USask entrepreneurship program gets boost from PrairiesCan

SIGMA (Saskatchewan Innovation Growth and Market Acceleration) is housed in USask’s College of Engineering and is a one-of-a-kind program in Canada that promotes entrepreneurship, provides education, and creates opportunities for burgeoning tech innovators. SIGMA programming and events include industry-focused speaker sessions, mentorship, and a four-month intensive lab with the goal of supporting users to build and apply skills learned through USask classes and move their innovations to the marketplace.

The funding, which equates to $150,000 per year over the next three years, is going towards the delivery of the SIGMA program, the Engineering Executive and Entrepreneur in Residence, and support of USask as a founding member of a partnership with the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) through the Global Leadership Entrepreneurship Educators Network, an international collaboration meant to connect and improve the education of young entrepreneurs around the world.

SIGMA is led at USask by associate professor and La Borde Chair in Engineering Entrepreneurship Tate Cao in the College of Engineering’s Ron and Jane Graham School of Professional Development. Many students who have gone through SIGMA have gone on to work with USask’s Opus startup incubator and other tech incubators such as Co.Labs, Cultivator, and Creative Destruction Lab.

The funding from PrairiesCan will further advance USask’s entrepreneurial initiatives and ongoing efforts to turn homegrown ideas into innovations that reach the marketplace.

“Building Canada strong starts with backing our regional strengths — including right here in the Prairies. That’s why our government is investing in programs like SIGMA at the University of Saskatchewan, helping students and researchers turn homegrown ideas into real businesses, good jobs, and new opportunities. Strengthening Prairie innovation helps grow a more resilient Canadian economy, now and for the future.”
— The Honourable Eleanor Olszewksi, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada.

“Starting and growing a business isn’t easy — even more so when bringing new ideas to market. That’s why our federal government is investing in USask SIGMA to help local innovators turn homegrown ideas into companies that create jobs, here at home. When our entrepreneurs have the support they need, communities across Saskatchewan and across Canada benefit.”
— The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State (Rural Development) and Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River

“Translating the skills learned in university research settings to tangible outcomes is critical for USask to demonstrate the impact our researchers and scholars have in the world. With the generous support of PrairiesCan for programs like SIGMA, we can continue training and educating the entrepreneurs of the future to assist them in taking innovative ideas from concept to reality.”
— Baljit Singh, USask Vice-President Research

“PrairiesCan’s support has helped amplify the impact of engineering entrepreneurship at USask and the LaBorde Chair. SIGMA is the bridge that connects classroom learning with Saskatchewan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Students can apply the tools and knowledge they gain in engineering entrepreneurship classes at USask to develop their ideas into viable businesses through SIGMA’s mentorship and applied learning.”
— Tate Cao, SIGMA co-ordinator

“SIGMA was the main reason I pursued entrepreneurship. I had always been interested in entrepreneurship but didn’t really know how to start. SIGMA taught me that entrepreneurship was all about trying things and learning from your failures. That’s why I think engineers make good entrepreneurs.”
— Colton Breitkreuz, CEO of TAUlab, and USask College of Engineering alumnus