The EWOR Advantage: 5 Reasons Western University Students Should Look Beyond Local Incubators

As a student at Western University, 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 Western University 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.

Western University's incubators, such as Propel Entrepreneurship and the Western Accelerator, offer valuable mentorship opportunities for early-stage entrepreneurs. Propel provides "world-class mentorship" as part of its support system for startups in Southwestern Ontario. The Western Accelerator offers hands-on mentorship from in-house experts and industry partners, aiming to compress a year's worth of learning into a few months. Local mentors, including successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, provide tailored guidance, share their experiences, and help ventures navigate challenges. This local connection offers relevant market insights and networking opportunities within the regional ecosystem, crucial for early-stage growth.

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.

Western University offers various funding opportunities for student startups through its local incubators and entrepreneurship programs, primarily managed by the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship. These opportunities include seed funding and grant programs designed to support students at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey. Programs like "Seed Your Startup" provide funding up to $2,000 for pitching ideas, while the "Startup Challenge" offers up to $1,500. More established ventures can look to the Western Accelerator, which provides $12,000 in funding for accepted teams in their four-month program. Additionally, events like Western Angels' Demo Day connect student and alumni startups with investors. The university's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship is also supported by significant gifts aimed at expanding programs and providing resources across all faculties.

By choosing EWOR, Western University 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. 

Western University's incubators, such as Launch Pad and Accel Labs, cultivate a network that fosters student connections and collaboration. Launch Pad provides an immersive environment where students can interact with entrepreneurs and develop contacts. Accel Labs, a student-founded incubator, connects students with business leaders and community organizers to help them develop and expand their initiatives. These incubators offer a supportive community of peers, mentors, and industry experts, facilitating collaborative insights and networking opportunities. Additionally, Western connects students with the broader community through programs like the Western Serves Network, linking students with local organizations for volunteer opportunities. This integrated approach helps students build valuable connections and gain real-world experience.

While local incubators at Western University 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. 

Western University offers entrepreneurial support through programs like the Entrepreneurial Summer Internship, which is an in-person, full-time commitment located at the Western Accelerator. This structure, requiring physical presence and dedicated hours, might impact participation for students who are not in the local area during the summer or have other commitments. While specific details on the structure and accessibility of all local incubators at Western University weren't extensively detailed, university incubators generally provide physical workspaces, mentorship, training, and access to funding. They tend to serve the local business environment. Western University also emphasizes campus accessibility in general, with efforts to remove physical barriers and provide access to programs and activities for students with disabilities. The format of programs (in-person, remote, or hybrid) significantly impacts student participation, with hybrid and remote options potentially increasing accessibility for students who cannot be on campus full-time. Some programs at Western, like certain internships, can be remote, hybrid, or in-person depending on the employer's needs.

EWOR’s fully remote programmes are built for modern entrepreneurs – offering the flexibility to participate from anywhere, on your terms. Western University 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.

Western University's local incubators, such as the Morrissette Institute for Entrepreneurship and BioNext, offer various educational supports to foster entrepreneurial skills. The Morrissette Institute provides "The Founder's Journey," a free online course with eight modules covering topics from ideation to growth and scaling. This course, taught by Ivey Business School professors, includes video modules and tests, with a certificate upon completion. Western also offers the Ivey Certificate in Entrepreneurship, a suite of courses for undergraduate students focusing on developing ideas into viable businesses, including a capstone project. BioNext, the MedTech Incubator, provides tailored support, including mentorship and resources, to help entrepreneurs navigate the medical technology landscape. Additionally, programs like Accel Labs, a social entrepreneurship incubator, offer workshops on professional skills like fundraising and promotion. The Western Accelerator program also includes weekly workshops and educational training for accepted ventures.

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 Western University'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 Western University 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