185 learning opportunities connect Atlantic students with real-world challenges through Experience Ventures

Students across Atlantic Canada will have access to 185 opportunities to tackle real-world challenges with innovative businesses and organizations while building the problem-solving, collaboration, creativity and adaptability skills needed to thrive in a changing world.

For the third year, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary's University is bringing 185 experiential learning opportunities, offering honorariums to students across Atlantic Canada through its continued partnership with Experience Ventures for the 2026–27 program year.

Powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and funded in part through the Government of Canada's Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative, Experience Ventures connects post-secondary students with businesses and organizations through hands-on learning experiences. Students apply their knowledge to real challenges, develop entrepreneurial thinking and contribute meaningful solutions while earning an honorarium.

The renewed partnership will expand opportunities for students at universities and colleges across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. At the same time, businesses gain access to talented students who bring fresh perspectives, creative ideas and new approaches to complex challenges.

Student Success

Experience Ventures gives students the opportunity to take what they’ve learned in the classroom and put it into practice through real-world projects with businesses and organizations.

For students like Subhan Nadeem, a Saint Mary’s student who took part in the Fall 2025 Project-Based Experience, the program provided an opportunity to apply his computer science knowledge to a real business challenge. During his placement, Subhan developed a tool for lead generation and email automation, using his knowledge of algorithms, APIs and AI systems to create a practical solution for a client.

A student presents at the Sustainable Retail Hackathon, an Experience Ventures event at Saint Mary’s in 2025

“The most impactful part of my Experience Ventures placement was developing an AI-driven solution for a business. It allowed me to combine my technical knowledge with real-world problem-solving, directly contributing to a client’s business growth.”

For Subhan, the impact extended beyond the placement itself. The hands-on experience strengthened his interest in technology development, AI and entrepreneurship, while giving him practical experience he can carry into his future career.

“I would gladly participate again. This experience helped me apply my technical skills to real business challenges … and gave me valuable hands-on experience for my future career.”

Stories like Subhan’s demonstrate the value of experiential learning: students gain more than experience for their resumes. They develop the confidence, adaptability, problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial mindset needed to navigate an evolving world of work.

The Impact of Experience Ventures

Experience Ventures continues to create meaningful connections between students, businesses and organizations across Atlantic Canada. Through hands-on projects and paid experiential learning opportunities, students gain practical experience while organizations benefit from fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Impact from 2024–26 

• Students engaged: 335

• Businesses and organizations engaged: 84

• Atlantic provinces served: 4

• Honorariums awarded: $198,350

• Student satisfaction: 96.4%

These results highlight the growing impact of experiential learning across the region and the strength of the partnerships that make these opportunities possible.

“The broad reach of the Experience Ventures program is only possible through the strength of our national partner network. We are delighted to have our regional lead school, Saint Mary's University, leading the expansion of our program across Atlantic Canada,” said Sarah Topps, Senior Director, Partnerships and Strategic Initiatives (Acting), Experience Ventures.

Through its continued partnership with Experience Ventures, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is helping bring these opportunities to more students across the region while strengthening connections between post-secondary institutions and the business community.

“Experience Ventures gives students the opportunity to move beyond the classroom and tackle real challenges alongside innovative businesses. These experiences help students build confidence, strengthen their entrepreneurial mindset and develop the skills employers value most: the ability to collaborate, adapt, take initiative and find creative solutions. We're excited to continue expanding these opportunities across Atlantic Canada,” said Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Students participated in a Engineering Hackathon in partnership with Qalam Health Solutions in 2025

Learning by Doing

Experience Ventures is built around entrepreneurial thinking, identifying opportunities, approaching challenges creatively, taking initiative, collaborating with others and developing innovative solutions.

For students like Subhan, these experiences show how classroom concepts translate into solving real business problems. Working directly with organizations helps students navigate ambiguity, communicate across disciplines and apply their knowledge in practical settings.

These capabilities are increasingly valuable across every industry and help prepare students for their careers from day one.

Five Ways to Gain Experience

Students can participate in one of five experiential learning opportunities:

1. Hackathons – One- or two-day intensive events where teams solve real business and social innovation challenges.

2. Challenges – Multi-week interdisciplinary projects where students develop solutions for partner organizations.

3. Project Experiences – Part-time placements where students complete defined projects with businesses over up to 80 hours.

