Saint Mary's students win national Enactus title—again!

Halifax team to represent Canada on a global stage with world-changing projects

For the second year in a row, students from Saint Mary’s University have been named Canada’s national champions in a countrywide competition celebrating bold ideas and real-world impact.

Their win means Saint Mary’s will once again represent Canada at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, this September, competing against top student teams from around the world.

The team rose to the top at the Enactus Canada National Exposition, held this week at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, where more than 600 students from over 50 post-secondary institutions across the country gathered to showcase their work. After three rounds of intense competition, Saint Mary’s emerged victorious.

At the heart of their success are two projects making a difference here at home:

• Square Roots fights food waste and hunger by rescuing “imperfect” produce and selling it affordably across Nova Scotia.

• Alaagi™ offers a sustainable alternative to plastic packaging—turning seaweed into biodegradable wrap.

In addition to the first-place national win, Enactus also place in three separate topic challenges. 

• Innovation and Impact Challenge, powered by Enactus Alumni – 1st place

• Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge – 2nd place 

• TD Entrepreneurship Challenge – 2nd place 

Finally, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre’s Business Design Manager, Meredith Drost, was awarded the John Dobson Fellow of the Year by Enactus Canada for her dedication to advancing entrepreneurial learning and student success. 

Enactus Saint Mary’s now moves to the global stage, bringing with them Canadian innovation, East Coast spirit and a commitment to change the world.

About Enactus Saint Mary's

Enactus Saint Mary’s is a student-led organization dedicated to creating a better world through entrepreneurial action. They develop and implement projects that address social, environmental and economic challenges, empowering individuals and communities to thrive. 

Alumni-led Canadian International Peace Conference held at Saint Mary's

On April 25–26, Saint Mary’s University hosted the 2025 Canadian International Peace Conference, organized by alumni Fatu Kaba MTEI’24 through her social enterprise, HEARTS Global Network. The event brought together over 30 speakers and 20 workshops, uniting activists, academics, policymakers and students to explore inclusive and community-driven approaches to sustainable peace.

Fatu Kaba MTEI’24

Kaba is an award-winning peace activist, TEDx speaker, and the first woman in her family to earn a master’s degree. She founded HEARTS Global Network to champion global peace and gender equity through education, entrepreneurship and storytelling. Her lived experience, born during the Liberian Civil War, continues to shape her powerful work today.

The conference emphasized peace-building through clean energy, food security, gender equity and community empowerment, aligning closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Saint Mary’s faculty, staff and students were featured speakers at the conference. Dr. Saja Al Zoubi from the Department of Political Science and Global Development Studies spoke on a panel titled ‘The Role of Women in Peacebuilding’. Dr. Margherita Cameranesi from the Department of Psychology co-led a seminar titled ‘Gender-Based Violence and Its Impact on Refugees and their Families’. Natasha Fernandes BA’23, Business Consultant at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, and SMU student Shaneika Carter, moderated panels.

With inspiring keynotes, performances, and hands-on workshops, the event was a bold step toward a more peaceful and just future.

Ignition Program brings students from across Nova Scotia to ignite entrepreneurial spirits

This winter, over 170 students from across Nova Scotia came together to explore entrepreneurship, gain new life skills and connect with like-minded peers through Ignition Winter 2025. Ignition is a multi-week virtual program hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and help students see themselves as future changemakers, whether they plan to start a business or grow their skill set.

Each week, expert speakers shared their experience with students, offering a well-rounded toolbox for personal and professional growth. Sessions included topics such as analyzing consumer behaviour and crafting the perfect pitch, using social media effectively and exploring emotional intelligence.   

In addition, students earned $10 per session for their engagement and participation. Whether logging on from their dorms or squeezing in a session between classes, they were earning while learning and gaining skills that they can have for life.

“The Ignition sessions have been an eye-opening experience that provided me with practical tools for both personal and academic growth," said Mary Mach, a student from Saint Mary’s. "This program has and is continuing to empower me to navigate challenges with confidence and resilience”.

Applications for Ignition Fall 2025 are now open.  Be a part of the next wave of changemakers.

A year of innovation, impact and growth: celebrating the first year of Experience Ventures at Saint Mary’s

Last Fall, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre signed an agreement to be the Regional Lead Atlantic Canada partner in Experience Ventures, a national program led by The Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Innovative Work-Integrated Learning Initiative. Experience Ventures pairs students with businesses, giving students real-world placement opportunities and businesses access to emerging talent.

For students in Atlantic Canada, the program delivered 161 outstanding experiential learning placements with 47 businesses, ranging from startups to established enterprises. While the businesses were many and varied, all were dedicated to mentorship, training and experiential learning and keen to connect with and benefit from students’ fresh thinking and current knowledge. By participating in Experience Ventures, students added work and learning experience to their resumes and made valuable connections with industry leaders.

