Side Hustle Expo
TWICE A YEAR | $1000 IN PRIZES | APPLY WITH YOUR SIDE HUSTLE
Win cash prizes
Win money to fuel your side hustle
Promote your hustle
Showcase your side hustle to the MRU community and beyond, be it baking, coding, or crafting
Sell your products
Engage with potential customers and gain insights into the dynamics of real-world business!
Showcasing MRU Student Side Hustles
Student entrepreneurs set up trifold displays featuring various products and services. From delicious treats to services, participants will actively market and sell their creations to the MRU community.Friendly Competition and Prizes
Embrace friendly competition as judges, including faculty and industry experts, evaluate each side hustle based on creativity, viability, and overall appeal. Winners not only gain recognition but also cash prizes. Categories include Best Overall, Most Creative, and the influential Audience Vote.Q&A Session and Networking
Participants engage in a Q&A session with judges to discuss business model, strategy, and vision. Beyond competition, the fair is a networking hub, fostering connections with potential customers, collaborators, and mentors.
Get in touch
Sydney Harder
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategist
Sydney is an Innovation and Entrepreneurship Strategist at the Institute. She is also a Mount Royal alumna from the Business Administration program with a minor in Social Innovation, as well as Innovation and Entrepreneurship. With a background in launching her own sustainable arts company and working at a local user experience startup, IncluCity Calgary, she has developed a deep understanding of entrepreneurship and program development. Sydney's career journey has been marked by her dedication to community building and using business models to create social impact. She is particularly inspired to support Mount Royal’s community of changemakers, innovators and entrepreneurs, especially those in creative disciplines. Sydney is available for anyone looking to explore their emerging ideas, innovations, or new ventures.
Contact Sydney at sharder@mtroyal.ca if you have any questions or need support applying to How to Start a Side Hustle
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Side Hustle Expo is a campus marketplace where Mount Royal students can showcase and sell products, promote their services, and connect with the MRU community. It is also a chance for students to discover local businesses being built by their classmates.
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Absolutely. The Expo is open to students, staff, faculty, and community members who want to shop, meet student entrepreneurs, and explore what MRU students are building.
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Current Mount Royal University students with a side hustle, small business, freelance service, creative project, or early-stage venture are encouraged to apply. Your business does not need to be full-time or formally incorporated.
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No. You can participate whether you regularly make sales or are preparing to introduce your product or service to customers for the first time. You should have something clear that attendees can purchase, experience, or learn about at your table.
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The Expo may include artists, makers, photographers, designers, food businesses, clothing brands, service providers, tutors, freelancers, app developers, and other student-led ventures. Applications will be reviewed to make sure each business is a good fit for the event.
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There is no cost for MRU students to apply or participate as a vendor.
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Applications may be reviewed based on event fit, readiness, variety, available space, and any operational or safety requirements. Submitting an application does not guarantee a vendor spot.
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Each selected vendor will receive a designated space to showcase their business. Additional details about tables, chairs, setup, signage, and available equipment will be shared with accepted vendors before the event. Access to outlets and other special requests may be available upon request.
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Yes. Vendors are encouraged to sell products or services when appropriate. Each vendor is responsible for managing their own payments, inventory, pricing, and customer transactions.
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Yes. Service-based businesses are welcome. Consider how you can make your table interactive through examples of your work, demonstrations, bookings, consultations, giveaways, or a clear explanation of what you offer.
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Food vendors may be accepted, but additional campus food safety or approval requirements may apply. Please describe your products clearly in your application so the event team can confirm what is permitted.
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Bring everything you need to operate and promote your table, including products, displays, signage, pricing, payment equipment, business cards, and any required chargers or extension cords. Accepted vendors will receive a detailed preparation guide before the event.
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No. Your table does not need to look perfect. Clear pricing, a simple explanation of what you offer, and a welcoming setup matter more than expensive signage or professional branding.
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Contact Sydney Harder at sharder@mtroyal.ca with questions about applications, accessibility, event logistics, or participating as a vendor.