Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Innovation Sprint

For Business

Opportunities for Businesses

What is Innovation Sprint?

Innovation Sprints are 4-hour intensive solution development sessions, taking place once a month on a Saturday. Students from different universities across Atlantic Canada tackle business challenges through intensive problem-solving and human-centered design thinking, with the help of resources and mentorship to help address your specific business needs.  

The businesses bring in a problem (niche or general), that focuses on a specific aspect within their business. The idea is to have a problem that is pressing but also can be played around with to develop unique or creative solutions for the organization. 

Benefits

  • Access to fresh, innovative thinking from tomorrow’s changemakers and disrupters at a very affordable price 
  • Valuable connection though experts and academics in our network at SMU. 
  • Shorter commitment in exchange for quality ideas curated and built to business-specific needs. 
  • Business exposure on campus. 

Eligibility

  • Halifax/Nova Scotia based business 
  • Be able to come in-person for the event 
  • Registered, revenue generating and scalable business.

Program Commitment

Our Commitment to the Participating Organization

  • Provide a structured schedule of the program.
  • Manage communications with the students.
  • Work with the business to develop the challenge statement.
  • Event promotion and recruitment.

Our Expectations of the Participating Organization

  • Committee to a minimum of two meetings prior to the event
  • Attendance of the team on the scheduled day of the event (4-5 hours)
  • Present about the company to the participants
  • Judge the solution to select the winners.
  • Our starting price is $3,500

Get in Touch

Are you a business interested in joining us for Innovation Sprint? Send in your entries and we will get back to you! If you have any specific queries or questions for us, please submit them on the form or reach out to us at openinnovation@smu.ca.  

Our Journey So Far

Through 2023-2024, we partnered with Easy Platter, Shivani’s Kitchen, Bright Breaks, Starberry Drink Co., UpBeing and Ride Solar, hosting seven Innovation Sprints with over 200 participating students. The businesses walked away with at least three unique ideas each and were able to brainstorm with the students, who offered a fresh perspective on their challenges. Some of the businesses have gone on to work with the students outside the scope of Innovation Sprints to bring to life some of the unique and innovative ideas. 

Starberry Drink Co.

UpBeing

Bright Breaks

Shivani’s Kitchen

Easy Platter

Get in Touch

Are you a business interested in joining us for Innovation Sprint? Send in your entries and we will get back to you! If you have any specific queries or questions for us, please submit them in the form.
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