Last week, 30 students from Dalhousie, NSCAD and Saint Mary’s University gathered at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre to tackle a real-world business challenge posed by Golden Living, helping seniors live independently. The challenge was finding fresh, innovative ways to support seniors and their families as they navigate the transition of aging comfortably and independently at home.
The teams brainstormed and pitched solutions aimed at strengthening Golden Living’s brand. The students provided new ideas for standing out in a competitive market, creating meaningful services, and growing their services. Some groups explored AI integration, while others pitched partnerships and subscription-based revenue models. All of them brought passion and unique perspectives from their disciplines, which included science, commerce, computer science, and engineering.
One of the participants, Akash, shared his experience. “It’s a great network where you really get to learn how business works in the real world. It’s a supportive environment to build real-life skills, and honestly, anyone who wants to be featured should definitely get involved.”
Commerce student Munyaradzi Matura and engineering student Q’Ba Richards from Saint Mary’s University took first place. Second place went to computer science student Omar Daleh, science student Ali Hammoud, both from Dalhousie University, and SMU commerce student Haniel Lordwin Girish Kumar. In third place were Dalhousie computer science students Mariam Knakriah, Yuki Law and Nour Ali, who impressed judges with their thoughtful and tech-driven approach.
The Innovation Sprint is part of an ongoing effort to integrate active, cross-disciplinary learning into the student experience. By connecting with local organizations like Golden Living, students are given the opportunity to make a real impact on businesses that are making a difference in their communities.
Interested in participating in the next Innovation Sprint? Visit our website for upcoming opportunities to get involved, collaborate with local partners, and put your ideas into action!