YSpace has expanded its pan-University network with the launch of YSpace Lassonde, a new initiative designed to amplify innovation and entrepreneurship and help innovators at the Lassonde School of Engineering turn ideas into real-world solutions.
YSpace Lassonde is a new entrepreneurship hub joining the YSpace Network, York University’s pan-campus ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship. The network is a partnership between the Vice-President Research & Innovation, YSpace and the Schulich School of Business, created to scale entrepreneurship and innovation across the university and foster stronger cross-faculty collaboration. Through this Network, YSpace Lassonde brings startup programming and venture support to students, faculty, and alumni affiliated with Lassonde.
The hub provides the Lassonde community with tailored programming, mentorship and resources, offering a dedicated entry point to engage with YSpace offerings. This support will help transform early-stage ideas into enterprise development that deliver tangible outcomes in research, technology and the marketplace.
Available resources include: access to a founder and mentor network; dedicated office and collaboration space; structured venture-building programs (such as training cohorts and accelerators); curated mentorship from industry and subject-matter experts; and connections to broader investor and industry networks to help projects move from concept to market.
“YSpace Lassonde is about expanding what’s possible and making sure the next generation of innovators has everything they need to build, launch and lead,” says Jane Goodyer, dean of Lassonde. “For our students and faculty, this means faster pathways from ideas to real-world impact – more access to mentors, investors, commercialization supports and experiential learning opportunities.”
The hub will be guided by Helen Kontozopoulos, serving in the role of entrepreneur-in-residence (EiR). An alumna of York University, Kontozopoulos is a seasoned entrepreneur, educator and active angel investor with experience in the technology and startup sectors. She has co-founded several ventures, including one that helped lead through a $34-million Series B funding round (the second stage of funding) and grew operations to more than 100 employees.
In her role as EiR, Kontozopoulos will assist Lassonde-affiliated founders through mentorship, office hours and strategic guidance in areas such as enterprise development, customer discovery and early validation.
“I’m excited to join YSpace Lassonde and work closely with founders as they build their startups in the early stages,” says Kontozopoulos. “Coming back to York as an alum makes the work especially meaningful.”
The launch of YSpace Lassonde is also significant for York’s advancement of a University-wide innovation culture.
“YSpace Lassonde marks another exciting milestone for York University’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem,” says David Kwok, YSpace’s director of entrepreneurship and innovation. “By embedding YSpace programming and resources directly into one of Canada’s leading engineering programs, we are creating greater access for students, researchers and alumni to ideate, create and launch solutions with global impact.”
Goodyer echoes that sentiment. “For the York community, it means a stronger, more unified innovation ecosystem where different disciplines can collaborate, build ventures together and help drive solutions to the challenges Canada and the world are facing,” she says.
Members of the Lassonde community interested in accessing YSpace Lassonde services are invited to book an idea consultation, available on a rolling basis throughout the year. Following this first step, applicants may be invited to submit a formal application for continued support and participation in programs.
Visit the YSpace Lassonde website to learn more.
With files from Jiho Bak