Before you begin preparing your presentation it is important to understand that the听MIF aims to provide financial, as well as business support to McGill researchers who would like to commercialise their invention. This support will be tailored to your business needs, i.e., IP, business plan, target market, production process, path to commercialization, etc. The application process is therefore focused on your business project, (your progress to date, your vision for your company, your plan, etc.), rather than on the science of the invention. Therefore the focus of your presentation must be to allow the jury to better understand your business project and the impact it will have. Approach this deck as a business pitch to potential investors, not to fellow academics.

Your presentation deck should include the following elements:

• Project description
• Progress to date
• Team
• Business opportunity or impact
• Business Model Canvas
• Partners
• Your expectations from the MIF
• Budget

Each of these elements is described below.

Project description

Your description should answer the following questions:

• What is your invention?
• What is the background and context of the invention?
• What are the benefits and limitations of the invention?
• What field is the project aimed at?

Impact

• What are the potential real-world applications of your invention?
• What are the potential impacts of your project (social, commercial, environmental)?
• What impact will the MIF funds have on the development of your business?

Progress to date

• Provide a brief history of the project/ technology/ company so far.
• What is the current status of the project/ technology/ company?
• What is the long term vision of your project?
• What is the timeline and critical steps to achieve your long term vision?

Your team

Business model canvas

A business model canvas is a diagram of the various elements that are necessary for any enterprise, including customers, resources and costs. The MIF Team will be holding workshops on how to complete one of these diagrams; consult the Events page for dates and registration information. A blank template is shown below.

Project partners

• Potential clients
• Production partners
• Clinical trial partners
• Testing partners
• Financial partners
• Business and technical advisors

Your expectations from the MIF

• What do you need help with to advance your business project?
• What do you want to accomplish in the next 12 months?

Budget