Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Provider
- University of Toronto Scarborough
- Deadline
- 1/14/2027
In short
The Young Entrepreneur Scholarship (YES) at U of T supports student founders with up to $7,500 in-course funding and entrance awards for Management students. Apply through The BRIDGE's New Venture Program.
Young Entrepreneur Scholarship
By University of Toronto Scarborough
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 1/14/202780 days left
$300,000
Combined YES fund (donor gift + university match)
Up to $7,500
In-course award for U of T student founders
$2,500 + up to $13,000
YES Challenge non-dilutive prize plus milestone funding
3 campuses
Open to St. George, Scarborough & Mississauga students
Overview
The Young Entrepreneur Scholarship (YES) was established through a $200,000 gift from Joe Gagliese, CEO of Viral Nation and UTSC Management's Entrepreneur in Residence, matched dollar-for-dollar with $100,000 from the University of Toronto's True Blue Program, creating a combined expendable fund of $300,000. YES is designed to support student entrepreneurs across all three U of T campuses (St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga) who want to grow their own businesses while continuing their academic studies, with particular emphasis on UTSC Management students who may not otherwise have the means to sustain both academic and entrepreneurial ambitions. Recipients are supported through participation in the New Venture Program (NVP) at The BRIDGE, UTSC's entrepreneurship hub, which provides faculty-led incubation and mentorship. YES funding covers entrance awards for incoming Management students who are already running a venture, plus in-course awards (reported at up to $7,500) for enrolled student founders, along with participation in an annual YES entrepreneurial retreat. A related initiative, the YES Challenge, offers a $2,500 non-dilutive prize with the potential for up to an additional $13,000 tied to milestone achievement, plus 1:1 mentoring with Joe Gagliese and his network, drawn from a $50,000 pool matched dollar-for-dollar by the university. Eligibility centers on being a current or incoming U of T student (any of the three campuses) who is building their own business, enrolled or enrolling in the New Venture Program, and in academic good standing. Public program pages indicate a preference for domestic students, though international students may receive special consideration. Detailed application steps and required documents (e.g., business plan or essay) are not published on the pages available for this research; applicants are directed to apply through the New Venture Program / BRIDGE application channels, and UTSC Management's YES Challenge page notes that timing for future award cycles is announced on its site closer to the cycle open date.
Eligibility
Current or incoming University of Toronto student (St. George, Scarborough, or Mississauga campus) who is building/running their own venture; must be eligible to enroll in courses and in academic good standing; enrollment in The BRIDGE's New Venture Program is required (automatic upon YES Challenge selection). UTSC Management entrance awards specifically target incoming Management students who are also entrepreneurs. Preference is given to domestic students, though international students may receive special consideration. Award eligibility is capped at four years.
How to enter
- Apply/enroll through The BRIDGE's New Venture Program (NVP) at UTSC, which is the pathway for YES in-course award consideration
- Incoming UTSC Management students who are entrepreneurs are considered for YES entrance awards as part of their admission/entrance award review
- Watch the UTSC Management YES Challenge page for the announcement and opening of each year's award cycle
Frequently asked questions
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
What is the Young Entrepreneur Scholarship (YES)?
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YES is a scholarship program at the University of Toronto that supports student entrepreneurs across all three U of T campuses (St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga) who are building their own businesses while continuing their academic studies.
What kind of funding is available through YES?
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YES provides entrance awards for incoming Management students who are entrepreneurs, and in-course awards of up to $7,500 for enrolled student founders. The YES Challenge offers a $2,500 non-dilutive prize with potential for additional milestone funding.
Who is eligible for the Young Entrepreneur Scholarship?
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Eligibility is for current or incoming University of Toronto students (any of the three campuses) who are building their own business and are in academic good standing. Enrollment in The BRIDGE's New Venture Program is required.
How can students apply for the Young Entrepreneur Scholarship?
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Students can apply by enrolling through The BRIDGE's New Venture Program at UTSC. Incoming UTSC Management students who are entrepreneurs are considered for entrance awards as part of their admission review. The UTSC Management YES Challenge page announces award cycle openings.
Which campuses are included in the Young Entrepreneur Scholarship?
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The scholarship is open to students from all three University of Toronto campuses: St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga.
Resources
- YES Scholarship for Entrepreneurs (official program page, intermittently inaccessible during research)
- Young Entrepreneur Scholarship (YES) Challenge
- Young Entrepreneur Scholarship helps startup founders finish their degrees
- Young Entrepreneur Scholarship - U of T Entrepreneurship
- YES Challenge Day - The BRIDGE
- Meet the 2024 YES Award Recipients