Applications Open  ·  2026 Cohort

Markham Startup Lab

A free 6-week startup program connecting Markham high school students directly to Canada's second-largest tech ecosystem.

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6 Weekly Sessions
12–15 Student Spots
3–5 Mentor Volunteers
Free Cost to Attend
90 Days Start to Demo Day
About

What is Markham Startup Lab?

MSL is a free, 6-week Saturday morning cohort program where Markham high schoolers identify a real local problem, validate it through customer interviews, build a simple MVP using free AI tools, and pitch it publicly on Demo Day. No business experience required — just curiosity and a willingness to learn.

Why Markham?

  • Markham is Canada's second-largest tech cluster — 1,500+ tech companies, ventureLAB, YSpace, and a $20.6B GDP.
  • No structured pathway currently connects this ecosystem to local students. MSL is building the permanent one.
  • Local mentors from real Markham companies bring industry knowledge directly into the room.
Curriculum

The 6-Session Journey

Built on the same Lean Startup methodology used by ventureLAB and YSpace.

01

Problem Hunting

Find a real pain worth solving in your community.

02

Customer Discovery

Talk to real people. Listen before you build.

03

Ideation & Solution Design

Generate ideas, evaluate them, pick one.

Mentor: Startup Founder
04

MVP Sprint

Build a prototype using AI tools in one session.

Mentor: Technical Founder
05

Business Model & Pitch Prep

Craft the story that sells your solution.

Mentor: Sales/Marketing Pro
06

Dress Rehearsal

Deliver your pitch twice. Leave confident.

Partnership

Become a Partner

Help us build the next generation of Markham entrepreneurs.

Founding Partner Recognition

Named as a Founding Partner on all program materials, from digital presence to printed collateral.

Logo Placement

Logo placement across all digital and print assets, including the program website and event materials.

Social Media Tagging

Tagged in all social media posts reaching 500+ Markham community members and growing.

Demo Day VIP Access

VIP invitation to Demo Day as a featured judge or guest — witness the next generation of Markham founders pitch live.

Community Association

Association with a youth-led, community-built initiative that puts Markham students on the entrepreneurship map.

Talent Pipeline

Direct pipeline to the next generation of Markham tech talent — ambitious students actively exploring their startup paths.

Interested in supporting MSL?

Reach out to learn about partnership opportunities and how your organization can shape the future of Markham entrepreneurship.

Get in Touch
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Any Markham high school student in Grades 10–12. No business experience required — we're looking for curious problem-solvers.
Yes. Completely free. No fees, no materials cost, no hidden charges.
Just yourself and curiosity. We provide all materials, worksheets, and tools.
Teams pitch their ideas to a panel of judges from the Markham tech community in a public event open to family and mentors.
Click the Apply Now button in the navigation bar or hero section and fill out a short Google Form. Applications take under 5 minutes.
MSL is a student-led, community-built nonprofit initiative based in Markham, Ontario.