The 2023 CoLab Program

The CoLab Program is an innovation accelerator that supports the generation of change makers. Throughout the 10-week program, social entrepreneurs from across
the nation work collaboratively to create a minimal viable solution to some of Canadas most pressing problems.

Participants get access to industry and impact experts who mentor them through the ideation process. The goal of the program is to create truly meaningful change in our communities.

The 2023 CoLab Program has now ended. See below for program highlights, grant recipients and more!

2023 CoLab Program Highlights

The 2023 CoLab Program was a huge success! Watch the video above to learn more.

To capture the depth of the mental health crisis in Canada, we held a panel discussion with eight esteemed experts in the field of mental health who helped us curate a list of four sub-focus areas.
Our social entrepreneurs worked collaboratively with mentors and inspirational speakers from across the nation to develop a minimal viable solution to the Mental Health Crisis in Canada. Participants attended three virtual co-creation and challenge sessions that emboldened and reframed their thinking around this year’s sub-focus areas. Participants collaborated together to produce actionable ideas to make real change happen now. All participants who completed the program requirements received a $500 honorarium. Congratulations to all participants of the 2023 CoLab Program!

2023 CoLab Program Participants

Alexander Lam
Amy Zhou
Anjali Ramburn
Ashlynn Doljac
Ayomide Adekiitan
Carley Schandlen
Chey Kidd
Chijindu Ukagwu
Daniel Akinjise
Eileen Danaee
Eric Fleising
Grace Seeley
Hayley Ellis
Heba Khan
Isabella Nicastro
Ilya Robinson
Jasleen Sandhu
Jose Reyeros
Karen Nembhard
Karen Huo
Karima Leslie
Keerat Sandhu
Lanise Lywood
Mabe Kyle
Mairo Ahmadu
Maria Khandaker
Mary Baker
Matthew Gaiser
Nicholas Lor
Nicole Bonggao David
Nicole Bolin
Omar Khan
Sara Tam
Sierra Patey
Sophia Yang
Sydney Penner
Tayyaba Shahzad
Thenusha Satsoruban
Tooba Dawood
Zack Henze

2023 CoLab Program Grant Recipients

This year’s CoLab Program awarded grant funding to selected proposals from a pool of $61,000. An esteemed panel of judges was carefully selected to review and assess each proposal based on criteria of viability, feasibility, desirability and impact. Thank you to our partners at OTIP for their generous donation of $11,000. This year, we also added additional awards and in-kind partnership opportunities for our participants.

Project Name

CogniLink

Participant/s

Matthew Gaiser & Nicholas Lor

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$9,000.00

Project Name

The Chronic Illness Group

Participant/s

Karima Leslie

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$8,000.00

Project Name

jargon

Participant/s

Karen Huo

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$3,000.00

Project Name

Our Safehouse

Participant/s

Sierra Patey

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$10,000.00

Project Name

Rural Queer Survival Guide

Participant/s

Mabe Kyle

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$8,000.00

Project Name

Frog Pockets

Participant/s

Chey Kidd

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$10,000.00

Project Name

Trans Healthcare Database

Participant/s

Ilya Robinson

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted

$2,000.00

Project Name

Plan Gratitude

Participant/s

Eileen Danaee

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted (by OTIP)

$1,000.00

Project Name

Reset

Participant/s

Alexander Lam

Focus

Mental Health

Amount Granted (by OTIP)

$10,000.00

2023 CoLab Program Speakers

Participants attended two virtual inspiration sessions that emboldened and reframed their thinking around this year’s challenge spaces.

2023 CoLab Program Mentors

Participants worked with mentors and peers to co-create solutions to specific challenge spaces. Colab mentors bring experience, guidance, and additional perspective to foster meaningful ideation.

Our Partners

What People Are Saying

Follow our socials for info on the 2024 CoLab Program in the new year.

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