Career Accelerator for the Innovation Economy

Fellowship Academy - Sales & AI Edition

Launch your career in today’s job market with an entrepreneurial mindset built for the future of work

Opportunity

Your shortcut into Canada’s innovation economy

The job market has changed, and many young professionals and recent graduates are entering it unprepared for how work actually happens today. As AI reshapes roles and companies prioritize adaptability, employers are shifting away from credentials alone and hiring for practical skills, judgment, and real-world experience.

Most graduates leave school with strong theory, but limited exposure to modern tools, or the ambiguity of fast-moving teams. They’re expected to create impact quickly without having built the capabilities employers now look for.

For those looking to break into high-growth startups and established tech companies, sales-related skills offer one of the most direct paths into the industry. It’s an area where you can make an immediate impact while building skills that carry into any future role.

A 6-week hybrid program where you’ll walk away with:

AI Fluency

Applied Skills (Sales & AI)

Human & Entrepreneurial Judgment

Community to Navigate the Future of Work

Key details

Fellowship Academy - Sales & AI Edition

Registration

Open for enrolment

Enroll now
When

April 18 – May 28, 2026

6 Weeks
Where

Hybrid – Toronto and Virtual
Who

Early-career talent looking to enter the innovation economy through sales
Costs

$699 CAD

Scholarships are available, speak with our team after enrolling to see if you qualify

Registration

Open for enrolment

Enroll now
When

April 18 – May 28, 2026

6 Weeks
Where

Hybrid – Toronto and Virtual
Who

Early-career talent looking to enter the innovation economy through sales
Costs

$699 CAD

Scholarships are available, speak with our team after enrolling to see if you qualify

Enroll Now See requirements

What you’ll gain

Learn the skills you need to compete in today’s job market

Hear directly from founders and employers about what it takes to get hired AND contribute.

Topics & Skills & Certifications

Resilience & Performance Mindset

Execution & Time Management

Structured Sales Communication

Prospecting & Lead Research

Applied AI for Sales

Sales Tech & Data Stack Fluency

CRM & Pipeline Discipline
Professional Storytelling

Coachability & Feedback

Building Strong Networks
Access to Founders & Employers

National Recognition for Alumni

Hybrid learning experience

You’ll align on what modern sales and the future of work actually looks like, build the mindset to embrace uncertainty and rejection, and leave with a team, a project, and a plan.

It’s the foundation for everything that follows: the relationships, the accountability, and the applied learning that defines the program.

Sessions:

The Future of Work

Modern Sales and the Future of Work Panel

Practicing Rejection Scenarios with Role-play

AI Discernment and Decision Making

Group Reflection

Sales Tech Foundation CRM & Workflow

AI in Practice: Judgement and Decision Making in Modern Work

Group Project Overview & Partner Introduction
Six Weeks. Real Skills. Tangible Proof.

Learn by applying modern sales and AI skills to real work, building a portfolio that shows employers you’re ready to contribute in Canada’s innovation economy.

Sessions hosted live Tuesdays & Thursdays.

Prospecting, Research and Discovery

Sales Communication & Structuring Conversations

Objection Handling & Active Listening

Peer Practice and Feedback

CRM, Data & Project Management

Mentor Practice – Handling Objections

AI Workflows, Ethics & Data Management

Mentor Check-In – Team Progress & Feedback

Professional Storytelling for Interviews & Networking

Behind the Scenes – How to Land Your First Role

Industry Partner Showcase & Feedback

Cohort Celebration & Graduation
Through our partnership with Relay, you’ll build a real-world portfolio that showcases your capabilities and gives you an edge as you launch your career in the innovation economy.
Connect with founders and AI-driven companies shaping the future of work and graduate with a certificate recognized by top organizations.

Community

Join a national community shaping the future of Canadian business

Broad, diverse, established, and wired for connection.  Read their perspectives.

Alumni now work at 150+ companies like these future forward startups

Are you a fit?

Ideal participants:

Recent graduates looking to enter the innovation economy through sales
Customer success or service professionals transitioning into sales
1-3 years of experience working at a startup or tech firm, who want to upskill

Who should attend:

Want to build real, job-ready skills using AI, business tools, and hands-on projects rather than just theory
Feel ready to move into modern sales, startup, or growth roles but want practical experience that proves your capability
Are looking to transition into the innovation economy and understand how fast-moving teams actually operate
Value learning alongside a driven peer community while developing the judgment, adaptability, and initiative employers look for

Enroll Now More Programs

This program is a strong fit if you:

Want to build real, job-ready skills using AI, business tools, and hands-on projects rather than just theory

Feel ready to move into modern sales, startup, or growth roles but want practical experience that proves your capability

Are looking to transition into the innovation economy and understand how fast-moving teams actually operate

Value learning alongside a driven peer community while developing the judgment, adaptability, and initiative employers look for
Participants will learn skills that are often taught on the job, and not in traditional post-secondary programs. With perspectives that are less theory-based and more skill-based, participants will hear from speakers, founders and employers on what is needed to compete in today’s job market. Topics and skills include:
Not in the traditional sense, we’re not a placement agency. But we will equip you with the skills, mindset, and network to step confidently into Canada’s startup world.

Our participants often land roles they didn’t even know were possible. The VFC network plays a big part–with 500+ founders, startup leaders, and mentors in your corner, you won’t be doing this alone.

You’ll build practical skills, make meaningful connections, and leave startup-ready. The rest? You’ll have the confidence to own it.
Totally fine. The program is designed for working professionals and recent grads alike. As long as you can commit ~10 hours/week and attend the live sessions, you’re good to go.
The program fee is $699 CAD.

This includes live sessions led by startup leaders, in-person events in Toronto, and access to one of Canada’s most trusted startup communities — with 500+ alumni who will support you long after the 6 weeks are over.
Toronto is Canada’s fastest-growing startup hubs—and it’s home to dozens of partner employers, active alumni, and our on-the-ground team. It’s easy to access by flight and makes a great home base for our in-person sessions.
Nope! But you will need to be in Toronto for our in-person launch. We welcome applicants from across Canada, but you’ll need to arrange travel to Toronto for the in-person event.
Totally okay. This program is about exploring that path with intention. Whether you end up joining a startup, working at a small business, or starting something of your own, you’ll walk away with clarity, confidence, and skills that transfer anywhere.
Nope. We welcome participants from all fields and disciplines. What matters most is your mindset — not your major. If you’re curious, coachable, and ready to grow, you’re in the right place.
This is about developing you, not working for someone else. You’ll learn foundational startup skills, clarify your career direction, and connect with a national network — all while being supported by a cohort of peers doing the same.

This program is also open to participants aged 21–29 and is not limited to those enrolled in post-secondary education.