Students from four universities came together at Saint Mary’s University for an Innovation Sprint focused on one of the biggest challenges facing post-secondary students: finding affordable and reliable housing.
Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, the four-hour challenge brought together students from SMU, Dalhousie University, Acadia University and Memorial University. Working in teams, participants were tasked with developing solutions to a real business challenge presented by SubSwap, a student-focused housing platform.
Founded by Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s alumni, SubSwap was created after its founders recognized a gap in the housing market and experienced firsthand the challenges students face when searching for accommodation. The mobile app helps Canadian college and university students find verified subleases, room listings and compatible roommates, with a focus on making student housing safer and more accessible.
For the sprint, students were challenged to develop a pricing model that students would see value in paying for while allowing SubSwap to remain affordable and profitable. With students often working within tight budgets, teams had to consider how the platform could offer features and services that save users time, money and stress.
After four hours of collaboration, research and idea development, teams presented their recommendations to the judges. The first-place team, made up of Saint Mary’s students Nesma Zakir, Nafey Narmeen, Jameka Woodside and Manahil, proposed a strategy focused on strengthening marketing and introducing new platform features. Their ideas included a seasonal subscription model, a currency converter and discussion boxes to help users connect and navigate the housing process.
The second-place team included Dalhousie students Skyler Delorey, Alexandra DeCoste and Patricia Tagliapietra, while the third-place team was made up of Saint Mary’s students Mohanad Hiba, Muhammad Shaheer and Muttyeb Dahir.
Innovation Sprints give students the opportunity to apply classroom learning to real-world business challenges while developing their problem-solving, collaboration and entrepreneurial skills. By working directly with businesses like SubSwap, students gain practical experience and offer fresh perspectives that can help businesses explore new opportunities for growth.
If you’re interested in being a part of a future Innovation Sprint, learn more here.