The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons University of British Columbia Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at University of British Columbia, you may be familiar with the local incubators and entrepreneurial programmes offered on campus. While these initiatives provide valuable support, expanding your horizons could significantly increase your odds of long-term success. In fact, one study found that 87% of startups that went through top-tier programmes were still active after five years, compared to just 44% of those that went it alone. That’s the kind of difference the right programme can make.

But how do you know if an incubator programme is right for you? With so many rigid, one-size-fits-all options out there, finding the right fit can be tough. That’s where EWOR comes in: a uniquely flexible platform combining global mentorship, funding opportunities, and a prestigious network – designed specifically to help ambitious founders thrive.

In this article, we’ll explore five key reasons why University of British Columbia students should look beyond their local incubators and consider EWOR to accelerate their entrepreneurial journey.

1. Access to Global Mentorship

Many university incubators and local programmes offer mentorship from faculty, alumni, or nearby founders. While helpful, these perspectives are often limited to regional markets and conventional startup paths.

EWOR operates borderless, on a global scale. Fellows are paired with mentors who have founded and scaled companies across continents and industries – including unicorns like SumUp, Adjust, and ProGlove. Rather than sporadic office hours, mentorship is built into the fabric of the programme – modular, consistent, and personal.

UBC's local incubators, such as entrepreneurship@UBC, offer significant mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. These programs connect founders with a network of experienced mentors from Vancouver's innovation community. The value of these local mentors lies in their real-world business acumen, industry expertise, and broad professional networks within the local ecosystem. They provide guidance on various aspects of venture building, from validating business models and achieving market traction to securing funding and navigating the complexities of the local market. This support is crucial for early-stage companies aiming to develop sustainable advantages and scale their ventures.

With EWOR, you’ll have the chance to work with mentors who have scaled their businesses across different countries and industries, providing invaluable insights that can help your startup succeed in the global marketplace.

2. Larger Funding Opportunities

While local incubators may provide grants or limited seed funding, securing substantial capital is often a challenge for early-stage entrepreneurs. EWOR offers up to €500,000 in initial funding for selected startups, which can significantly boost your ability to develop your business. Moreover, EWOR provides access to a global network of investors, venture capital firms, and angel investors, ensuring that you have the opportunity to secure further rounds of funding as your startup grows.

UBC's local incubators, primarily through entrepreneurship@UBC, offer various funding opportunities for student startups. These include the UBC Seed Fund and entrepreneurship@UBC's Concept Fund, which provide critical early-stage investment to help promising ventures get off the ground. Additionally, the HATCH Concept Fund offers grants of up to $25,000 to early-stage UBC startups to support their path to commercialization. Students can also explore programs like Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur, which provides funding through internships to help student and postdoctoral entrepreneurs develop and commercialize their ventures. Furthermore, competitions like Innovation Onboard offer cash prizes for student-led innovative projects.

By choosing EWOR, University of British Columbia students can tap into larger funding sources, giving them the financial support needed to scale their businesses more effectively.

3. A Highly Selective and Prestigious Network

One of the main advantages of EWOR is the highly selective nature of its community. EWOR accepts only the top 0.1% of applicants, bringing together some of the world’s most talented and ambitious entrepreneurs. 

This exclusivity doesn’t just elevate the quality of each cohort — it also unlocks access to an extraordinary network of investors, mentors, and industry leaders. Just to name a few: Fabrice Grinda, one of the world’s leading angel investors and founder of OLX; Christian Kroll, founder of Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine after Google; and Vaitea Cowan, co-founder of Enapter, (€640M IPO) and a Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Energy. 

UBC's local incubators, such as entrepreneurship@UBC and its HATCH Accelerator, foster a strong network and community for students. These programs connect students, researchers, faculty, and alumni with industry experts and mentors. This provides opportunities for students to build connections, gain practical business training, and receive guidance on developing their ventures. The incubators facilitate collaboration through programs like Mentor2Market, where participants work in teams with experienced mentors, and events like Startup Sprints, which bring together individuals from diverse backgrounds to brainstorm and develop ideas. This collaborative environment helps students test ideas, develop skills, and create successful ventures.

