SIGMA will help you learn the craft of entrepreneurship and technological innovation. It is led by Tate N. Cao, Assistant Professor, La Borde Chair in Engineering Entrepreneurship, College of Engineering, University of Saskatchewan. You will also work with our team of Executive in Residences, board members, as well as industry mentors.

USask SIGMA leverages a unique systematic approach to build the human capacity in you - the company founders.  Throughout the program, you will have opportunities to explore the viability of your proof of concept and your own commitment to an entrepreneurial career path.  You will learn the systematic approach to bring an innovation to market, and understand what different tasks an entrepreneur performs.  At the end of the program, you will be able to self-determine the bast path forward and what you may need to pursue an entrepreneurial career path.

• Bootcamps happening in June 2026
• Three mock board meetings
• Weekly goal setting and progress meetings
• Field trips, socials and tradeshows

Peer learning and community building 

This is the core of the program. Teams provide a progress report each week. Then you and your teammates will ask for help from the group, if needed. Teams often work together to help each other out. Teams form a strong community of peer entrepreneurs who support each other during the program and beyond.

Mentorship and coaching

SIGMA will support your team with one-on-one coaching sessions and meetings with external mentors carefully matched to the needs of the student ventures.

Simulated board meetings

Once a month, your team will present your progress to an external board and get feedback in a mock board meeting session. Board members are leaders from industry.

Guest talks, seminar series and network building

Through SIGMA’s seminar series and guest speakers we will help your team expand your knowledge of entrepreneurship, technology, leadership and the nuts and bolts of the entrepreneurial journey. You’ll benefit from introductions to relevant industry experts, investors, and other entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.

Preparing to launch

Selected teams will work to further their venture by identifying their beachhead market, refining the product, and securing initial customers or partners so that they are ready to launch. 

SIGMA is for current USask students. This means any undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in a degree or certificate program. 

Ideally, you should have a team. Your team must have at least one member and no more than five. All should be founders or founder-level (owning 20 percent or more of the company). You do not need to be incorporated to participate in SIGMA.

Additional Information

Your team must be an early-stage venture that is solving a real-world problem using innovative solutions at the ISC Technology Readiness Level Scale of 7 or higher.

Please note SIMGA is a capstone program designed for teams who have been working on their idea-stage venture for two to six months before applying and who have shown passion and commitment for moving their ideas forward.

You can also learn about past companies through our alumni videos.

Just starting to explore entrepreneurship?

If you are starting to explore entrepreneurship, take a look at our academic courses:

• GE490: Innovation Speaker Series
• GE431: Innovation Product and Venture Creation
• GE495: Innovation Design Capstone

You can also register in our Engineering Entrepreneurship Program. There are also workshops on entrepreneurship offered throughout the academic year.

Ready to apply?

Complete the two applications below. Once you have completed the company application, please also submit an individual application for each team member, and ensure you use a consistent team name.

• Company application: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/3C7MJLW
• Individual application: https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/SIGMA2026

Application for SIGMA close on March 31, 2026.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of faculty and industry professionals. An interview, up to an hour, may be scheduled with selected teams on a rolling basis.  Teams will be notified regarding acceptance.

For any questions, please email techinnovation@usask.ca. 

Participants are expected to attend all meetings and activities.

SIGMA won the Outstanding Initiative Award at the 2021 Science, Technology, Innovation and Collaboration (STIC) Awards in December 2021. The STIC awards, hosted by the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA), celebrate the people, projects and products leading science and tech in the city.