4. Student-in-Residence Placements – Opportunities to work with multiple businesses during a term, gaining diverse industry experience.

5. Interdisciplinary Team Projects – Collaborative placements where students from different academic backgrounds work together to solve complex business challenges.

The 2026–27 program includes 185 opportunities across these five streams. Recruitment began in the summer for Project Experiences, Interdisciplinary Team Projects and Student-in-Residence Placements, while Hackathons and Challenges will launch throughout the fall.

Why Businesses Participate

Experience Ventures helps organizations access talented students from a wide range of disciplines who bring curiosity, creativity and fresh perspectives to real business challenges.

By working alongside students, businesses can explore new ideas, advance projects and gain insight from the next generation of innovators, while helping shape the skills and experiences students need to succeed.

“We're not hiring students just yet, but if an opportunity arose, we would hire the intern who worked on our project. It's a great way to get to know someone in a professional capacity in a very low-risk environment,” said Kevin Buchan of Novastorms Data Analytics Inc.

For businesses, Experience Ventures is more than an opportunity to get support on a project. It provides a chance to build relationships with emerging talent, see students in action and discover potential future employees

Get Involved

Students and businesses interested in participating are encouraged to submit an interest form to receive updates on upcoming opportunities and application dates.

Eligible participants must be undergraduate students enrolled at a Canadian post-secondary institution and legally entitled to work in Canada. Students may participate in one Experience Ventures placement during the 2026–27 program year.

Through its continued partnership with the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is creating meaningful experiential learning opportunities that empower students, strengthen businesses and foster entrepreneurial thinking across Atlantic Canada.

Saint Mary’s students showcase their social enterprises in Mexico

Saint Mary’s Enactus students with other Enactus members in Mexico City

Enactus Saint Mary's was invited to represent Enactus Canada at the Enactus Mexico 2026 National Exposition, bringing Saint Mary’s student entrepreneurs to an international stage in Mexico City.

Held August 23–24 at Centro Banamex, the event brought together approximately 500 students from 15 schools, showcasing nearly 50 projects across three competitions: Next Gen Leaders, Mentoractus and the National Competition. Teams presented innovative ideas that combined technology, entrepreneurship and sustainability to address real-world challenges.

Members of the Enactus SMU team representing Canada

Alongside Saint Mary's University, students from the United States, Puerto Rico and Colombia also showcased their projects alongside teams from Enactus Mexico, creating an opportunity to exchange ideas, learn from different approaches and connect with students across the Enactus network.

Representing Canada in Mexico was more than a competition; it was a chance to learn, connect and bring the Saint Mary’s perspective to an international audience. For Mia Makhlouf, Co-President of Enactus SMU and an Engineering student, the experience was an exciting opportunity to connect with students and entrepreneurs from around the world.

The event gave students the opportunity to apply business and entrepreneurial skills to meaningful social and environmental challenges in their communities.

Learn more about Enactus SMU and get involved in student entrepreneurship through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s website.

Entrepreneurship opens new pathways for international students through SEE Bootcamp

Students from the SEE Bootcamp at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

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.

Growth Pod celebrates a year of connecting student founders with industry experts

Starting a business is exciting, but knowing what steps to take next can be challenging. For student entrepreneurs, having access to the right guidance at the right time can make all the difference. 

That’s where the Growth Pod Advisor Team comes in. 

Launched in August 2025 by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University, the Growth Pod is a free one-on-one virtual mentoring program designed to connect student founders with experienced industry professionals who can help them navigate the challenges of building a venture. 

Through personalized one-hour advising sessions, entrepreneurs are matched with advisors based on their specific needs, whether they are looking for support with sales strategy, marketing, accounting, product development, technology or funding. 

During its first year as a pilot program, the Growth Pod quickly demonstrated the demand for accessible, practical mentorship. The program supported more than 30 Saint Mary’s student entrepreneurs and facilitated over 90 advisor-entrepreneur meetings, creating meaningful connections between emerging founders and professionals who have real-world experience building businesses. 

