International Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (IBEC)

Last week marked the end of an eight month journey of analysis and hands on learning for this year’s UNB’s Venture Assessment / Fraser Fund cohort.

At the final presentation, student teams pitched their startup to the Fraser Fund Committee, making evidence based recommendations for potential funding of up to $75,000 through the Fraser Student Venture Fund. Each presentation reflected months of teamwork, critical thinking, and thoughtful decision making mirroring the responsibilities faced by professional investors.

We’re proud of the commitment, professionalism, and insight demonstrated by these students and the passion they brought to supporting early stage ventures in our province.

A sincere thank you to the Fraser Committee members for joining us on campus and sharing their time, insight, and expertise.

📌 Course registrations for the 2026–27 cohort are now open. Email [email protected] to learn more.

Photos: https://media.unb.ca/2026/April/2026-Venture-Capital-Investment-Presentation-Day

Don Wishart from SEAMARK Asset Management joined us on campus last Friday. What ensued was an hour-long discussion on the different aspects of portfolio management, whether it is a good time to invest in the current economic landscape, and the potential paths in finance for our students. 📈🚀

Thank you for joining us, Don! It is always a pleasure to have you at UNB.

With that, Friday marked the end of the 2025-26 McCain Speaker Series. See you in the next academic year! 👀

📈 Want to learn how real investors make decisions? Join us next Friday for an exclusive session with Don Wishart, Investment Manager & former President at SEAMARK Asset Management.

✨ Event Details
📅 Friday, March 20
⏰ 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
📍 Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library
🍕 Free pizza + refreshments!

From pension oversight at NBTel to leading global pooled funds at SEAMARK, Don brings decades of real‑world experience in portfolio management, risk, and institutional investing. Perfect for finance students, and anyone exploring a career in investment management.

Regster here: https://luma.com/q9ce49lu

We’re thrilled to launch UNB VC in Residence, a one day experience designed to bring leading venture capital voices in Canada to our community through learning, networking, and real world insight.

Thanks to a collaboration between the UNB Faculty of Management and the Canadian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (CVCA), and hosted by IBEC, we’re welcoming an outstanding group of VC professionals to share their expertise with students, founders, and partners across our region.

🎤 Career Conversations: Pathways into Venture Capital
Hear directly from visiting VC associates as they discuss how they entered the field, what their work looks like, and what skills matter most in today’s investment landscape.

🕛 DATE: 12:00 - 1:00 PM
📍 LOCATION: Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library
🔗 REGISTER LINK: https://luma.com/m8gc23cv

🔥 Networking Reception & Fireside Chat
A community‑wide networking reception followed by a conversation moderated by Jeff White, CEO of NBIF, featuring our VC guests discussing investment trends, founder readiness, and the future of innovation in the country - open to all!

🕛 DATE: 4:00 - 6:00 PM
📍 LOCATION: Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library
🔗 REGISTER LINK: https://luma.com/oanu7kkr

Learn about careers in finance and gain insight into the fixed income markets with Chris Cockeram, VP of Fixed Income at Vestcor!

Chris will share his professional journey and provide students with practical guidance on entering the finance industry. With deep expertise in fixed income, he’ll explore current market trends, key issues shaping the sector, and what aspiring finance professionals should know as they begin building their careers.

🗓️ DATE: February 20, 2026
🕧 TIME: 12 – 1 p.m. AT
📍 LOCATION: Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library
🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://luma.com/732e6fw2

This session is designed for anyone interested in finance, offering real-world insights into fixed income, market dynamics, and career development within the industry.

🍕 Free pizza and refreshments available. Reserve your spot now – space is limited!

🚀 The schedule is LIVE!

We’re counting down to two action‑packed days at the BMO Apex Startup Challenge!

From practice rounds to the finals, it’s going to be an incredible showcase of innovation and ambition.

Wishing the very best to all competing teams !! You’ve worked hard, and we can’t wait to see you shine. See you tomorrow! ✨

The BMO Apex Startup Challenge is fast approaching - 24 student ventures from across Canada will compete for up to $30,000 in cash awards on January 22 and 23, 2026 at the University of New Brunswick! 🚀

Join us at Planet Hatch on January 22 for an exciting showcase of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Witness the competing teams pitch their businesses in a lightning pitch competition and network with member of the startup ecosystem. Each team has ONE minute to sell their idea to the judging panel!

​ 📅 Date: January 22, 2026
🥂 Networking Reception: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
​ ⏱️ Elevator Pitch starts: 6:00 p.m.
​ 🔗 Register to attend: https://luma.com/76viy2nb

Support emerging talent, network with fellow professionals, and perhaps even discover the next big idea in the industry!

🎤 Learn how to build a career in wealth management with Andrew Chamberlain on Jan. 16!

Founder of Chamberlain Wealth, Andrew brings nearly 20 years of experience, blending modern strategies, macroeconomic insight, and client-first thinking to help families and businesses succeed financially.

🗓️ DATE: January 16, 2026
🕧 TIME: 12–1 p.m. AT
📍 LOCATION: Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library
🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://luma.com/c64hevff

Ideal for students, faculty, and anyone curious about wealth management and breaking into client-driven professions. Pizza & refreshments provided.

Learn about building a career in wealth management with Andrew Chamberlain on Jan. 16!

Founder of Chamberlain Wealth, Andrew bringing nearly two decades of experience to the forefront. Renowned for integrating advanced technologies and modern strategies, he specializes in macroeconomic analysis, guiding high net worth individuals and business families towards achieving unparalleled financial success.

🗓️ DATE: January 16, 2026
🕧 TIME: 12-1 p.m. AT
📍 LOCATION: Innovation Hub, Harriet Irving Library

🔗 REGISTER NOW: https://luma.com/c64hevff

Designed for students interested in finance, the session will offer practical guidance on breaking into wealth management and thriving in a client-driven profession.

🍕Free pizza and refreshments available. Reserve your spot now - space is limited!

Happy holiday, folks! 🎄 It has been quite the eventful year and this season brings forth a much needed respite.

Grateful to eveyone we got to meet and collaborate with in the past year. You helped make our events what they are - an opportunity to connect and grow together as we navigate the workforce. 🫶✨

Stay tuned for more as we bring back the winter sessions of the McCain Speaker Series (which will be finance focused 👀) and the BMO Apex Startup Challenge!! 🚀🎙

See you next year! ❄

Cheers,
The IBEC Team