The collaboration extended beyond Saint Mary’s University, with post-secondary students throughout the region from Acadia University, Cape Breton University, Dalhousie University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Community College, University of New Brunswick and more participating in this dynamic initiative.

Lasting impact on students and businesses

Matthew Orr, a third-year University of New Brunswick student, worked with HomeschoolToGo, a New Brunswick company whose mission is to make bilingual, holistic homeschooling accessible to families worldwide. As part of his project-based experience placement, Matthew worked closely with HomeschoolToGo’s leadership team, assisting in financial management, auditing processes, and market analysis.

He played a key role in refining the company’s financial operations—collaborating with bookkeepers and CPAs to address accounting discrepancies, building financial models and developing strategic projections. Matthew’s dedication and talent led to a continued role with HomeschoolToGo after completing the placement.

Matthew shared, “This program broadened my skill set, especially in venture capital and startup operations, investment rounds, projections and forecasting. It also helped me build a great relationship with my employer.”

“I am so grateful to have been considered for this program,” says Houlie Duque, CEO and founder of HomeschoolToGo. “Finding valuable talent is difficult to do while simultaneously operating a demanding business. Thanks to Matthew, I have been able to cut fractional CFO expenses for my company. He is a dedicated young professional who brings great strengths to the Financial Department at HomeschoolToGo! I look forward to continuing to work with him for many years”.

Experience Ventures: a community of collaboration

Experience Ventures owes its success to the collaboration and support from businesses that contributed their time and expertise in mentoring students and university faculty and staff who promoted the program to students and, in some cases, even participated. The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre team extends a special thanks to the University of Calgary’s Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, who were instrumental in helping deliver this program, and to the students who seized the opportunities to put their learning into action, make valuable connections, and gain relevant experience for their resumes.

AI device predicting UTIs wins $10K at The Arena

Manak Bajaj, a second-year PhD student from McMaster University, has been awarded the $10,000 grand prize in The Arena, Saint Mary’s University’s national pitch competition, for his breakthrough product, Wonder Guard—an AI-powered catheter bag module capable of detecting and predicting urinary tract infections (UTIs).

After 29 days of intense competition, with over 60 participants from 37 post-secondaries across Canada, Manak Bajaj won the grand prize of $10,000 for his product called Wonder Guard—an AI-powered Catheter Bag Module capable of detecting and predicting urinary tract infections (UTIs). Wonder Guard integrates electrochemical biosensors for real-time detection, quantification, and prediction of UTIs. This allows immediate diagnostic feedback to users and health information systems for AI-driven clinical decisions.

Wonder Guard app

“The Arena was a fantastic event! I profoundly enjoyed the challenges brought on by each round, and each iteration taught me so much about how to share the story of Wonder Guard,” said Bajaj. “I am grateful to be the Champion of The Arena 2025, and I’m eager to advance our efforts to create a lasting impact on patients’ lives. Thank you to all the judges who participated in my rounds—your feedback has given Wonder Guard a stronger pathway to market.”

The Arena, presented by the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University, is Canada’s premier national pitch competition for student entrepreneurs. This year’s event welcomed 64 students from leading institutions, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, Queen’s University, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Waterloo and universities throughout Atlantic Canada.

During the month of March, students competed in a head-to-head pitch format, presenting their business ideas 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.

“The calibre of world-changing ideas from these young entrepreneurs is impressive. They are inspired and inspiring,” said Michael Sanderson, Director of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. “These students are going to make their mark on our world, and the Centre is delighted to help them realize their dreams.”

The Arena is generously sponsored by Metronomics, a company founded by Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92, a Saint Mary’s University alumna and successful serial entrepreneur. Susko has been recognized among Canada’s Top 25 Inspirational Women Leaders and Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

Since its launch in 2021, The Arena has awarded $95,000 in prizes and showcased more than 320 student business ideas from across the country. With a focus on growth, innovation and cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is Atlantic Canada’s premier hub for cultivating entrepreneurial mindsets and driving open innovation.

Student-led startup named Canadian Champion at Hult Prize National Competition

Founded by Sheheryar Khan, a soon-to-be graduate in the Diploma in Engineering program at Saint Mary’s University, Alaagi is on a mission to replace traditional plastics with sustainable, biodegradable alternatives. Using seaweed and other marine resources, the company creates fully compostable plastics.

The Alaagi team—comprised of SMU students Sheheryar Khan, Gabe Martin and Vaishali Sachdeva—was named National Champion after competing against 19 other teams from across Canada at the competition held in March at McGill University.