The Growth Pod Advisor Team now includes 10 experienced advisors with expertise spanning seven key areas. By connecting students directly with industry practitioners, the program helps bridge the gap between having an idea and developing a sustainable business. Advisors include Nithin Eapen, Teo Kim, Nabila Mahabub, Manish Shinde, Kent Murphy, Pranay Malusare, Jonas Slaunwhite BComm’12, Federico Cetraro and Ghazaleh Afrahi, each bringing unique industry knowledge and experience to support student founders. 

Nabila Mahabub, Marketing and Branding expert, says “One of the best parts of being involved has been meeting so many people with fresh ideas who are looking for a way to take them into the world, and if you're a startup trying to find your footing, I think the Growth Pod is a really great place to be because you have mentors from marketing, finance, operations, and other areas of business to help you move your company to the next stage." 

For master’s student entrepreneur Conrad Scotchburn BComm’26, the support provided through the Growth Pod has helped strengthen his entrepreneurial journey. 

“My experience with the Growth Pod has been really valuable. I’ve genuinely felt more supported throughout the process; it’s made a real difference knowing there are people and resources in my corner. The advisors have also given me great insights and practical advice on improvements I can make across all levels of the business.” 

As the Growth Pod continues to grow, the program remains focused on creating more opportunities for student entrepreneurs to access the knowledge, connections and support they need to move their ideas forward. 

Interested in learning more about the Growth Pod and how you can get involved? Visit the program page to explore available advising opportunities and connect with the resources available to help grow your venture. 

BComm student selected one of 10 Outstanding Leaders in Canada

Simone Boudreau’s accomplishments include founding CycleStrong

Sobey School of Business students are known for their high-performance in awards and competitions across the globe, so when it came time to nominate a student for the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership, there was plenty of competition. In the end, Simone Boudreau stood out for her academic strength and commitment to community.

“Simone brought so many achievements to the table. Her exceptional experience in leadership and her academic performance made her an excellent candidate,” said Dr. Michel Delorme, Dean of the Sobey School. “The Sobey School of Business’ reputation led to our school being selected to nominate a student; the quality of our students, in turn, builds our reputation even more.”

In May, while her classmates were walking across the convocation stage, Simone was in Toronto as one of just ten students across Canada to receive this prestigious scholarship.

Simone, fifth from right, at the Futures Fund Scholarship Awards Gala in Toronto

“The Futures Fund was an unreal experience, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity and the memories I created,” said Simone.

Established by Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year®, the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership recognizes business students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership through their academic achievements and extracurricular involvement.

Each year, ten Canadian business schools are selected to participate, with each school nominating a student whose leadership, initiative, and impact distinguish them among their peers.

With a cumulative GPA of over 4.0, Simone will graduate in September with a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing and Economics with a Certificate in Sports Business. She was active in the Commerce Society, Enactus and the Women in Business society, and she served on the Board of Directors for Sail Able Nova Scotia, a learn-to-sail organization for people with disabilities. Most recently, she founded CycleStrong, an initiative focused on helping female athletes better understand injury risk and training through menstrual cycle tracking, with goals to help close the gap in women’s sport science research.

The trip to the Futures Fund event was about more than networking. The candidates engaged with experiential learning and enjoyed access to leaders from companies such as Deloitte, Caldwell, Canadian Tire, Air Canada and more.

“I was able to connect with some of the most inspiring leaders in Canadian business and learn from their experiences through workshops and discussions, and I shared this experience with nine other remarkable students from universities across Canada. We were able to learn from each other throughout the program.

It was an incredible opportunity to expand my perspective, build meaningful connections, and bring new ideas and inspiration back to my career and academics.”

— Simone Boudreau

Simone is currently working as an event coordinator with the Halifax Regional Municipality and plans to continue working in tourism and events. She will graduate this fall and plans to further her education with a master's degree in public policy or applied economics.

From supporting founders to becoming one: David Campbell BComm’24

David Campbell BComm’24

For David, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. In fact, he says he never considered himself a naturally entrepreneurial person. But after spending years surrounded by founders and innovative ideas at Saint Mary's University, his mindset began to change.

Today, David works at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, where he supports student founders and helps create entrepreneurship programming. Outside of work, he's building his own startup, Recordium, alongside co-founders Harpreet Jaggi, an experienced B2B sales professional, and Max Mascini, a Dalhousie University master's student specializing in AI ethics, neuroscience and machine learning.

