Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Innovation Sprint

Develop business solutions and win $1,000 in just 4 hours!

$1,000

First Place

$700

Second Place

$300

Third Place

Upcoming Events

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February 15, 2025

Innovation Sprint with AC Group of Independent Accounting Firms Limited

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March 15, 2025

Innovation Sprint with House of Eights Dance Studio

About

An innovation sprint is a short, focused event, that brings a business and keen, creative students together to generate ideas and solutions to business problems.  

During the Innovation Sprint, participants: 

  • engage in time-sensitive bursts of intensive problem-solving and developing business solutions; 

  • receive insightful resources and mentorship helping them address business challenges;  

  • learn how to facilitate rapid and effective outputs to challenges they may face in their business. This is a unique entrepreneurial experience that can be translated into their own chosen fields; 

  • Collaborate with students from across Atlantic Canada from various faculties and disciplines. 

At the end of the Sprint, businesses choose winning teams: first-place winners get $1,000, second place get $700, and third place get $300 

Benefits

  • Hands-on experience with a real business and a real problem
  • Meet and compete with like-minded students 
  • Build a network with businesses and contribute to local business success 
  • Chance to win up to $1,000 as a team 
  • Attend 5 Innovation Sprints and win $100! 

 

Eligibility

  • Must a Resident of Canada or be allowed to stay, study or work in Canada;   
  • Must be a current (or registered for the 2023/2024 term) student from any faculty (Science, Arts or Commerce) in Atlantic Canada;   
  • Be able to attend the competition in-person.  
  • Compete as team of minimum 3 members and maximum 4 members. You can form teams at the event if you sign up individually.  

Upcoming Events

November 23

With Think Inside The Box. Think Inside the Box provides games people can rent and play at home. Their games are inspired by the escape room genre. Their goal is to provide a more inclusive and accessible version of the immersive escape room experience for more people to enjoy!

January 18

Business for this month: The Wine Spa

February 15

Past Events

26 creative and driven students joined us on January 18th to help The Wine Spa solve some niche challenges in the self-care and service industry. The students had the opportunity to connect and network with the founder, Angela Szubielski, who offered in-depth insights and behind the scenes of running a successful, Halifax’s only social spa. The student teams, made of SMU and Dal students, brought fresh ideas and new perspectives with solutions ranging from inviting senior homes for a spa day, to curated packages for bachelorettes and special events and even corporate employee appreciation opportunities. As a bonus, all participants received gift certificates for The Wine Spa and the winners each received a $100 gift certificate!

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Over 30 students from various universities (SMU, NSCC, Dalhousie and NSCAD) helped Think Inside The Box.

Denemark, the founder of Think Inside The Box, brought in the two boxes to showcase the different elements that go into building and designing the puzzle. Participants had an opportunity to assess and understand the details, even creating video content on the spot on TikTok.  

A team from SMU took first place with idea of partnering with senior residential homes and retirement communities, identifying a consistent demand and market while tapping into potential government grants that could help make the growth easy.  

Students came together for a fun filled Saturday with Emo Ikede, founder of EjiTech, who introduced his business platform which is a knowledge filled centre for all things finances, investment and even real estate catered towards the new and current students of Canada. The participants helped solve some promotional and market gap challenges, while also developing a process for content development and validation for the business. Student Ambassadors, AI assistants and content layout were only few of the many solutions that came to be! 

Students developed new solutions for the challenges that Ride Solar was facing. Participants had an amazing time biking through downtown Halifax, stopping at Sapori for some Italian lunch, Bearly’s for refreshments, and finally ending the tour at Garrison Brewery. The tour offered a new perspective on how the bikes work, allowing them to assess different areas for improvement. This experience not only showcased their problem-solving skills but also highlighted the potential for sustainable transportation solutions in our community.

Teams from Saint Mary’s, Dalhousie and NSCC  presented three ideas as Keisha and Michael, Founders of the Starberry Drink Co. assessed the solutions and whether they were aligned with the vision and mission of the business. Solutions ranged from UV Lights, to pulsed electric fields and even reducing the fruit to concentrate to extend shelf life. 

Thirty-one students from Saint Mary’s, Dalhousie, and NSCC came together for an exciting sprint with UpBeing, a novel wellbeing and social app that merges Artificial Intelligence with Emotional Intelligence. The students  develop a go-to-market strategy for the business’ latest feature. 

As UpBeing was impressed by the students’ ideas, they offered to contract some of the top participants to implement their ideas into actions. 

Thirty-five eager students gathered for a day of innovation and collaboration at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. Their goal: to enhance engagement and create new opportunities within the space. The teams presented a variety of solutions, including a student marketplace to showcase products and services.

Iram Shaikh and Jennifer George, the first-place winners, were awarded a paid contract to bring their marketplace vision to life. The event was a resounding success, with numerous students signing up to participate.

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Over 50 students joined to enhance Bright Breaks, an employee wellness platform. The students delved into the significance of meaningful breaks, exploring how they contribute to self-care and boost productivity.

To gain firsthand experience, participants enjoyed a one-week free trial of the platform’s activities and videos. They provided valuable feedback and insights to improve the user experience.

The students tackled challenges in user engagement and retention, proposing innovative solutions like themed wellness initiatives and interactive break reminders.

To tackle Shivani’s Kitchen‘s marketing challenges, 54 brainstormed creative solutions with a focus on cost-effectiveness and feasibility. Ideas ranged from simple yet impactful strategies like adding stickers to repurpose old packaging with fresh messages, to innovative partnerships with fellow students and professionals for cost-effective meal delivery options. The winning teams walked away with free goodies from Shivani’s Kitchen to take home and enjoy! 

The first-ever Innovation Sprint was kicked off in partnership with Easy Platter, bringing together 20 enthusiastic students from Saint Mary’s, Dalhousie, and CBU to help them refine and develop their platform. 

During this hands-on event, students tackled challenges related to user retention and satisfaction and conducted customer surveys right on campus, gathering valuable insights that will help Easy Platter serve their customers best. Participants also got creative by building mock websites and app interfaces, showcasing innovative changes that could easily elevate the Easy Platter experience. 

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