What is Illuminate 2025?
An initiative to shine a light on innovative ideas led by women and gender-diverse students.

• MCE’s Illuminate is a program and pitch competition (pitching is optional!) to support the innovative and entrepreneurial ideas of Memorial University women and gender-diverse students. The program is a safe space to learn and develop entrepreneurial skills through training and networking, along with an opportunity to potentially pitch your business at a live final event.
  
  
• It is important to note, you do not need to have a business idea to participate. Come learn, connect with others, and potentially find an idea along the way!
  
  
• The program will start mid-September with an orientation session, followed by access to specific content in D2L to review at your own pace. Topics will include problem identification, customery discovery, validating a solution, self-awareness and building a team, as well as others. 
  
  
• Networking sessions with other students as well as women and gender-diverse founders in the community will be offered to participants through September and October.

Illuminate offers:

• Skills development and training to advance your entrepreneurial thinking and business idea;
• Connection with other women and gender-diverse students and mentors to build your community;
  
• Potential funding through the pitch competition prizes;
• The pride of knowing your participation is advancing gender diversity in entrepreneurship and in the broader business world! 

A final pitch competition held on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, including a chance to win a Grand Prize of $5000, along with category award prizes at $1000 each. 

Do you have an interest in learning about entrepreneurship? Register now!
Have a business idea that’s not yet started?  Register now!
Working on a business idea, but yet to acquire customers or earn revenue?  Register now!
Actively working on a startup in any sector?  Register now!

There is no cost to participate in the program and it is open to any industry and stage of business. 

If you identify as a woman or gender-diverse Memorial student (at any campus) with or without a business idea, please join us and register here.

Illuminate Awards

Illuminate 2025 awards include: 

• $5000 Grand Prize  
  
• $1000 2nd Place Prize  [Sponsored by NLOWE]
• $1000 3rd Place Prize  [Sponsored by Clearpath Leadership]
• $1000 Social Impact Award  [Sponsored by Memorial Centre for Social Enterprise]
• $1000 Community Choice Award  [Sponsored by Genesis]
  

The Grand Prize winner will also receive in-kind prizes including:

• a 1 or 2 day professional development course, valued at up to $1000, from the Gardiner Centre;
• a 1-on-1 comprehensive IP Consulting session with a leading IP expert, valued at $1600, from Springboard Atlantic IP Advantage.

Thank you to our 2025 award sponsors: 

Thank you to our 2025 in-kind sponsors: