Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained Blog

One of the perks of being a part of the University of Winnipeg Foundation is our proximity to the downtown campus, especially in June.

Seeing student’s smiling faces and those of their loved ones helping them celebrate graduation after many years of hard work always reminds me of how critical a role financial support plays in helping them reach their academic dreams.

For many, this ceremony in June will be but one of many they’ll be a part of as they continue their journey in post-secondary education. A unique feature of the University of Winnipeg (UWinnipeg) is that some undergraduate students will take part in advanced research projects and are already thinking about where to find the funding to support their world changing ideas.

And the person who provides that life-changing support could be you.

We launched the Venture Fund Group last year that connected a small group of community and business leaders with UWinnipeg researchers who were just starting their careers to share their ideas designed to solve key scientific and social challenges. After hearing the researcher’s pitches, participants could pledge financial support towards any project they believed would have the greatest positive impact, which the UWF matched dollar for dollar up to $5,000.  We are now getting ready for another round in September 2025.

This initiative helps bridge the activities of the students and faculty with those willing to support their inspired research.  Aside from the chance to invest in a great idea, it’s also an amazing opportunity to ask questions and provide valuable feedback to UWinnipeg’s future research stars.

With Canada facing significant threats to our prosperity, our collective need to innovate and strengthen education and research is more critical than ever. This is one great way to help us do just that.

If you would like to know more about participating in the next round of the Venture Fund Group, or have any feedback on what you’ve read in our newsletter, please email us at foundation@uwinnipeg.ca or call us at (204) 786-9995. We look forward to hearing from you!

In service,

Javier Schwersensky

President and CEO, UWF