On May 15, 2025, Fulbright Canada, in partnership with Alacrity Canada (powered by Startup Science), hosted the 2025 Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Summit at the Brookstreet Hotel in Ottawa, bringing together a cross-section of industry leaders, academics, and changemakers for a day of connection and visionary entrepreneurship. Throughout the Summit, one theme consistently rose to the surface—innovation as a catalyst for empowerment.
The afternoon began with a welcome luncheon for the first-ever cohort of the Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Initiative (FCEI) and partners from Alacrity Canada. It was followed by five engaging presentations from the FCEI grantees about their remarkable ventures. Yusuf Bozkurt, Cole Scanlon, Sonali Sharma, Ayushi Sinha, and Changxiao Xie—each leveraging artificial intelligence to equip individuals and communities with the tools to make informed, data-driven decisions in areas such as personal health, career development, entrepreneurial matchmaking, and organizational growth. Whether by improving how patients understand complex medical data or helping students navigate college admissions and early career choices, each venture was centred on making knowledge more accessible and actionable, and positioning others for long-term success and wellbeing. The grantees sparked lively discussion and questions from a captivated audience, spanning everything from verifying the authenticity and accuracy of data, assessing scalability, adapting for specialized audiences, and automation. Despite the breadth of the sectors represented, the shared ethos that ran through each grantee’s initiative was about using AI, not as a replacement for human decision-making, but as a tool to empower people to make better ones.
Following the grantee presentations, Dr. Michael Hawes, CEO of Fulbright Canada, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting emerging entrepreneurs through cross-border collaboration and merit-based initiatives that are designed to help others thrive beyond academia. Dr. Hawes emphasized the importance of empowering the “best and brightest” for success through meaningful partnerships with the private sector and deeper alum engagement. “Our goal is not only to cultivate talent but to mobilize it—connecting bold ideas with the platforms and people that can help them thrive”, Dr. Hawes noted.
The Summit included three very special guests. Dr. Sylvain Charbonneau, President of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), emphasized innovation's critical role in shaping Canada's research and commercial landscape. Dr. Mona Nemer, Canada's Chief Science Advisor and a renowned medical researcher, offered a compelling case for a heightened commitment to science, engineering, and entrepreneurship in a complex and competitive world. Dr. Alejandro Adem, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), underscored the importance of fostering cross-sector collaboration and empowering early-stage entrepreneurs positioned at the intersection of research excellence, economic success, and social impact. Dr. Adem also spoke to NSERC's new "Lab to Market" program.
The evening culminated in a dinner. Robin McLay, Special Advisor to the CEO of Fulbright Canada and Director of Fulbright Canada West, introduced keynote speaker Owen Matthews, Founder and Chairman of Alacrity Canada and General Partner at Wesley Clover. In a moving personal address, Matthews shared his insights from his own entrepreneurial journey. He paid particular attention to the importance of risk-taking, noting that it often involves a "leap of faith" and the increasing importance of digital marketing. He concluded his remarks by reminding everyone that no matter how innovative an idea might be, the key to success includes careful execution and an understanding of what the market needs.
As the evening drew to a close, industry leaders and both distinguished and aspiring entrepreneurs continued to share ideas, strengthen networks, and reflect on the transformative potential of international academic exchange.
The Fulbright Canada Entrepreneurship Summit reinforced Fulbright Canada’s dedication to bridging borders—not only between countries, but between ideas, sectors, and people—with the common purpose of empowering innovation and driving social impact.
