APPLICATION DEADLINE: NOV 19, 2026 · 11:59 PM PST
Five days to find a problem and launch a startup
UBC VANCOUVER / NOVEMBER 26-30, 2026
APPLY NOW
APPLY NOW
01
About KickStart
Find your focus.
Look back at KickStart 2025, where ambitious ideas became real startups. One of our winning teams has since gone on to join Y Combinator.
01
About KickStart
Find your focus.
Look back at KickStart 2025, where ambitious ideas became real startups. One of our winning teams has since gone on to join Y Combinator.
01
About KickStart
Find your focus.
Look back at KickStart 2025, where ambitious ideas became real startups. One of our winning teams has since gone on to join Y Combinator.
Five days.
One clear direction.
Five days.
One clear direction.
Five days.
One clear direction.
DAY 01 / THURSDAY, NOV 26
Think like a founder.
LOCATION
In person @ GeoComply Office, Downtown Vancouver
TIME
6:00–9:30 PM
KEYNOTE / IDEATION WORKSHOP
DAY 02 / FRIDAY, NOV 27
Get out of the building.
Customer Validation · ASYNC / REMOTE
Put your assumptions to the test. Talk to potential customers, validate the problem you're solving, and turn early feedback into a clearer direction.
DELIVERABLE: LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) · DUE 11:59 PM
DAY 03 / SATURDAY, NOV 28
Build something real.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC MacIsaac Health Building, GWHB 1003
TIME
10:30 AM–7:00 PM
FOUNDER FIRESIDE / 1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP
MVP BUILD / PUBLIC SHOWCASE
DAY 04 / SUNDAY, NOV 29
Make it better.
Iterate & Refine · ASYNC / REMOTE
Take what you've learned from customer feedback and the public showcase to refine your MVP, strengthen your story, and prepare for your final pitch.
DELIVERABLE: MVP · DUE 6:00 PM
DAY 05 / MONDAY, NOV 30
Make your case.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC Sauder / Henry Angus Building, HA 491
TIME
5:00–9:35 PM
FINAL PITCH / JUDGING / AWARDS
DAY 01 / THURSDAY, NOV 26
Think like a founder.
LOCATION
In person @ GeoComply Office, Downtown Vancouver
TIME
6:00–9:30 PM
KEYNOTE / IDEATION WORKSHOP
DAY 02 / FRIDAY, NOV 27
Get out of the building.
Customer Validation · ASYNC / REMOTE
Put your assumptions to the test. Talk to potential customers, validate the problem you’re solving, and turn early feedback into a clearer direction.
DELIVERABLE: LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) · DUE 11:59 PM
DAY 03 / SATURDAY, NOV 28
Build something real.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC MacIsaac Health Building, GWHB 1003
TIME
10:30 AM–7:00 PM
FOUNDER FIRESIDE / 1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP
MVP BUILD / PUBLIC SHOWCASE
DAY 04 / SUNDAY, NOV 29
Make it better.
Iterate & Refine · ASYNC / REMOTE
Take what you’ve learned from customer feedback and the public showcase to refine your MVP, strengthen your story, and prepare for your final pitch.
DELIVERABLE: MVP · DUE 6:00 PM
DAY 05 / MONDAY, NOV 30
Make your case.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC Sauder / Henry Angus Building, HA 491
TIME
5:00–9:35 PM
FINAL PITCH / JUDGING / AWARDS
DAY 01 / THURSDAY, NOV 26
Think like a founder.
LOCATION
In person @ GeoComply Office, Downtown Vancouver
TIME
6:00–9:30 PM
KEYNOTE / IDEATION WORKSHOP
DAY 02 / FRIDAY, NOV 27
Get out of the building.
Customer Validation · ASYNC / REMOTE
Put your assumptions to the test. Talk to potential customers, validate the problem you’re solving, and turn early feedback into a clearer direction.
DELIVERABLE: LETTER OF INTENT (LOI) · DUE 11:59 PM
DAY 03 / SATURDAY, NOV 28
Build something real.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC MacIsaac Health Building, GWHB 1003
TIME
10:30 AM–7:00 PM
FOUNDER FIRESIDE / 1-ON-1 MENTORSHIP
MVP BUILD / PUBLIC SHOWCASE
DAY 04 / SUNDAY, NOV 29
Make it better.
Iterate & Refine · ASYNC / REMOTE
Take what you’ve learned from customer feedback and the public showcase to refine your MVP, strengthen your story, and prepare for your final pitch.
DELIVERABLE: MVP · DUE 6:00 PM
DAY 05 / MONDAY, NOV 30
Make your case.
LOCATION
In person @ UBC Sauder / Henry Angus Building, HA 491
TIME
5:00–9:35 PM
FINAL PITCH / JUDGING / AWARDS
“ Made for the ambitious minds. ”
“ Made for the ambitious minds. ”
02
Timeline
Event Timeline.
Event Timeline.
Event Timeline.
From your first idea to the final pitch. Here's how the in-person experience unfolds.
From your first idea to the final pitch. Here’s how the in-person experience unfolds.
DAY 01 / THURSDAY, NOV 26
Think like a founder.
Think like a founder.
Think like a founder.
Kickoff Day · IN PERSON
GeoComply Office, Downtown Vancouver
6:00–9:30 PM
6:00–6:30 PM
Check-In
6:30–6:50 PM
Opening Remarks
6:50–7:10 PM
KEYNOTE
"How to Find Good Problems"
“How to Find Good Problems”
Co-Founder & Chair, GeoComply
Sharing her journey building GeoComply and what she's learned about identifying problems worth solving.
Sharing her journey building GeoComply and what she’s learned about identifying problems worth solving.
