Emily Dimytosh (Commerce) accepts the Satchu Prize for her outstanding performance at The Next 36 competition.

Emily Dimytosh (Commerce) recently accepted the inaugural Satchu Prize for her outstanding performance at The Next 36, a competitive program aimed at transforming Canada’s most promising undergraduates into the country’s top entrepreneurs.

“It was an incredible opportunity that constantly pushed me into situations of discomfort,” says Ms Dimytosh. “The exposure to industry leaders, the rigorous academics, and the ability to learn quickly from experience was unparalleled.”

Ms Dimytosh was one of 36 undergraduate students selected from various disciplines to participate in the eight-month program. She received the Satchu Prize for her outstanding performance in the program and her potential to lead Canada’s next generation of high impact entrepreneurs.

“I was surprised, delighted and more importantly honoured to be the award’s first recipient,” she says. “I am excited about meeting the expectations that the Satchu Prize sets for making an impact on Canada.”

After a rigorous interview process, the young entrepreneurs came together in teams of four to build a business in the mobile or tablet sector. Teams had eight months to prepare and were mentored by some of Canada’s top business leaders. Their efforts culminated in a 16-week Entrepreneurship Institute held in Toronto last summer where they were required to attend classes with professors from Harvard, MIT, and Wharton among others, while continuing to build the businesses and products they had been working on for the previous four months.

Queen’s Michael Schmidt (Engineering Chemistry) and Dan McCann (Commerce) also participated in The Next 36.