The startups McGill doesn’t put on a stage.
McGill INNOV8 is a platform built on one idea: novel technology deserves a spotlight. No consulting firms, no OEMs. Just founders, funders, and the students who show up early.
This isn’t just another club.
You walk away with something real. McGill walks away with a startup culture it didn’t have before.
See what’s next
Novel technology and the companies building it, months or years before they’re mainstream.
02Meet who’s building it
Direct access to founders and the funding ecosystem behind them, not just the theory.
03Find your path
Whether that’s working at a startup, founding your own, or staying curious, we meet you where you are.
Founder, or first hire?
Being part of a startup looks different depending on where you stand. We show you both, directly from the people living them.
What it takes to found one
The idea, the funding ecosystem, and the founders who navigated both, told directly by the people who did it.
What it’s like to work for one
Early-career engineers don’t always know a startup is a viable path. We show what the day-to-day, growth, and upside actually look like.
Ready to meet the next generation of founders?
Why McGill INNOV8 exists
McGill INNOV8 is a platform dedicated to exposing McGill students to the world of startups and fostering a startup culture at the university. It’s built for students with an interest in engineering innovation, novel technology, and entrepreneurship.
Ask most students what a startup is, and you’ll hear “a small business.” Size isn’t the point. A startup is defined by what it’s built on: innovation, not just any business running the usual playbook. That distinction gets lost at most engineering networking events, which tend to feature the same consulting firms, OEMs, and service companies on repeat, leaving little room to see the cutting edge of what engineering can actually look like.
We exist to change that.
Our events are comprised exclusively of startups, ensuring that every company a student encounters represents a novel technology or idea they are unlikely to have seen before. We host talks with startup founders, giving students a candid look into their journeys, thought processes, and how they’ve navigated the challenges of building a company. We also host talks with professionals from the funding ecosystem, including venture capitalists, incubators, and accelerators, framed for the founders in the room: what they actually look for, and what can make or break your pitch. All talks follow a structured format, with questions curated from club members beforehand, followed by an open-floor Q&A.
Through these initiatives, we aim to expose students to the kind of engineering that pushes boundaries: the companies, technologies, and ideas that don’t yet have a household name but arguably should. We offer two lenses on the startup world: what it takes to found one, funding ecosystem included, and what it’s like to work for one early in your career. Members also get to network directly with the people behind these innovations, opening doors to future career opportunities or collaborations.
Our broader vision is to inspire the next generation of innovators and founders at McGill, and to grow a startup culture within the faculty that, today, is still finding its footing.
Curiosity now. Direction later.
Your relationship with the club deepens the longer you stick around.
Curiosity
One event is enough to see a side of engineering you didn’t know existed.
Understanding
Startups, funding, founders: the ecosystem stops being abstract and starts making sense.
Direction
An informed career decision. Maybe even the first step toward a venture of your own.
Events
Recurring formats, each designed to put a different kind of person in front of you.
Event formats
Startup Showcase
A kiosk-style networking event featuring only startups, so every table is both a company and a technology you’re unlikely to have already seen.
- 100% novel-tech companies
- Real opportunities, not just contacts
- Open to all McGill students
Founder Panels
A panel of startup founders giving a candid look at their journey and the realities of building something new, straight from the people who lived it.
- Structured Q&A format
- Member-curated questions
- Open-floor Q&A to close
Funding Ecosystem Panels
VCs, incubators, and accelerators share what they actually look for and what can make or break your pitch, framed for the founders in the room, not the investors.
- Multi-panelist format
- A founder’s-eye view
- Open-floor Q&A to close
Startup Site Visits
A firsthand look at how a startup actually operates day to day, beyond what a networking event or panel alone can convey.
- On-site at a real startup
- Small group, direct access
- Team, product, and culture up close
Got an idea for an event?
Executive Committee
Now recruitingOpen roles across every team. See who we’re looking for below.
Executive roles
President
Oversees the club’s overall vision and strategy, represents McGill INNOV8 to the University and external partners, and keeps every team on the executive committee aligned.
VP Finance
OpenRecruiting now
Oversees all finance operations: budgeting for events and securing funding from the EUS and third-party sponsors. Maintains accurate financial records and reports the club’s financial status to the executive committee.
VP Outreach & Relations
Leads cold outreach to startups, industry experts, and leaders aligned with the club’s goals, securing their involvement in events and initiatives. Owns the relations side, keeping secured companies engaged and finding value in the club.
VP Events
OpenRecruiting now
Oversees the preparation and execution of every club event. Works with Outreach & Relations to secure guests and companies, with Marketing on promotion, and with Finance to coordinate sponsors within budget.
VP Marketing
OpenRecruiting now
Oversees all marketing: the creation, editing, and posting of advertisement content across the club’s social media platforms. Outsources content creation when needed and ensures everything stays consistent with the club’s brand and image.
VP Communications
The primary point of contact between the club and its members, handling inquiries from prospective and existing members. Owns member onboarding and manages the club’s internal and external communication platforms, keeping the membership active and informed through regular updates.
Written application
Tell us why you want the role and what you’d bring to it.
Interview with exec
A conversation with the current executive committee.
One academic year
Every role runs for one year, a natural point to renew or rotate.
Join McGill INNOV8
Two ways in: come to events as a member, or help run the club as an exec.
Ways to join
General Membership
Gain free access to the community Discord:
- A community of builders and founders
- Startup news and opportunities, before anyone else
- A say in our events and who we bring in
Executive Application
Join the team running the club.
- Written application + interview with exec
- Terms run one academic year
- See the full team page for open roles
Contact
Questions about partnering, speaking, or getting involved? Reach out.
Privacy notice
What McGill INNOV8 collects through this website, why, and what you can ask us to do with it.
What we collect
Only what you type into our forms:
- Membership sign-up: your name, email, year, faculty, department, McGill student ID, and (optionally) why you want to join.
- Executive application: the same details, plus your phone number, the role you're applying for, your answers, your LinkedIn or portfolio link, your availability, and your CV if you attach one.
- Contact form: your name, email, and message.
We don't use cookies, trackers, or analytics, and nothing is collected just from you browsing the site.
Why we collect it
To manage club membership, to review executive applications, and to reply to your messages. Your student ID confirms you're a McGill student for our club records.
Who can see it
Only the McGill INNOV8 executive team. It's stored in the club's Google Drive. We share membership details with the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS) only as required for club recognition, and with no one else. We never sell your information.
Outside services
Like any website, a few services see your device's IP address when the page loads: Google Fonts (for our typefaces) and Discord (for the live member count). Contact form messages are delivered to our inbox by Web3Forms. If you join our Discord, Discord's own privacy policy applies there.
How long we keep it
We keep your information, including membership details, executive applications, and CVs, until you ask us to delete it. Email president@mcgillinnov8.com and we'll delete it.
Your rights
You can ask to see, correct, or delete your information at any time by emailing president@mcgillinnov8.com.
Person responsible
The McGill INNOV8 President is responsible for protecting your personal information, and can be reached at president@mcgillinnov8.com.
Last updated: November 2026
Apply to the exec team
One application per role. Take your time, we read every one. Fields marked * are required.