7:10–8:00 PM
Team Matching & Dinner
8:00–9:00 PM
WORKSHOP
Replit Workshop: From Problem to Mockup
Replit Workshop: From Problem to Mockup
Developer Relations, Replit
Guiding teams through turning early-stage ideas into tangible mockups using Replit.
9:00–9:30 PM
Networking/Closing
DAY 03 / SATURDAY, NOV 28
Build something real.
Build something real.
Build something real.
Build & Public Showcase · IN PERSON
UBC MacIsaac Health Building, GWHB 1003
10:30 AM–7:00 PM
10:30–11:00 AM
10:30–11:00 AM
Check-In
11:00–11:15 AM
11:00–11:15 AM
Intro Remarks and Day Structure
11:15 AM–12:00 PM
11:15 AM–12:00 PM
FIRESIDE CHAT
FIRESIDE CHAT
"How to Make Money as a Startup"
“How to Make Money as a Startup”
LOI, FRV, Panache, Inovia
12:00–1:00 PM
12:00–1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00–2:00 PM
1:00–2:00 PM
Work Block
2:00–4:00 PM
2:00–4:00 PM
1-on-1 Team Mentorship from Founders
Work directly with experienced founders to sharpen your direction.
4:00–5:00 PM
4:00–5:00 PM
Work Block
5:00–6:00 PM
5:00–6:00 PM
Dinner
6:00–7:00 PM
6:00–7:00 PM
PUBLIC SHOWCASE
PUBLIC SHOWCASE
Public Showcase
Science-fair style public demo — pitch your project to teams and founders.
DELIVERABLE: MVP · DUE 6:00 PM
DELIVERABLE: MVP · DUE 6:00 PM
DAY 05 / MONDAY, NOV 30
Make your case.
Make your case.
Make your case.
Pitch Day · IN PERSON
UBC Sauder School of Business, Henry Angus Building, HA 491
5:00–9:35 PM
5:00–5:30 PM
Check-In
5:30–6:00 PM
Opening Remarks / Judging Overview
6:00–8:00 PM
JUDGING
Judging / Dev Tool
DEVPOST DUE: 5:00 PM
8:00–8:30 PM
Dinner
8:30-9:00 PM
FINALS
Finals
9:00–9:35 PM
CLOSING
Prizes, Awards & Closing
In partnership with
03
BTX
Discover BTX.
Experience what it’s like to raise funding and invest in startups through KickStart’s own virtual stock exchange.
Pitch your idea, attract investments from fellow founders, and watch your startup’s valuation grow in real time as teams compete to become the most valuable startup.
COMING SOON
03
BTX
Discover BTX.
Experience what it’s like to raise funding and invest in startups through KickStart’s own virtual stock exchange.
Pitch your idea, attract investments from fellow founders, and watch your startup’s valuation grow in real time as teams compete to become the most valuable startup.
COMING SOON
03
BTX
Discover BTX.
Experience what it’s like to raise funding and invest in startups through KickStart’s own virtual stock exchange.
Pitch your idea, attract investments from fellow founders, and watch your startup’s valuation grow in real time as teams compete to become the most valuable startup.
COMING SOON
FAQ
Who is KickStart for?
−
Ambitious UBC students and recent graduates with an idea, early product, or problem they cannot stop thinking about. You do not need a finished company or a polished pitch.
What happens during the five days?
+
Three in-person days, two flexible days, and one goal: turning your idea into something real. You’ll learn from founders, validate your ideas with real customers, build an MVP with mentorship, and pitch what you’ve created. No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to build.
Do I need a team?
+
Not at all! You can apply solo or with a team. If you’re coming on your own, there’ll be opportunities to meet other participants and find people to build with. Some of the best ideas start with people who have never met before.
What if I already have a startup?
+
KickStart is your chance to take it further. Connect with experienced founders, get feedback from investors, and unlock new opportunities to grow your startup.
Spend an intentional five days turning your biggest bottleneck into a breakthrough.
FAQ
Who is KickStart for?
−
Ambitious UBC students and recent graduates with an idea, early product, or problem they cannot stop thinking about. You do not need a finished company or a polished pitch.
What happens during the five days?
+
Three in-person days, two flexible days, and one goal: turning your idea into something real. You’ll learn from founders, validate your ideas with real customers, build an MVP with mentorship, and pitch what you’ve created. No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to build.
Do I need a team?
+
Not at all! You can apply solo or with a team. If you’re coming on your own, there’ll be opportunities to meet other participants and find people to build with. Some of the best ideas start with people who have never met before.
What if I already have a startup?
+
KickStart is your chance to take it further. Connect with experienced founders, get feedback from investors, and unlock new opportunities to grow your startup.
Spend an intentional five days turning your biggest bottleneck into a breakthrough.
FAQ
Who is KickStart for?
−
Ambitious UBC students and recent graduates with an idea, early product, or problem they cannot stop thinking about. You do not need a finished company or a polished pitch.
What happens during the five days?
+
Three in-person days, two flexible days, and one goal: turning your idea into something real. You’ll learn from founders, validate your ideas with real customers, build an MVP with mentorship, and pitch what you’ve created. No experience needed, just curiosity and a willingness to build.
Do I need a team?
+
Not at all! You can apply solo or with a team. If you’re coming on your own, there’ll be opportunities to meet other participants and find people to build with. Some of the best ideas start with people who have never met before.
What if I already have a startup?
+
KickStart is your chance to take it further. Connect with experienced founders, get feedback from investors, and unlock new opportunities to grow your startup.
Spend an intentional five days turning your biggest bottleneck into a breakthrough.
Get in touch.
Get in touch.
Get in touch.
KickStart Director
Partnerships Director
KickStart 2026