The Summer Entrepreneurial Experience (SEE) Bootcamp gave international student entrepreneurs from across Nova Scotia just five weeks to take an idea from concept to a business ready for the spotlight.
From June 16 to July 17, participants from post-secondary institutions including Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), Acadia University and Mount Saint Vincent University came together for an intensive summer accelerator focused on building businesses with long-term impact.
Delivered by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre in partnership with EduNova’s Study and Stay™ initiative and supported by the TD Entrepreneurship Inclusion Initiative, the program combined hands-on workshops, mentorship, customer discovery, financial planning and one-on-one pitch coaching. Along the way, participants explored how entrepreneurship can become a pathway to building both a successful business and a future in Nova Scotia.
One of the defining moments of the program came just two days before the final competition, when every team had to submit a locked version of their pitch deck. The deadline challenged participants to make difficult decisions, refine their storytelling, and prepare for a pitching environment where every detail mattered.
The program concluded in a live pitch competition on July 17, where founders presented their validated business ideas to a panel of expert judges for cash prizes and the opportunity to continue developing their ventures through the Centre’s fall Ignition Program. In addition to the pitch awards, the winning founders will each receive five one-on-one business advising sessions with Irene Saliendra of Digital Flow Consulting, generously provided by program partner EduNova to support the next stage of their entrepreneurial journey.
Riya Ralli, a recent grad from Dalhousie, earned first place and a $2,000 prize for Belong. Second place went to recent SMU grad Vaishali Sachdeva BA’26 (Blyss), Narimene Djamai from SMU (FreshSense) and Yvanna Tchatchoua from MSVU (AdaptWell), while Augustina Tucker from SMU (Maison Lumiere) and Emmanuel Mbachu from NSCC (Profine) received third-place awards.
For Riya Ralli, the experience provided a roadmap for turning an idea into action.
"I can't recommend the Summer Entrepreneurship Experience Bootcamp enough. In just eight sessions, it covered the full arc of starting a business. It all builds toward a pitch competition with real funding and mentorship on the line."
Narimene Djamai said the program reshaped how she approaches entrepreneurship.
"It doesn't hand you a roadmap; it teaches you how to navigate uncertainty. More than anything, it reminded me that entrepreneurship isn't reserved for people who already have all the answers; it's for people who are willing to keep learning."
By the end of the five weeks, participants had gained far more than just pitch decks. They left with validated business ideas, practical entrepreneurial skills, expanded professional networks and the confidence to continue building ventures that contribute to Nova Scotia's growing innovation ecosystem.
Interested in learning more about the SEE program or what other programs the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre has to offer? Check out the website.