Students pitch ideas to help local business The Wine Spa at recent Innovation Sprint challenge
Last week, 26 enterprising students worked in teams with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and The Wine Spa on an Innovation Sprint, a fast-paced event focused on generating creative solutions to business challenges. The Wine Spa marries fine wine, delicious food, and luxury spa experiences to offer a one-of-a-kind social spa experience.
As the name suggests, an Innovation Sprint is a short, high-energy sprint during which students generate rapid-fire ideas and solutions to real-world business problems. Each sprint brings students and businesses together for live problem-solving and idea generation. Students practice their learning and skills, and businesses get access to current, fresh thinking. Everybody wins!
Participants heard from The Wine Spa Founder Angela Szubielski, who briefed them on the product offering and shared insights and challenges, including finding new ways to utilize the space and identifying new markets and clients.
The participating students brought fresh ideas, new perspectives and solutions ranging from inviting senior homes for a spa day to curated packages for bachelorettes and special events, and corporate employee appreciation retreats.
The winning team included arts student Stuti Sandhu and business student Kris Ram. Their winning idea involved collaboration, unique events and expanding the target market to drive awareness and revenue for The Wine Spa. Reflecting on the competition, Stuti said, “We really got to think creatively, and that was amazing. It's also really rewarding to help our community succeed. That’s what I really love about Innovation Sprints.”
Echoing Stuti’s enthusiasm, Kris said, “Innovation Sprints are really inspiring. I get to learn about a real-world business problem and solve it hands-on. This is an experience many don't get to have and I'm very fortunate to be able to be exposed to that.”
Innovation Sprint students with Angela and Will, Founders of The Wine Spa
The Wine Spa team was enthusiastic about the students’ ideas and impressed with the results. “Everybody was so professional, courteous and bright. To other businesses, I would absolutely recommend joining an Innovation Sprint,” said Szubielski from The Wine Spa. “I knew [the students] would brainstorm and present ideas, but we benefitted from their different cultures, perspectives and experiences. I don't spend a lot of time talking to university students at this stage in my life or as a business owner. So, to be able to see many different perspectives in one room was excellent.”
At the end of the Sprint, businesses choose the winning teams. First-place winners received $1,000 and a $100 gift certificate to The Wine Spa. Second-place winners received $700, and third-place winners received $300.
Find out how to participate in an Innovation Sprint here.
About Innovation Sprint
Innovation Sprint is a short, focused event that brings 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.