The team recently received a major boost after being accepted into the AI2Market Launch incubator, earning $10,000 in funding to help bring their business to life.

Recordium was born from a real-world problem. After hearing about the challenges Harpreet faced while attending sales conferences, the team realized that many professionals invest significant time and money into events without having the tools to prepare effectively or capture valuable conversations afterward.

David and Harpreet, Co-Founders of Recordium

"There's no real system for remembering who you spoke to, following up or learning from those interactions," David explains.

That's why the team is developing a comprehensive conference assistant that helps users prepare before events, identify the right people to meet and use AI-powered note-taking and CRM updates throughout the day.

For David, building Recordium has reinforced many of the lessons he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs every day.

Working at the Entrepreneurship Centre taught him the importance of validating a problem before investing time into building a solution. Now, experiencing customer discovery, product pivots and pitching firsthand has also made him a stronger mentor for students.

“I’m now able to help students by using my lived experience,” he says.

David’s previous ventures included a drive-thru wood-fired pizza business

His own entrepreneurial journey has included previous ventures, from a drive-thru wood-fired pizza concept to a woodworking business. While neither succeeded in the long term, each experience taught valuable lessons and helped build confidence to pursue his latest venture.

Looking ahead, the Recordium team is focused on getting the platform into the hands of sales professionals who regularly attend conferences and networking events. With support from AI2Market Launch and fresh funding behind them, they're eager to discover where the product can create the greatest impact.

David's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: talk to people before you build anything.

"The actual problem people are facing starts to emerge quickly when you're having real conversations," he says. "And just start, even if you think the idea is bad or you don't fully believe in yourself yet. What you learn along the way will be well worth it."

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports entrepreneurs like Recordium. 

Saint Mary’s students turn a simple idea into a smarter way to save energy

What started as a conversation during Saint Mary’s University Welcome Weeks is quickly becoming a promising sustainability venture. 

FLIK, an Enactus Saint Mary’s project founded by first-year commerce students, Cooper Roberts and Brady Flynn, aims to help homes and businesses reduce energy waste through smart technology that automatically manages electricity usage. The idea was sparked after team members attended a presentation about Earth Overshoot Day during Welcome Weeks, which highlights how humanity consumes natural resources faster than the planet can regenerate them. 

“We wanted to create something that could actually make an impact,” said co-founder Cooper. “A lot of people were talking about using fewer resources, but we wanted to build a solution.” 

That solution became FLIK, a system that combines smart outlets, light switches, bulbs and motion sensors to monitor and manage energy use throughout a building. The goal is simple: help people save money while reducing unnecessary electricity consumption. 

For the team, the inspiration also came from everyday experiences. One founder recalled growing up around hockey arenas where motion-sensor lights would sometimes turn off while players sat quietly tying their skates. Another admitted to frequently forgetting to turn off lights and electronics at home. 

A FLIK unit

Unlike many existing smart-home products that focus on convenience, FLIK is designed with sustainability and affordability at its core. The system would allow users to customize how appliances and electronics respond when rooms are unoccupied. For example, lights and televisions could automatically turn off after a set period of inactivity, while essential appliances such as refrigerators or slow cookers continue running uninterrupted.

The platform would also provide detailed energy-tracking data, helping users understand exactly how much electricity individual devices consume, information that traditional utility bills rarely provide. 

The idea has already attracted attention. The team has spoken with more than 11 businesses during its market research phase, many of which have expressed strong interest in the product. With support from Saint Mary’s professors, the students are currently refining their minimum viable product and working toward securing letters of intent from potential customers. 

As FLIK continues to grow, the team is encouraging others to follow along on their Instagram and LinkedIn.  

Interested in learning more about how entrepreneurship can blend with other areas of study? Explore programs and events at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Students tackle deer challenges at the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon'

Students attended the hackathon at CLARI at Saint Mary’s University

This May, post-secondary students from across Nova Scotia came together for the ‘Oh Deer! Help Our Urban Gardens Hackathon’, an entrepreneurial challenge focused on finding creative, sustainable solutions to the growing issue of urban deer populations damaging community gardens.

Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Centre for Leadership Excellence, City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood, the hackathon challenged students to develop practical, community-ready ideas that could help protect urban growing spaces while balancing environmental considerations. To ensure participants had a strong understanding of the problem, the experience began outside the classroom.

In addition to research and solution development, students were invited to visit the Common Roots Urban Farm Bi-Hi location for a live garden drop-in experience. They had the opportunity to see firsthand the impact deer can have on urban agriculture, speak with those managing the challenge daily and gain valuable context for their projects.

The hands-on visit was followed by an interactive Ask Me Anything session with a Common Roots Urban Farm Manager, who shared insights, answered questions and helped students better understand the realities of maintaining a thriving urban garden in the face of increasing wildlife pressures.

Common Roots Urban Farm BiHi Park
Source: Common Roots

Urban deer seen in Halifax

Over the course of the hackathon, students worked collaboratively to transform their observations and research into innovative solutions. Teams explored a variety of approaches, combining entrepreneurial thinking, sustainability principles and community impact to address a real-world problem.

SMU’s winning team: Elijah Bucci, Malik Abdullahi, Wyn Go, Chloe Staple

After presenting their final pitches, Saint Mary’s University students Malik Abdullahi, Chloe Staple, Wyn Go and Elijah Bucci were awarded first place for their solution.

For winning team member Malik Abdullahi, the experience was both rewarding and eye-opening.

“The Oh Deer Hackathon was an amazing experience because we got to tackle a real issue impacting our local community. Collaborating as a team to pitch a sustainable solution after getting insights from the Common Roots Urban Farm team gave us real insight on how entrepreneurial thinking can solve environmental challenges. Winning first place was definitely a proud moment for all of us!”

A special thank you to the Centre for Leadership Excellence, the City of Halifax, CLARI, Common Roots Urban Farm and JustFood for their partnership and support in bringing this hackathon to life and providing students with a valuable real-world learning experience.

---

If you are interested in joining opportunities like this in the future, sign up for the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s newsletter to learn more about future opportunities.

First-ever French Innovation Sprint brings students together in Nova Scotia

Students from Université Sainte-Anne participated in the first French language Innovation Sprint

The energy was high and the conversations flowed entirely in French at the first-ever French language Innovation Sprint, a new collaboration between the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Nova Scotia Community College, Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CDÉNÉ) and Université Sainte-Anne. Held at the Centre de l’entrepreneuriat Louis-E.-Deveau in Church Point, Nova Scotia, the event brought together 20 students for an experience focused on solving real business challenges.

What made this Sprint stand out wasn’t just the competition; it was the sense of inclusion. For many participants, it was a rare opportunity to engage fully in French within Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. As André LeBlanc, Manager of the Louis E. Deveau Entrepreneurship Centre, put it, “It is not often that the students get to participate in a French event allowing them to fully feel included in the provincial ecosystem.”

All 20 participants were students from Université Sainte-Anne, with a mix of academic backgrounds—three science students and seventeen commerce students. They were tasked with developing solutions for Wild Rose Farms, a local farm navigating the growing challenges of climate change. The business is seeking ways to remain resilient amid environmental uncertainty by adopting sustainable practices and technologies that support long-term operations and financial performance.

“It was an extremely tough challenge, but the students exceeded all my expectations. Their ideas were impressive and they worked incredibly hard,” said Gilberte Doelle of Wild Rose Farms.

Over the course of the Sprint, students worked in teams to build and pitch their ideas. The level of engagement was high, making it clear that there is a strong demand for more opportunities like this.

By the end of the event, three teams stood out:

1st Place: Délices Muswelemalue, Mike Miteulukusa, Adio Ange Bisse
2nd Place: Prudencia Princesse Mbiadjeu Mbunzwe, Liliane Kasanda
3rd Place: Séverine Makiesekink, Océane Gbaligazakies, Igor Mukwanga

“This experience helped grow my interest in entrepreneurship and pushed my thinking in a new way,” said a member of the first-place team. “It was rewarding to support the business and we even won some money.”

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.

How one Saint Mary’s University student balanced school, entrepreneurship and visual storytelling

Prateek Tamta

Prateek Tamta has spent the past two years helping shape the visual identity of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre while balancing being a student in university, entrepreneurship and leadership roles outside the classroom. 

