25 DAYS AGOย โ€ขย 5 MIN READ

August at COIE: Programs, Stories & More! ๐Ÿคฉ

profile

Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (COIE)

Stay in the Loop with COIE! โœจ Sign up to receive the latest news on exciting entrepreneurial events, hands-on workshops, inspiring stories, and moreโ€”delivered straight to your inbox.Thanks for joining our community!

Trouble loading the email, or experiencing weird formatting?
โ€‹
View this newsletter on your browser!โ€‹

COIE Newsletter: August 2025

โ€‹

Dear changemakers, it's already August and the heart of the Summer semester! โ˜€๏ธ At COIE, we're ramping up for the Fall semester and have some exciting updates in store!

New look of the COIE website! ๐Ÿ‘€

We've been gradually refreshing our COIE website with our new programs on innovation, entrepreneurship, and lifelong skills development! โœจ

Hereโ€™s whatโ€™s new so far:

  • โ€‹SDG Innovation Lab: Explore how we empower individuals with the knowledge, skills and motivation to take action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through social and impact entrepreneurship!
  • โ€‹Coursera for Careers: Learn more about how COIE is offering Coursera's Professional Certificates to help the Centennial community build in-demand skills and stay industry-relevant!
  • โ€‹VR Pitching Bootcamp: Learn how we're helping Centennial students and community build confidence, master public speaking, and pitch like a pro using immersive VR, expert coaching, and AI-powered feedback.
  • Resources: Access workshop slide decks from past years and enjoy the sleek new format of our monthly newsletter.
  • โ€‹Events Calendar: We've launched a new COIE 2025-26 Events Calendar through Luma! Stay tuned & subscribe to be the first to know our upcoming events launching in Fall 2025. โœจ

We will continue to freshen up our website before the Fall semester; it might be different the next time you visit! ๐Ÿค“

You're Invited! ๐Ÿ‘‡ VR Pitching Lab, Aug 7

The VR Pitching Bootcamp is off to a strong start! ๐Ÿ™Œ

Last week, we kicked off our VR Pitching Bootcamp! Our eager participants explored the foundations of powerful communication with storytelling and public speaking strategies on Day 1 with keynote speaker Nancy Wilson, Founder & CEO of the Canadian Womenโ€™s Chamber of Commerce. Day 2 offered a valuable midweek check-in with personalized mentorship and feedback to keep everyone on track. By Day 3, participants were diving into pitch deck development and delivery techniques, guided by expert coaches and energized by a keynote from Ron Tsang, author and professor at The Business School, Centennial College.

UP NEXT: VR DAY! ๐Ÿคฉ

๐Ÿ“… August 7 | 9:30 AM โ€“ 5:00 PM
๐Ÿ“ Centennial College, Progress Campus, Room A2-81, 939 Progress Ave, Scarborough, ON, M1G 3T8

The final day (Day 4) of the VR Pitching Bootcamp is a dedicated in-person immersive soft skills training designed to help participants overcome public speaking anxiety, master body language, and build the confidence to pitch their venture ideas with clarity and impact. And we're inviting YOU there!

We have opened up Day 4 to anyone interested in:

๐ŸŽฎ Trying a VR headset and the VirtualSpeech software
๐ŸŽ Winning prizes and Centennial Innovates swag
๐ŸŽค Practicing pitching your big ideas and wow-ing the crowd
โ˜• Enjoying free refreshments throughout the day

Although only participants of the full VR Pitching Bootcamp will receive official Statements of Recognition, we would love to have you there to join in the fun and experience what immersive learning and skill-building are like (and bring your friends, too)!

Free Coursera License? Yes please!

We are proud to introduce our Coursera for Careers program, offering the Centennial College and COIE community exclusive access to industry-recognized professional certifications from top companies like Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft and more.

Are you looking to enhance your skills, earn industry-approved certifications, or simply explore new fields? We bring Coursera's vast library of Professional Certificates free of cost for 2 months and then at a significantly discounted monthly subscription thereafter!

Get ready to level up your career. Sign up today!

COIE Impact Spotlight

Presenting the COIE Alumni Impact Story:

This summer, we had the privilege of sharing the incredible journeys of 11 inspiring COIE alumni. From launching startups to driving innovation in health tech, sustainability, and education, their stories showcased the power of entrepreneurial thinking and community support. ๐Ÿ’ก๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ‘ A huge thank you to each alum who opened up about their journey, impact, and advice for future changemakers. Your stories not only celebrate your growth but also inspire the next generation of innovators at Centennial.

