Turning ideas into startups with the ICE Engineering Incubator

The ICE Engineering Incubator, located in the Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex (ETLC) building (photo supplied)

The Faculty of Engineering is home to some of the brightest minds tackling today’s most complex challenges. But what happens when an innovative idea has the potential to become a real-world business? That is where the Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Incubator steps in.

Led by Luke Butterworth, the ICE initiative is a structured 12-month mentorship program designed to help startups — many led by engineering students and faculty — develop their ideas into scalable businesses. ICE supports up to 30 cohort teams each year, pairing them with experienced mentors from various industries. These mentors guide startups through the early stages of business development, helping them refine their products or services, secure investment, and ultimately prepare for graduation into larger accelerators or external funding opportunities.

This year’s cohort includes 16 promising ventures, each gaining critical insight into how to structure and grow a company. The ICE team — a dedicated group of four – is committed to providing the right tools and mentorship to help founders navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. One of the program’s key goals is to build a sustainable pipeline for technology commercialization within the faculty and beyond.

Beyond the structured mentorship program, ICE is launching new initiatives to connect industry with innovators. One such initiative is a reverse trade show, where companies would present real-world problems to entrepreneurs who can develop innovative solutions. Another idea is establishing a founder-led sponsorship program, which would invest $25,000 annually into each of 30 early-stage companies. 

ICE also offers dedicated workspace and tailored programs to help startups at various stages of development. These resources provide teams with the environment and support they need to focus on innovation, collaboration and business growth.

"ICE is about more than just funding — we provide hands-on mentorship and a structured pathway to help engineering innovators turn their ideas into successful businesses," says Luke Butterworth.

Faculty whose technologies or research have commercialization potential have two key ways to engage: by participating in the reverse trade show to explore industry challenges or by working with ICE to guide their innovations to market. If you want to transform engineering research into a viable business, connect with the ICE Incubator.