McMaster Student Services

You have bright ideas, and we know it’s not always easy to know where to start. The Forge is McMaster’s home to innovation and entrepreneurship. Our job is to support budding entrepreneurs every step of the way with resources, mentorship, and programs to guide you throughout your journey.

Unleash your ideas and get started today!

Not sure where to begin? Fill out our contact form and one of our staff will be in touch!

Contact Us

Office Hours

If you’re not sure where to start, trying to decide between multiple ideas, curious about upcoming opportunities, or wondering if entrepreneurship is right for you, let’s chat!

Join us for our weekly virtual office hours via Zoom! Our staff is available every Monday (except for holidays, of course) to answer any questions you may have.

We have four time slots open throughout the day, so whether you prefer morning or afternoon, we’ve got you covered. Choose the time that works best for you for a 30-minute chat: 10:00-10:30am, 10:45-11:15am, 3:15-3:45pm, or 4:00-4:30pm.

  1. Log in to OscarPlus
  2. From the left-hand menu, select “Student Success Centre
  3. Select “Appointments
  4. On the page under Appointment Types, select “Experiential and Employment
  5. Select “Forge Office Hours for Entrepreneurial Students and Alumni“.
  6. Select an available appointment.

Please note, any in-person meetings take place in the Student Success Centre located in Gilmour Hall 110 unless otherwise stated.

If the times offered don’t work for you, email Mariya Leslie (Manager of Student Entrepreneurship) directly to book an alternate time/date.


Experience Ventures

Experience Ventures allows McMaster University students to make an impact alongside real-world innovators through entrepreneurial placements working with startup companies at The Forge. Students receive meaningful work experience, one-on-one mentorship related to their field of study, and a $825 stipend.

Please note, positions are posted by startup companies at The Forge on a rolling basis throughout the year. To see what positions are available, please go to OscarPlus and look for Volunteer & Experiential Building in the Student Success Centre tab.


Startup Survivor

Join Startup Survivor to start and build your business in just 4 months! If you’re ready to make your ideas come to life, The Forge is here to help.  Startup Survivor is a four-month innovation program and pitch competition open to McMaster University students and recent alumni. Startup Survivor provides early-stage startups with the funding, resources, and mentorship to guide and prepare you for launch. If that isn’t exciting enough, we’re giving out $75,000 cash throughout the program!


Current Opportunities

Starting your own business can be daunting and it isn’t for everyone – we get it! If you’re interested in entrepreneurship or innovation, but you’re not quite sure how to dip your toes in the water, this section is for you. Hackathons, ideathons, pitch competitions and more are frequently made available to students. See below for some opportunities to get involved at any experience level!

If there are no opportunities listed below, check back at a later date.