Growing a business often means having more strategic projects than people available to tackle them. Finding skilled, motivated talent without overstretching your resource capacity can feel like a constant balancing act for expanding ventures. Connecting with university co-op programs offers an ideal bridge, giving your team hands-on operational support while bringing fresh perspectives into your business.

Join us for an informative session with Dan Manns and Andreea Nicu from McMaster University’s Faculty of Science Careers and Experience Centre. You will discover how McMaster Science Co-op students can add immediate value to your business across 15 specialized co-op programs and internships. Learn how the flexible Activate+ work-term model allows growing companies to access top-tier student talent in a way that aligns directly with their project timelines and operational goals.

What you’ll learn

• Explore talent capabilities: Understand how McMaster Science Co-op students can support operations, accelerate project timelines, and drive business growth.
• Identify program expertise: Learn about the skill sets and specialized areas available across 15 distinct science co-op and internship streams.
• Leverage flexible work models: Discover how the Activate+ co-op model provides adaptable hiring options tailored to your company’s capacity needs.
• Define student roles: Learn how to identify, scope, and structure high-impact projects that suit student talent.
• Streamline the hiring process: Gain clear, step-by-step guidance on how to start recruiting and onboarding McMaster Science Co-op talent from day one.

For early-stage companies and growing businesses, accessing specialized skills cost-effectively is essential to scaling sustainable operations. By tapping into university work-integrated learning, founders can build a reliable talent pipeline while getting critical, project-based help. Partnering with regional institutions like McMaster University strengthens our local innovation ecosystem and helps founders solve immediate capacity challenges.

Who should attend

• Startup founders and entrepreneurs looking to scale team capacity efficiently.
• Business leaders and hiring managers with specific project or research needs.
• Employers interested in exploring flexible, cost-effective talent pipelines.

Meet the speakers

Dan Manns, Program Manager, Work-Integrated Learning and Professional Experience

Dan oversees work-integrated learning initiatives at the McMaster University Faculty of Science Careers and Experience Centre. He works closely with academic and industry partners to build valuable career pathways for students while helping employers tap into top student talent.

Andreea Nicu, Career Development Relationship Manager

Andreea connects business leaders and regional partners with McMaster University’s Faculty of Science. She specializes in helping employers identify talent needs and navigate co-op hiring options to find the best fit for their organizations.

Accessibility and accommodation requests

This event will be delivered virtually via Zoom with Closed Captioning (CC) available. If you require additional accommodations, please contact info@innovationfactory.ca.