While local incubators at University of British Columbia may provide valuable networking within the campus or regional ecosystem, EWOR’s global network opens doors to entirely new levels of collaboration. Fellows work alongside peers from dozens of countries and industries, connecting with elite investors, unicorn founders, and seasoned operators.

As many fellows have said, the community is one of the most unexpected – and most valuable – parts of the experience. “The real magic lies in the community: the kind of conversations, insights, and connections that lead not only to breakthroughs – but to lasting friendships with some of the most fascinating people they’ve ever met”.

4. Flexibility and Remote Access

Many local incubators require in-person participation, which can be limiting for students balancing coursework, part-time jobs, or other commitments. 

UBC offers various incubators and entrepreneurship programs to support students, researchers, faculty, and alumni. These programs often utilize a hybrid structure, combining in-person and online components. For example, some programs feature virtual learning alongside mandatory in-person sessions. This hybrid approach aims to balance the accessibility of online resources with the benefits of in-person interaction, such as relationship building and networking. The structure and accessibility of these programs impact student participation by offering flexibility for those who may face geographical barriers or scheduling conflicts with fully in-person programs. The blend of online and in-person activities allows for wider reach while still providing valuable hands-on experience and mentorship opportunities. UBC also has resources like the Centre for Accessibility to support students with disabilities, further enhancing inclusivity in its programs.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. University of British Columbia students can access top-tier mentorship, founder-led education, and global resources without needing to relocate or follow a rigid schedule. Whether you’re validating an idea or scaling your first product, you’ll have the freedom to build around your life, not the other way around.

And if you're worried about missing out on in-person connection – don’t be. EWOR hosts real-world gatherings like the EWOR Connect and EWOR House, a multi-day retreat where fellows, alumni, and investors connect in person. We also organise city-based meetups and our flagship Grand Pitch event, which brings hundreds of top-tier investors together twice a year. So while the programme is remote-first, it’s far from remote-only.

5. Comprehensive Entrepreneurial Education

Local incubators often provide valuable workshops and learning modules, but they may be limited in scope and depth. EWOR offers over 200 exclusive videos, workshops, and educational modules designed by top entrepreneurs and industry experts. This comprehensive entrepreneurial education covers everything from refining your business idea to scaling and securing funding, ensuring that you develop both as an entrepreneur and a leader.

UBC's entrepreneurship@UBC offers extensive educational support for students and the wider UBC community. They provide programs designed to help individuals explore entrepreneurship and innovation, regardless of their stage in the entrepreneurial journey. This includes practical business training, industry expertise, and mentorship. Specific learning opportunities include workshops and courses covering fundamental entrepreneurship topics. For instance, they have offered micro-courses focusing on areas like identifying customer needs and developing value propositions. Additionally, UBC is developing a flexible learning platform with modular resources for undergraduate, graduate, and non-credit programs, aiming to increase access to entrepreneurship education across faculties. These modules can be combined to support various entrepreneurial learning environments.

With EWOR, you’ll gain access to a more extensive and detailed entrepreneurial education, giving you the tools needed to overcome challenges and succeed in today’s competitive startup landscape.

That’s a Wrap

While University of British Columbia's local incubators offer great resources for students starting their entrepreneurial journey, EWOR provides an unmatched opportunity for those looking to take their startup to the next level. With access to global mentorship, larger funding opportunities, a highly selective network, flexible remote programmes, and comprehensive entrepreneurial education, EWOR offers University of British Columbia students the chance to build and scale their startups on a global stage. If you’re ready to look beyond local incubators and accelerate your entrepreneurial success, EWOR could be the ideal platform for you.

Image credits: Andrew Stutesman on Unsplash