Haden Harrison, a Bachelor of Commerce student from the University of Calgary, has been named champion and awarded the $10,000 grand prize in The Arena, Saint Mary’s University’s national pitch competition.
After 31 days of intense competition, with over 64 participants from 41 post-secondary institutions across Canada, Haden emerged as this year’s champion with his innovative agtech startup, Agrivanna, which provides AI-powered virtual fencing and comprehensive herd management solutions tailored for large-scale Canadian ranching.
Haden presents his pitch on Agrivanna at The Arena
“The Arena has been a highly professional and very well executed event, truly one of the best I’ve been a part of. Competing in a unique bracket-style format is something I had never experienced before, and in the spirit of innovation and trying new things, this structure has been both enlightening and a lot of fun,” says Haden. “It has also pushed us to sharpen our story, pressure-test our business model, and connect with an incredible community of founders, mentors, and supporters.”
The Arena, presented by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University and sponsored by Metronomics, is a high-stakes, high-energy pitch showdown. Sixty-four of Canada’s most promising student entrepreneurs compete live, under pressure, for the title of the nation’s top innovator and a $10,000 prize.
Modelled after the NCAA March Madness championship, The Arena unfolds in a bracket-style competition from March 3 to April 2. Each matchup is a standalone battle—fast, focused and decisive. Pitches are delivered live. Judges deliberate in real time. Winners advance. All matches are streamed online, drawing audiences from across the country.
Throughout March, participants competed in a head-to-head pitch competition, presenting their ventures to panels of expert judges. In total, $17,000 in prizes were awarded: $10,000 to the first-place winner, $5,000 to the runner-up, and $1,000 each to third and fourth place. Prizes were sponsored by Metronomics, founded by Saint Mary’s alum Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92,
“We’re thrilled to be presenting The Arena for the sixth year in a row. The Arena isn’t just a competition. It’s where Canada’s next innovators step into the spotlight,” said Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. He adds, “The Arena would not be possible without partners such as Shannon Byrne Susko. We are also so thankful to our elite panel of judges, who, with their vast range of expertise, bring invaluable experience to the competition.”
This year, the judging panel featured seven distinguished judges representing the vast range of Canada’s business landscape. Alongside Shannon was Mark Brand, Chef & Social Impact Entrepreneur, Upward Kitchens; Janice Buchanan, Director of Marketing & Agency Services, Irving Oil; Jennifer Grimm, Founder, LUX Beauty; Catherine Bagnell Styles, Co-Owner, Gallery on Lincoln; Dr. Michael Khan, President and Vice-Chancellor, Saint Mary’s University; and Diane Lafontaine, Chief Marketing and Corporate Strategy Officer, BDC.
“The Arena is where bold ideas meet real-world pressure,” said competition judge Diane Lafontaine. “It was exciting to watch the final competitors rise to the moment and prove they’re ready to build something that matters.”
Impressed with both finalists, Metronomics awarded the second-place winner, Meghan Brar from the University of Guelph, an additional $5,000, bringing this year's prizes to $22,000.
Since its launch in 2021, The Arena has awarded over $93,000 in prizes and showcased more than 380 student ventures from across Canada. With a focus on growth, innovation and cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre continues to support the next generation of founders.