On Tuesday, March 25th, the John F. Wood Centre hosted the second annual LaunchLab Expo, a dynamic showcase of entrepreneurial talent and innovation.
Situated within the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph, the Wood Centre is a hub for entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. The Wood Centre’s Hub Incubator program is designed for U of G students and recent alumni who aspire to become entrepreneurs and establish their own start-up ventures. The Hub empowers student founders to cultivate their early-stage business ideas through education, mentorship and funding. The last stage of the program, LaunchLab, delves into essential business practices and strategies to help students bring their business ideas to life. It culminates with the LaunchLab Expo, where the founders showcase their ventures to the public and participate in a pitch competition in front of esteemed industry judges to win cash prizes.
This term, 9 founders representing 8 start-up companies completed the LaunchLab program and demonstrated exceptional promise and dedication to their ventures in the Food and Beverage, Veterinary Medical Devices, CleanTech, Agri-Tech and Bio-Tech Industries. Among them is a seaweed-based spray that extends produce shelf life, a nutrient-packed bouillon cube for a healthier addition to everyday meals, and an Agri-Tech company developing financial intelligence solutions for farmers. These aspiring entrepreneurs dedicated themselves to building their business foundations and preparing their booths, products and presentations for the Expo.
“The LaunchLab Expo highlights the creativity and commitment of our Hub student entrepreneurs. It’s an opportunity to showcase their dedication, hard work, and passion for turning their ideas into impactful ventures. I have no doubt they will go on to achieve incredible success.”
-Erin Young, Business Incubator Services Manager
This event was made possible by a generous grant from The John Dobson Foundation, a dedicated supporter of entrepreneurial education. Thanks to this funding, students accessed a ‘Boost Budget’ and were matched with industry experts in marketing, web design, and photography. Founders had the opportunity to work one-on-one with these professionals, using their expertise to elevate their businesses. Some developed webpages for their company, while others collaborated with a photographer for product shoots. Additionally, students utilized the Wood Centre’s MakerSpace to create branded materials, including poster boards, custom logos on company shirts, and stickers.
The LaunchLab Expo took place at the University Centre and was a huge success. The event facilitated networking among industry professionals, community members, mentors, faculty, staff and students. Attendees had an immersive experience, featuring a vibrant showcase where each participating company unveiled their products for the first time. From tasty food samples and cutting-edge technologies to sustainable solutions, visitors had the chance to engage directly with student founders and learn about their ventures firsthand
In addition to the company booths, the pitch competition brought an element of excitement and spirited rivalry to the atmosphere.
The Wood Centre is proud to host this annual event, celebrating the innovative student founders emerging from the University of Guelph. To explore our programs and opportunities we offer, visit our website and discover how we are supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs.