Founding applications open

Where Vancouver’s next generation builds.

A community for ambitious high-school students across Metro Vancouver who are into entrepreneurship, business, technology, creativity and innovation. Meet people you’ll build with. Learn from founders. Make things happen.

100 founding member spots
Free to join, always for members
Gr. 8–12 students across Metro Vancouver

We connect ambitious young people in Vancouver who want to build something — a business, a project, a skill, a network.

You don’t need to already run a company. If you’re curious about entrepreneurship, technology, investing, design, media or leadership — and you want to actually make things instead of just talking about them — this is for you.

Read our story

The Founding 100

Be one of the first 100.

We’re selecting Vancouver’s first cohort of founding members. Founding members get a permanent designation, a low membership number, first access to every event, and a direct say in how this community takes shape.

0 / 100
founding spots filled

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early applicants get the lowest member numbers.

What you get

Community, not another class.

Short talks, real building, and a room full of people your age who are actually doing things.

A real network

Meet ambitious students from schools across Metro Vancouver — not just your own. Every event, you’ll leave having met at least three new people.

Founders & mentors

Fireside chats and office hours with Vancouver entrepreneurs who walk through how their business actually works — revenue, customers, mistakes.

Build nights & pitch nights

Workshops, challenges and competitions where you ship a landing page, make your first sale, or pitch a project to a room and judges.

A member directory

Need a designer, a developer, a video editor, a co-founder? Search the community and find another member who does exactly that.

An opportunities board

Internships, competitions, grants, hackathons, part-time gigs and startup programs — curated for young people in Vancouver.

A place to be seen

Member Projects showcase, Founder Stories and Member of the Month — we promote what you’re building to our whole audience.

Who it’s for

You don’t need a company. You need a drive to build.

Members come in with all kinds of interests. Pick the ones that sound like you.

Founder Aspiring founder Creator / media Developer / technical Design Marketing Sales Finance / investing E-commerce Social impact Content Leadership
How it works

From application to building — in four steps.

STEP 01

Apply

Fill out a short application. It takes about 10 minutes. We ask about your interests and what you want to build.

STEP 02

Get accepted

We review on a rolling basis and email you back. Spots are competitive, but if you’re serious about building something, there’s a place for you.

STEP 03

Join the community

Get your member number, join the member WhatsApp group, introduce yourself, and see what’s coming up.

STEP 04

Start building

Come to your first event, meet people, join a challenge, and put your idea into action.

EventFounders Night #01
WhenNovember 16, 2026
SpeakerDaniel Frankel, Tap & Barrel
WhereDowntown Vancouver
CostFree for members
Founders Night #01

Our first event is set — November 16.

An evening of structured networking, a fireside chat with Daniel Frankel, founder of Tap & Barrel, and time to actually meet the people you’ll build with. Exact venue goes to the founding cohort first.

From the founder

“I did my first paid show at 13. I wanted a room full of people building things too.”

I’ve performed magic across the Lower Mainland for three years — and running that taught me pricing, marketing, and how to keep clients coming back. I’ve also tried to start things that didn’t work. The whole time, I didn’t know other people my age who were building something. Vancouver Founders is the room I wish I’d had.

Read the full story

Support the next generation

Partners & supporters

Coworking spaces, startups, firms and community organizations that help make events happen.

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Become a partner

Questions

Frequently asked

Who can join?
High-school students (roughly grades 8–12) who live or study in Metro Vancouver and are genuinely interested in building something. You don’t need to already run a business.
Does it cost anything?
Membership is free. Some special events may have an optional cost, but core events and the community are free for members.
Why is there an application?
We want a community of people who actually show up and contribute. The application is short. Spots are competitive, but it’s about drive, not a résumé — if you’re serious about building something, apply.
I don’t have a business or an idea yet. Can I still apply?
Yes. If you want to start something and you’re willing to put in the work, you’re exactly who we’re looking for.
What about privacy? Members are minors.
We take this seriously. We collect only what we need, we never publish a member’s full name, school or contact details without permission, and public member profiles are opt-in. See our code of conduct and privacy note.
How often are events?
We’re building toward a regular rhythm of events — networking nights, workshops and socials. Founding members get first access to every one.
Applications are open

Vancouver’s first 100 founding members are being selected now.

It takes about 10 minutes. If building things sounds like you, apply.