Originally from India, the Saint Mary’s University arts student is a self-taught photographer, cinematographer and designer who built his creative business, Pixels by Prateek, alongside his studies. Through photography, videography and storytelling, he has helped capture the energy of the Centre’s events, programs and entrepreneurial community while continuing to grow his own brand in Halifax. 

Prateek’s creative journey started long before university. 

“My mom used to buy film cameras when I was a kid and print albums of photos,” he says. “As I grew older, I became very keen on all things tech-related, would take a lot of photos on my phone, draw in my free time and watch lots of tech tutorials to get better at design.” 

What began as curiosity quickly evolved into a passion for multidisciplinary storytelling. Over time, Prateek taught himself photography, videography and design through online tutorials, experimentation and trial and error. 

“The most important skill I learned was how to learn anything,” he says. “Since I am self-taught, most of my skills came from Googling, YouTube tutorials, Skillshare courses and just trying things out.” 

Prateek holds the Enactus World Cup trophy

While building Pixels by Prateek, Prateek was also balancing classes, his role at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and leadership responsibilities with Enactus Saint Mary’s University. As VP of Tech alongside Co-VP Maya Campbell, he helped lead the tech team during Enactus SMU’s World Cup win. 

“It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” he says. “We pulled all-nighters, problem-solved and built a system that future tech teams could use as a base. The win felt worth it because everyone worked so hard to get there.” 

At the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, Prateek’s visual storytelling helped strengthen the Centre’s online presence by capturing authentic moments from events, student ventures and the entrepreneurial community. Through reels, photography and creative content, his work helped showcase the people and stories behind the Centre. 

Balancing so many responsibilities was not always easy, but Prateek credits the Centre with helping him grow both personally and professionally. 

“I was lucky enough to get a job at the Entrepreneurship Centre that let me work more within my skillset while giving me enough time to do well in classes as well as business,” he says. “The EC also introduced me to a lot of people and ways I could find clients for my business.” 

As graduation approaches, Prateek will continue pursuing creative storytelling full-time. Looking back on his journey, he encourages other students to explore different interests and embrace the learning process. 

“Make sure you’re taking care of yourselves,” he says. “It’s very easy to neglect your health when you’re passionate about something. Just make sure you’re not burning out, learning lots and most importantly, having fun.” 

Saint Mary’s University secures 2nd place national finish at Enactus Canada Exposition

The Saint Mary’s Enactus Team

An incredible legacy of impact continues as Saint Mary’s University secured a second-place national finish at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. This achievement is more than a trophy; it is a testament to the consistent innovation and culture of social entrepreneurship that thrives in the heart of Halifax. 

Setting the standard for student-led impact, the Enactus Saint Mary’s team tackled global issues with local heart. Thirty-eight students representing every faculty across the university attended the three-day event in Montreal last week, demonstrating that cross-faculty collaboration is essential to addressing complex social challenges. In addition to the national competition, the team competed in two other competitions and a social accelerator. Placing first in the Innovation and Impact challenge powered by Enactus Alumni with their business Alaagi and second in the TD Entrepreneurship challenge with their businesses Square Roots and Gluten-Free Living.  

"Securing a top two finish on the national stage is a powerful validation of the work our team has put in this year,” said Mia Makhlouf, national team captain and incoming co-president of Enactus SMU. She adds “bringing together students from every faculty, from engineering to arts, allowed us to approach problems like food insecurity and sustainable packaging from every possible angle." 

Square Roots: Rescuing Food, Feeding Communities 

One of the longest-running businesses in the Enactus Canada network, Square Roots (founded in 2016) bridges the gap between agricultural waste and food insecurity, Square Roots sources "seconds", fresh produce with minor aesthetic imperfections that would otherwise be discarded, directly from local farmers. This food is then sold at a significantly reduced price, ensuring fresh nutrition is accessible to everyone. 

From its humble beginnings in two Halifax neighbourhoods, Square Roots has expanded to 23 locations across Nova Scotia, diverting over 1.25 million pounds of produce from landfills to date. 

Alaagi: Redefining the Future of Packaging 

While Square Roots manages the present, Alaagi (launched in July 2024) is engineering the future. This student-led startup is taking on the global plastic crisis by looking to the ocean for answers. 

