Secure your seat at the Illuminate 2024 Live Finals to watch the top 5 finalists pitch for a chance to win the $5000 Grand Prize plus other amazing prizes! 

What is Illuminate 2024?
An initiative to shine a light on innovative ideas led by women and gender-diverse students.

MCE’s Illuminate is a program and pitch competition to support the innovative and entrepreneurial ideas of Memorial University women and gender-diverse students. The program is a safe space to learn and develop entrepreneurial skills through training and networking, along with an opportunity to potentially pitch your business at a live final event.

It is important to note, you do not need to have a business idea to participate.

The program will start during the third week of September with weekly one-hour sessions and actions for you to venture into if you choose. We will cover topics such as problem and customer discovery, validating a solution, self-awareness and team.

Illuminate offers:

• Skills development and training to advance your entrepreneurial thinking and business;
• Connection with other women and gender-diverse students and mentors to build your community;
• The pride of knowing your participation is advancing gender diversity in entrepreneurship and in the broader business world! 

A final pitch competition held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, including a chance to win a Grand Prize of $5000 [Generously sponsored by TD Canada Trust].

Do you have an interest in learning about entrepreneurship? Please register!
Have a business idea that’s not yet started?  Please register!
Working on a business idea, but yet to acquire customers or earn revenue?  Please register!
Actively working on a startup in any sector?  Please register!

There is no cost to participate in the program and is open to any industry and stage of business. 

If you identify as a woman or gender-diverse Memorial student (at any campus) with or without a business idea, please join us and register here: https://tally.so/r/3qOvBg

Illuminate Awards

Illuminate 2024 awards include: 

• $5000 Grand Prize  [Sponsored by TD Canada Trust]
  
• $1000 2nd Place Prize  [Sponsored by NLOWE]
• $1000 3rd Place Prize  [Sponsored by Clearpath Leadership]
• $1000 Social Impact Award  [Sponsored by Memorial Centre for Social Enterprise]
• $500 Community Choice Award  [Sponsored by Genesis]
• $250 Most Engaged Student Award  [Sponsored by Venture Camp]
  

The Grand Prize winner will also receive in-kind prizes including:

• a 1 or 2 day professional development course, valued at up to $1000, from the Gardiner Centre;
• a 1-on-1 comprehensive IP Consulting session with a leading IP expert, valued at $1600, from Springboard Atlantic IP Advantage.

Thank you to our award sponsors: 

Thank you to our in-kind sponsors: