Sheridan students grow, connect and innovate with EDGE’s Thrive program

EDGE, Sheridan’s entrepreneurship hub, helps students prove that entrepreneurship is built on growth, creativity, and impact. Serving as a bridge between study and application, EDGE connects students with mentorship, resources, and opportunities to turn learning into practice. Together, these resources spark innovation.

Building on this foundation, Thrive, the signature seven-week hybrid experience from EDGE, helps Sheridan students refine their ideas through one-on-one mentorship, practical workshops, and pitch development. Participants gain real-world entrepreneurial skills, CCR recognition, and the confidence to turn classroom learning into action.

Beyond workshops and mentorship, students in Sheridan EDGE’s Thrive program walk away with ventures, adaptability, leadership, and problem-solving skills that will serve them wherever their journeys lead.

“The Thrive program reshaped how I think about impact beyond just building technology,” said Jyothis Jayanthulal, a Computer Programming diploma student.

Another Thrive participant echoed this growth. Connor Uhrig, a Computer Systems Technology student, found the program directly connected to his academic work: “I learned about the basic skills needed to develop a pitch deck, improve my knowledge from a legal standpoint, and further evaluate how I can progress in my entrepreneurial journey. EDGE has helped me conceptualize ideas and provided beneficial skills to use in my capstone project in Semesters 5 and 6.”

Nearly 90 per cent of participants report leaving Thrive with a stronger entrepreneurial mindset. Since Fall 2024, the program’s four cohorts — approximately 55 students — have collectively received nearly 300 hours of mentorship and expert guidance to date.

“EDGE has helped me continue down the entrepreneurship path, and the resources have been invaluable to the growth of our business.”

– Sheridan business student and QuickFix Bikes co-founder Bassem Zaklama

Business students shared similar praise: “Thrive was a great experience, and I recommend it to any aspiring entrepreneur,” said Bassem Zaklama, a business diploma student and co-founder of QuickFix Bikes, a mobile bike repair service. “EDGE has helped me continue down the entrepreneurship path, and the resources have been invaluable to the growth of our business.”

Others found Thrive expanded horizons beyond the classroom. “I secured a tech startup for a website project and developed a personal content strategy,” said Drishti Kothari, a Marketing Management student in Sheridan’s Pilon School of Business (PSB). “Using Thrive frameworks, I also gained international clients and helped my Enactus team win three of four challenges at Enactus Canada Regionals.”

These student voices reflect a broader story — Thrive is shaping how Sheridan students see themselves as innovators, leaders, and changemakers. Participants consistently report stronger communication, sharper critical thinking, and a new confidence in leadership.

The program’s ripple effect continues through EDGE’s work to embed entrepreneurial learning more deeply into Sheridan’s academic pathways. Faculty collaborations are making it easier for students to integrate Thrive into their co-op placements, while Co-op on the EDGE enables students to fulfill work-integrated learning requirements by building their own ventures. “In collaboration with the Sheridan Co-op Office, we created an entrepreneurial internship for the students of the Faculty of Animation, Arts and Design (FAAD). This unique opportunity blends 420 hours of curriculum-based experience with 35 hours of business mentorship through Thrive, helping students shift from the mindset of being a job seeker to job creator. We want to continue creating more opportunities across faculties," said Nadine Sinno, student engagement manager at EDGE.

Marketing Management student Navneet Kaur explained how Thrive shaped both her co-op and entrepreneurial experiences: “Looking back on my time in the Thrive program, it was such a valuable experience. Key takeaways like developing a Business Model Canvas and the concept of Minimum Viable Product have been crucial in shaping my business ideas and refining my problem-solving approach. I am implementing the approaches I learned at Sheridan EDGE in the job market as a co-op student, solving customer problems with the same tools I applied in Thrive.”

Thrive celebrates more than individual ventures — it highlights the skills, resilience, and networks students will carry forward. By turning bold ideas into real ventures, EDGE’s Thrive program empowers students to create social, economic, and professional change.

By translating bold ideas into real ventures, this work continues to strengthen how students learn, lead and create impact across Sheridan. That momentum now carries forward to the next group of participants.

Applications are now open for Sheridan students to join the upcoming Thrive cohort.