Create, develop, and pitch a business idea in just 50+ hours for a chance to win $10,000!
The event isn’t just about how many start-ups succeed or launch, it’s about building deeper connections among the startup community, learning, and taking the first steps toward entrepreneurship – in Manitoba!
RampUp Weekends
North Forge’s RampUp Weekend is an intense, hands-on event where aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, and tech enthusiasts come together to develop startup ideas from concept to viable business plans within a short time frame, typically 50 hours.
Participants pitch their ideas, form teams, and work collaboratively to build a minimum viable product (MVP). With mentorship from industry experts and access to resources like the North Forge FabLab, teams refine their business models and prototypes. The event culminates in a final pitch competition, where teams present their projects to a panel of judges, often leading to prizes, investment opportunities, or further support from North Forge’s programs.
This event is designed to accelerate the startup process, foster collaboration, and provide participants with a real-world experience of what it takes to launch a successful business.
RampUp Winner 2018
Taiv is a TV box that allows restaurants and bars to play content that is better targeted to their audiences.
RampUp Winner 2017
Go Oil is a mobile oil change company, has sold over 40+ franchises in Canada and the United States!
RampUp Winner 2014
Permission click is software that creates digital permission slips and facilitates payment collection for kindergarten to grade 12, was recently acquired by Intrado Corporation for its innovative product.
Past winners include
As a RampUp Weekend Mentor, you will be able to provide guidance, advice, and guide our aspiring entrepreneurs through the tough problems and pain points they’re trying to solve. An experienced mentor like you will impart knowledge, expertise, and wisdom from your area of expertise to enhance their mentees’ business ideas.
Mentors for roles and fields include but are not limited to:
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Marketing and branding
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Graphic Design, User Experience and User Interface (UX, UI)
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Sales
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Accounting
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Business Advising
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Business Model Development
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Engineering
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Back End Developer
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Front End Developer
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Pitch Scrubbing
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Youth Mentorship
What do you gain as a RampUp mentor?
You’re able to connect and learn from the diverse perspectives of our participants from various backgrounds and generations.
Individuals of all ages and with different backgrounds think and act in different ways – we want all perspectives! Our participants range from post-secondary students, professional students, and workers, to retired individuals! The business relationship between a mentor and a mentee allows for people to learn similar ways of thinking and differences that could provide innovative perspectives and solutions.
Gain the opportunity to make a change in someone’s entrepreneurial journey!
You’ll be first in our participants’ minds! Do you remember the teacher, boss, or coach who did or said something that impacted your life in a positive way? Step into the opportunity to do that for someone else!
Able to strengthen your knowledge, experiences, and lessons.
Put your knowledge and lessons into practice by sharing them with the community! Guide our participants through challenges, point out common problems, and enrich the lessons you learned with fresh perspectives.