Alaagi has developed a durable, fully compostable bioplastic derived from seaweed. This material is designed to replace traditional thin-film plastics that can be heated, frozen and shrink-wrapped, breaking down naturally after use, without leaving a trace.  

The team is currently creating the world’s first industry-standard 10K Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) bioplastic film. Positioning Alaagi to become the first commercially available 10k OTR bioplastic film This specific technical standard is essential for meat and seafood packaging. By meeting this industry requirement, Alaagi is tapping into a massive commercial market, providing a sustainable alternative for one of the hardest-to-replace plastic uses in the food industry. 

Gluten-Free Living: Creating a Community for Sensitive Diets

Gluten-Free Living is a mission-driven initiative dedicated to empowering the celiac and gluten-sensitive community. The business creates safe, inclusive spaces for members to share lived experiences and find trusted dining options. 

The team is currently developing the Gluten-Free Living App, a digital platform that integrates verified health information with an AI-powered assistant. This tool simplifies Canada’s complex tax credit system by scanning grocery receipts and automatically calculating the price difference between gluten-free and non-gluten-free products, helping users maximize their CRA rebates. 

"Helping to lead this team alongside my co-president Sarah Wheeler, has been the highlight of my university career,” said Courtney Dingle, co-president of Enactus SMU, “watching these students pour their hearts into all our projects reminds me that social innovation is the most effective tool we have for building a more equitable world. This national recognition belongs to every one of our members who proved that student-led ventures can solve some of society's most pressing challenges." 

Saint Mary’s University, through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, embeds an entrepreneurial spirit into every faculty. By prioritizing problem-solving and resilience, student-led ventures like Alaagi, Square Roots and Gluten-Free Living are equipped to achieve a lasting global impact.  

"It has been a privilege to watch these students gain practical experience in social entrepreneurship; refining their ideas and bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world impact," says Michael Sanderson Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. "This team has proven they are the next generation of global leaders ready to showcase the future of sustainable business." 

Students tackle dual-venture challenge at Innovation Sprint

Innovation Sprint participants from Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie

It’s not every day that students are asked to build strategies for two completely different ventures at the same time, but that’s exactly what made this Innovation Sprint stand out.

Hosted in collaboration with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and New Leaf GSI with the BraveArt Project, the sprint brought together 13 students, six from Dalhousie University and seven from Saint Mary's University, to tackle a unique challenge: building strategies for not one, but two ventures operating side by side. 

New Leaf is a strategy-driven business focused on helping organizations scale through rigorous operations and leadership. The BraveArt Project, by contrast, is a social enterprise brand rooted in creativity, storytelling and advocacy. 

However, they are deeply linked by a shared mission of impact: a percentage of all revenue generated by New Leaf Fractional COO Services is donated directly to The BraveArt Project, the non-profit founded by founder Jessie Taylor. This unique model ensures that every operational success at New Leaf directly fuels the creative advocacy and community work of BraveArt. 

Jessie Taylor

Taylor, the founder of both organizations, set up the tone early, sharing her journey to launching both ventures, along with the challenges, pivots and momentum that shaped them. Her energy carried through the day, especially as she spoke about her continued collaborations, including her work with a previous sprint partner, The Wine Spa, showing students how these experiences can extend far beyond a single event. 

What made this sprint stand out was how quickly ideas turned into real opportunities. Some students even expressed interest in applying for open roles with New Leaf, turning their solutions into potential next steps for their own careers. 

By the final presentations, the level of thought and execution was clear. 

First place went to Patricia Tagliapietra and Mila Souilliere (Dalhousie University students), who delivered a comprehensive plan for New Leaf, covering communication, revenue generation, community growth and a full implementation roadmap. 

Second place was awarded to Hinesh Patel and Swapnil Kanade (Dalhousie University students) for their deep dive into revenue generation, including three scalable models and a creative proposal for a community-driven podcast. 

Taking third place, Stuti Sandhu (Saint Mary’s University) presented a powerful concept focused on workplace equity, financial independence and using both ventures as a platform for advocacy and consulting. 

Beyond the competition, Jessie’s growing list of recognitions, including being a 2026 Canada’s Choice Award Finalist and a nominee for multiple national and regional awards, added another layer of inspiration for participants. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.