An insider’s look into DEMA’s innovative, equity-driven flagship event empowering UTM students
The Young Entrepreneur Conference inspires and equips students with skills enabling them to thrive in their careers, all while bridging systemic gaps.

As March approaches, a cohort of students from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) will be engaged in preparations for the Digital Enterprise Management Association’s (DEMA) flagship event—the Young Entrepreneur Conference (YEC). 

It is anticipated that over 80 participants will be immersed in a case-competition in the YEC. The competition will focus on thoroughly selected industry topics that equip participants’ career journeys. This event serves both as a career launch pad and a bridge connecting students’ academic and professional aspects. 

In an interview with The Medium, Co-Chairs of YEC, Jannine Uy and Noor Mohamed, discussed the YEC’s initiative. 

Established in 2010, YEC has since brought in over 900 attendees across 13 consecutive conferences. Uy shared that the organization has worked with “notable sponsors and partners” like LinkedIn, Red Bull, Rotman MBA and Interact Corp. She added that this year, the YEC is excited to bring on Microsoft as a primary collaborator. 

What makes the YEC stand out? 

“YEC has a very direct exposure to industries and real-world problems. Especially with how cases are drafted differently every single year with a different team,” said Mohamed. “Alongside that, we do workshops and provide mentorship to prepare competitors leading up to the conference.” 

The YEC is designed to be widely accessible. It ensures that students, no matter their academic experience or field of study, are able to participate in the conference. In addition, it is not limited to students from UTM. All students across Ontario can participate in the YEC regardless of their program of study.  

“This is significant, because similar opportunities may not often be accessible to students without particular business experiences, or students [who] are enrolled in other programs,” Uy shared.

At the YEC, mentorship is not only made available to all students. It is organized with a variety of students in mind. “We have mentors [who] are not just there to help the case teams. They’re tailored with relevance towards each year’s case theme,” said Uy. 

This year, the YEC’s theme focuses on creating personalized Fintech (financial technology) solutions and how AI can be used for accessibility and different demographics. 

“That’s why we’re bringing on our collaboration with Microsoft, and in particular, focusing [on working] with direct relationships, with their accessibility designs team, and interns,” Uy shared. She explained that having interns from Microsoft will benefit participants, as Microsoft interns can share practical knowledge related to the theme of the competition.

A theme surrounding practicality and innovativeness  

Uy and Mohamed discussed the intense thought-process and research that went into crafting this year’s theme. The theme was finalized with the goal of making a student contribution to a developing field, while enriching students’ experiences and insights. 

“After much research, we decided on the Fintech-AI intersection. We realized there’s a gap in the market that needs to be filled,” said Mohamed. “And it can be filled if students are able to craft creative solutions using AI, especially if they have the guidance.” 

She further discussed that the partnership with Microsoft can allow students to learn how to integrate AI in a “very accessible and ethical way in sensitive transactions.” 

Unlimited learning opportunities 

Competitors can expect an immersive, deeply engaging conference this year, both on the full day of the conference and the lead-up to it. The competition theme is announced ahead of time, while the case problem will be released one week before the conference for participants to work closely with their teams and mentors to finalize pitches and workshops led by industry professionals. 

On the day of the competition, students get to present their pitches and gain access to numerous networking opportunities with industry representatives from leading companies. 

Notably, the learning process involved in the conference is not passive. The iterative learning process continues during the competition. Mohamed shared, “After participants present for round one and receive their feedback, they have time to work on their pitches, which stimulates their problem-solving skills on the spot.” 

Mohamed shared that the YEC stimulates consulting-style thinking. As participants receive real-time questions from experienced industry professionals, they are prompted to provide practical answers in an environment similar to real-world situations. 

An extensive opportunity for growth

This year, many efforts have been made by Uy and Mohamed to best support and prepare students for the conference. 

Uy shared, “What Noor and I have been pushing towards is to have a trilogy workshop series. Regardless of [whether] participants attend the competition or not, each session is designed to equip students. It familiarizes students with the process of case-pitching and to be more comfortable presenting in front of peers. It also helps students learn about the applications of Fintech, AI, and accessible design.” 

This design ensures that each workshop hosted by the YEC targets strengthening students’ experience leading up to the conference. Drawing on examples of this year’s workshops, Uy emphasized that the workshops have been designed to provide tangible benefits and skill development. 

With this as the centre of design for the YEC, no matter how many workshops students participate in, they can walk away with new connections or showcase an experience in their portfolio.

Success from past conferences 

YEC has had a tremendous positive impact on many of its participants. Kathy Vinh, a participant of YEC 2025 shared that the conference provided knowledge and insights on AI governance, as it tackled topics of AI ethics and legal dispute. 

Victoria Guan, another participant of YEC 2025, described her experience as “incredibly rewarding” and “inspiring”. Guan expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to form meaningful connections with professionals, and stated she “could not be prouder” of her team’s accomplishments. 

In addition, Aaron Yen, one of the case competition judges for YEC 2025, described it as a “first-class” event.

In terms of conference benefits, Mohamed and Uy shared that the YEC has been designed to allow for deeper connections with industry professionals through a participant cap, while also maximizing opportunities for students to participate. 

Among the many aspirations Uy and Mohamed have for the YEC, they shared that they are determined to “be intentional with how [they are] setting students up for success, not just in their professional and personal lives, but long-term career-growth wise.” 

Uy and Mohamed encourage students, especially those early in their undergraduate careers, to put themselves out there and engage with opportunities like YEC to grow personally and professionally. 

The YEC will be held on March 2nd at the Microsoft Canadian Headquarters, and competitor tickets are available. For students interested in the conference, the YEC’s Instagram page provides updates and details for the competition as well as future opportunities.