Global Entrepreneurship Week is a worldwide celebration of innovators and job creators who launch startups, drive economic growth and improve lives. From world-class programs to mentorship and resources, the University of New Brunswick supports students, researchers, alumni and entrepreneurs in bringing their ideas to life and transforming their businesses into thriving ventures.
UNB's entrepreneurial ecosystem
UNB offers a robust network of programs and institutes designed to support innovators from concept to commercialization.
The J Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management & Entrepreneurship is a hub that provides students and established business owners the opportunity to develop ideas and grow ventures through its programs. With an emphasis on hands-on learning experience, the Centre has supported over 275 startup projects and companies that have raised over $122 million to date.
Its two core programs include:
- The Diploma in Technology Management & Entrepreneurship (DTME) is a 5-course undergraduate diploma program where students establish the groundwork skills needed to thrive in entrepreneurship.
- The Master of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship (MTME) is a graduate program that blends technology and business expertise to prepare leaders for tech-driven ventures.
For those who have an idea they're looking to nurture, or a business they want to grow, the Centre has several accelerator programs designed with innovation in mind.
The Summer Institute is an intensive accelerator that helps early-stage startups refine their business models and launch successfully.
For those developing tech-driven ideas, Energia Ventures is an intensive three-month accelerator that provides mentorship, funding and programming to help turn their ideas into impact.
Established businesses looking to grow have found great success through the six-month Scale-Up Atlantic accelerator program.
For student entrepreneurs focused on social impact, the Harvard HealthLab Accelerator Canada is an invaluable resource.
Related: UNB's Summer Institute celebrates six new ventures
The J Herbert Smith Centre is also a leader in tech innovation and industry best practice research. Its research programs offer entrepreneurship training grounded in academic research; regular seminars led by world-renowned experts and business leaders; and modelling, design and simulation labs that support innovators in bringing big ideas to life.
The faculty of management's International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre offers a wide selection of entrepreneurship-focused courses and concentrations, competitions, speaker series and awards and scholarships. Undergraduate students can complete a Concentration in Entrepreneurship and those pursuing an MBA can earn a Concentration in Venture Commercialization, Scaling and Investment.
The Mckenna Institute turns bold ideas into reality by driving economic development and social advancement through digital innovation. By convening and connecting the brightest minds in New Brunswick and beyond, the Institute accelerates progress from concept to implementation. Through applied research, commercialization, emerging technologies and modernized public services, it nurtures initiatives that strengthen the talent pipeline, empowers communities while shaping a thriving digital future.
The Fredericton campus is also home to the Barrett Chair in Entrepreneurship for Digital Transformation, led by Dr. Ken Kent in the faculty of computer science. The Barrett Chair was developed to support entrepreneurial knowledge and business skills in graduate level computer science students. It builds bridges and opens opportunities for students interested in joining start-ups or creating their own companies.
On UNB's Saint John campus, the faculty of business helps develop innovative, entrepreneurial leaders through entrepreneurship-based programs.
- The MBA in Entrepreneurship and Technology Management is one of seven master of business administration programs on the Saint John campus. Its students create a new product or service and learn the steps to bring their venture to the market. It is designed to shape future business leaders in Saint John and beyond.
- The Axis Accelerator helps startups in the Greater Saint John area to raise their first rounds of funding and achieve sales success.
The Pond-Deshpande Centre serves as a driving force for innovation and entrepreneurship, inspiring and empowering youth while positioning entrepreneurship as a solution to many of the region's challenges. Through its programs and support, PDC helps individuals pursue their passions, create meaningful impact and foster wealth and shared prosperity across the region.
Green Horizons supports small and medium-sized businesses to leverage sustainability to contribute to a stronger, greener economy in New Brunswick.
Social Enterprise New Brunswick helps social enterprises in the province launch, scale and finance revenue-generating ventures aligned with their missions.
The Wallace McCain Institute is another organization that supports entrepreneurs in the province by offering leadership development programs, peer-to-peer networking and mentorship opportunities designed to help business leaders scale their companies and contribute to the economic transformation of the Atlantic region.
Together, these programs and initiatives, mentorship networks, funding opportunities and research partnerships make UNB a powerhouse for nurturing and supporting entrepreneurial success.
Learn more about what's happening at UNB for Global Entrepreneurship Week.
