Systems Thinkers & Scientific Minds at the Startup Table

Wondering how to take your academic background into the startup world or curious about what it takes to move from research to real-world impact? You’re in the right place! This article is part of an 8-part series supported by RBC Foundation, spotlighting the entrepreneurial journeys of Fellows who are redefining what it means to innovate outside the lab.

To get some advice, we spoke with two of our 2025 Venture for Canada Fellows, Amir Sadeghi and Yunji Seo. Their stories show how curiosity, adaptability, and collaboration can transform years of academic study into entrepreneurial momentum—and spark possibilities far beyond the lab or classroom.

Meet the Fellows

Amir Sadeghi

Meet Amir, a recent Physics PhD graduate who is transitioning from academia into the world of Data Science, ML/AI, and entrepreneurship.

“I’m aiming to apply a scientific mindset to real-world problems. I wanted to do something more practical—something that helps people—by testing a startup idea I’d been thinking about for months,” Amir shares. “Then I discovered Venture for Canada on a board at the University of Waterloo. It felt like the perfect next step: a chance to test my idea, meet people, and learn to build a startup.”

For Amir, the Fellowship Program pushed him out of his comfort zone—providing new experiences, friendships, and a crash course in how to build with a business lens. “On a professional level, it helped me develop a business mindset—learning how different parts of a company work together and how to turn an idea into a structured business plan.”

A key turning point was the Community Impact Challenge, where Fellows tackled teamwork, market research, business planning, and pitching. “That experience showed me how exciting and collaborative the startup world can be, and it shaped my decision to pursue this path more seriously,” Amir reflects.

His advice for future Fellows? “Come to the entrepreneurial world with an open mind and a big heart. You’ll face unexpected challenges, so be patient, stay curious, and be willing to collaborate and learn from others along the way.”

Yunji Seo

Meet Yunji, who recently defended her Master’s in Chemical Engineering before discovering her passion for entrepreneurship.

“I was eager to transition from academia to applied innovation, but I was unsure where to begin. By pure chance, a peer advisor from UofT Career Services mentioned the Fellowship just days before the deadline. It feels serendipitous to be a part of this cohort of Fellows, and I am grateful to VFC for supporting and enabling this pivotal next step,” Yunji recalls.

For Yunji, the Fellowship Program was a refreshing change from academic training. “From Selection Event to Training Camp in Kingston, I rediscovered my passion for entrepreneurial ideation and problem-solving. But more importantly, I found enrichment through collaboration and exposure to the strategic side of building real-world solutions.”

She highlights the impact of her cohort: “The alignment with my peers and the quiet kinship we built left a mark on me. One Fellow said during camp, ‘We are only on Earth once, each of us experiencing life for the first time’ — and from every Fellow I met, I carry something forward with
me.”

A defining moment came when she signed up for a TechTO Hackathon with zero prior experience in tech solutions—just to push herself out of her comfort zone. “That moment cemented my love for agile problem-solving and the startup mindset. Now, I’m committed to learning, adapting, and someday launching my own venture.”

Her advice? “Look for where your skills meet the world’s needs. Know your strengths and your growth areas. Be open to every path crossed in your journey—and turn each into a catalyst when alignment is found.”

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