Innovation Community News & Opportunities

Interested in exploring the market viability of your research? Applications for Lab2Market Discover are now open!

Explore entrepreneurship as an alternative career path in this virtual 10-week program designed for graduate students, recent grads, and post-doctoral researchers from Canadian universities and colleges. Participants will have the opportunity to gain insights into the commercial potential of their academic research and develop a new way of thinkingโ€”one that connects innovation to real-world problems.

๐ŸŒฑ Lab2Market Discover

Application deadline: August 8, 2025

๐ŸŒฑ Lab2Market Discover Radiopharma

Application deadline: September 3, 2025

๐ŸŒฑ Lab2Market Discover Quantum

Application deadline: August 8, 2025


Ecosystem event: Brampton Venture EXPO 2025

Now in its 5th year, Brampton Venture Expo (BVX) is Peel Region's premier innovation showcase proudly presented by Brampton Venture Zone by TMU and powered by the Brampton Innovation District. Event Date: Thursday, September 11


Explore the Tech & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

Stay updated with the latest in innovation, industry news, and exciting startup job openings!

๐Ÿ” Looking to launch your career in innovation and entrepreneurship? Check out exciting new roles with University of Toronto startups at the link below!


๐Ÿง Buzzword Breakdown

Sustainable Development Goals ๐ŸŒฑ๐Ÿง 

โ€‹The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which represent an urgent call for action by all countries, developed and developing, in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand in hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

โ€‹

video previewโ€‹

๐Ÿ‘† Check out our video above on how to meet the Sustainable Development Goals together | United Nations

โ€‹

At COIE, weโ€™re proud to host events and workshops that spark student innovation while advancing the United Nationsโ€™ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These initiatives not only support students in developing impactful business ideas but also align with the collegeโ€™s commitment to global citizenship and sustainability.

โ€‹

โœจ Stay tuned for our upcoming Fall 2025 SDG-focused events and workshops! Subscribe to our COIE 2025-26 Events Calendar to be the first to know about our new events ๐Ÿ™‹๐Ÿฝโ€โ™€๏ธ

โ€‹

A special thank-you to philanthropist Diane Blake for her generous donation, which helps make these initiatives possible. Read Moreโ€‹

โ€‹

๐Ÿ“š Book Recommendation of the Month

COIE is planning to launch a Book Club!

Stay tuned for more details ๐Ÿ˜‰

๐Ÿ“š Remember last monthโ€™s book recommendation?โ€‹
โ€‹
Playing to Win: How Strategy Really Worksโ€‹

Recommended by Jonathan Hack, Dean of Centennial Innovates, the college's applied research, innovation and entrepreneurship department.

๐Ÿ’ฌ"Strategy is not complex. But it is hard. Itโ€™s hard because it forces people and organizations to make specific choices about their future โ€” something that doesnโ€™t happen in most companies."

๐Ÿ“– Want a copy of the book?โ€‹
Weโ€™ll have physical and digital copies of this title, along with other COIE book recommendations, available at all our upcoming in-person events.

โœจ Your next opportunity: VR Pitching Bootcamp โ€“ Day 4
๐Ÿ“… Wednesday, August 7 | 9:30 AM โ€“ 5:00 PM
๐Ÿ“ Centennial College, Progress Campus, Room A2-81, 939 Progress Ave, Scarborough, ON

We'd love to build a zero-pressure, practical opportunity for you to develop your entrepreneurial mindset, discuss thought-provoking questions with other book lovers, and meet like-minded people within the COIE community!

โ€‹

๐Ÿ“ฉ Stay Connected!

Graduated recently? Donโ€™t miss out on future updates, opportunities, and events from Centennial Innovates. Ensure you update your email so we can keep in touch after you leave campus!

โ€‹

๐Ÿ‘‡ Follow us on socials to stay in the loop.

Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (COIE), Centennial College, 941 Progress Ave (B2-06), Scarborough, ON M1G 3T8
โ€‹Unsubscribe ยท Preferencesโ€‹

Centre of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (COIE)

Stay in the Loop with COIE! โœจ Sign up to receive the latest news on exciting entrepreneurial events, hands-on workshops, inspiring stories, and moreโ€”delivered straight to your inbox.Thanks for joining our community!