York University’s Schulich School of Business and OneEleven have formalized the collaborative Venture Studio as part of the School’s new MBA in Technology Leadership (Tech MBA) to network students with select startups.
Led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), OneEleven is a highly curated community focused on helping post-seed companies get the most out of their talent by providing bespoke programming to ensure that emerging team leaders and people managers are growing and learning as fast as their companies are scaling. Similarly, Schulich’s 16-month Tech MBA program – the first of its kind in Canada – is designed to equip tomorrow’s business leaders with the knowledge to thrive throughout continuous technological disruption.
Together, OneEleven and Schulich will host the Venture Studio as a part of the Tech MBA, to be co-led by award-winning Schulich Adjunct Professor Chris Carder. Carder will match teams of top students with member companies from both OneEleven and the Schulich Startups communities, completing pro bono strategic product and fundraising analysis for select startups.
The Venture Studio will also feature guest lectures by top founders and venture capitalists, project mentorship by leading innovators and investors, special joint events with OneEleven community members, and networking opportunities with OneEleven and the Schulich Startups community recruiting for new talent.
“This partnership will enable OneEleven to continue contributing to the ecosystem of talent and upskilling and we can’t wait to work with these leaders of the future,” says Angelo Casanas, OneEleven interim managing director. "Schulich is an iconic business education brand and we're thrilled with this partnership."
Carder, who is now actively recruiting for additional course instructors, guest lecturers and mentors, adds, "The Venture Studio will unlock a world of learning opportunities and relationships for our students. OneEleven is a dream partnership for us, with their impressive track record of supporting high-growth companies, which have raised more than $800 million in follow-on funding in the past 24 months."
The Schulich Tech MBA program will launch in Fall 2023 and will help develop the next generation of leaders for a business world that is increasingly tech driven. The highly experiential professional program will equip students with the leadership and management skills needed to succeed in a business world facing major transformational changes, including the rapid application of artificial intelligence and other technological advances. Key program features include a guaranteed workplace internship, direct exposure to industry leaders as part of a small selective class, and career support through the Tech MBA’s Professional Development Hive.