Kate Ramirez of the Hult Prize with Vaishali Sachdeva, Sheheryar Khan and Gabe Martin of Alaagi, and Hult Prize Advisor Aarondeep (Aaron) S. Bains

Another Saint Mary’s team that competed was Sociable, an online platform founded by Olivian Sanderson and Jason Phonchareon. The platform aims to help students build meaningful relationships through shared interests and community events.

With the national win, the Alaagi team immediately moves on to the next phase of the competition, working toward the grand prize of $1 million to be awarded at the Global Finals in London in September 2025. Alaagi has been mentored through the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and is currently incubated through Enactus Saint Mary’s.

““Working with the team at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre was truly transformative. They supported my vision and taught me fundamental skills like how to pitch and manage my business. But I also have to credit my mom—she sent me to Saint Mary’s and to Canada to chase my dreams.””

— Sheheryar Khan

Alaagi Founder Sheheryar Khan presents at the Hult Prize Canadian National Competition

The Hult Prize is a globally recognized social entrepreneurship competition that challenges students to tackle the world’s most pressing issues through innovative business ideas. Each year, more than 187,000 students from 113 countries and 1,324 universities participate, pitching solutions for a chance to win $1 million.

“The Canadian National Competition was competitive and exciting! It was amazing to see teams from across the country come together—not just as competitors, but as colleagues supporting one another through the process,” said Kate Ramirez, North American Regional Manager of the Hult Prize. “This was the first Canadian National Hult Prize competition, and it set the tone for what’s to come.”

The Hult Prize competition consists of five stages. With their national win, Alaagi enters Stage 3: the Digital Incubator. Alongside 60 top teams from around the world, they will refine their ideas, validate product-market fit, build proof-of-concept models, and develop go-to-market strategies. Successful teams will progress to Stage 4: the Global Accelerator, held in person in London this August, where 28 teams will receive intensive mentorship, strategic guidance, and networking opportunities. Of those, eight will be selected to compete in the Global Finals in September, pitching their ventures to a distinguished panel of judges for the $1 million prize.

Follow the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre online for more updates on Alaagi’s journey and other student entrepreneur success stories.

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The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre at Saint Mary’s University is Atlantic Canada’s premier hub for fostering entrepreneurial mindsets and driving open innovation. Over the past five years, the Centre has supported over 4,000 students and 3,000 businesses through programs, mentorship, and entrepreneurial engagement activities.

Students build their own drones in hands-on workshop

STEAM Lab participants pose with their Wi-Fi controlled drones at Saint Mary’s University

During the winter term, a group of students took on the challenge of building fully functioning, Wi-Fi-controlled drones. The workshop was hosted by STEAM Lab, an exciting hands-on program where university students bring STEAM concepts to life by building their own projects over six interactive sessions.

Throughout the program, students enhanced their skills in electronics, programming, 3D printing, and design in a supportive environment that was open to learners from all backgrounds. At the end of the program, they kept the drones they built.

“STEAM Lab has been an incredible experience, providing hands-on learning in an engaging way,” said Abdiaziz Aden Muse. “Through this program, I’ve gained valuable problem-solving skills, collaborated on exciting projects, and explored innovative ideas that sparked my curiosity. The supportive environment and knowledgeable mentors made learning both fun and rewarding. STEAM Lab has truly inspired me to think creatively and approach challenges with confidence.”

“The drone building, programming and collaborative environment allowed me to explore new technologies while building real-world applications,” said Michael Ofori Maccarthy.

Thanks to our partners at EurekaTec and the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre for supporting this adventure in STEAM. Explore the gallery below to see the process unfold!

One million pounds of perfectly imperfect food feeds Nova Scotians

Square Roots, a Nova Scotia social enterprise founded at Saint Mary’s University, celebrates major milestone.

Students sorting donated food

Square Roots, founded by Saint Mary’s University students in 2016, buys imperfect yet perfectly edible food from local farmers and sells it directly to customers at a price that is 50% less than the grocery store. Nova Scotians benefit from getting healthy food at a more affordable price and farmers benefit because they get revenue from the food that would otherwise go to waste. This month, Square Roots celebrates the major milestone of delivering one million pounds of food since its beginning in 2016.

“We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. ”

— Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president

“Square Roots is delighted to reach this one million pounds of food milestone. We could not have done it without the student teams, the community champions and the farmers. We believe this is just the beginning of what’s possible. We are currently in 16 communities and want to be in every county in Nova Scotia by April 2025 and we have a vision to take this model nationally,” says Courtney Dingle, Square Roots president and SMU business student.

Square Roots was developed by students at SMU who participate in an international student program called Enactus. Enactus marries entrepreneurial-minded students with social action. Square Roots addresses the twin issues of food waste and food insecurity. At the farm level, 30% of harvested produce is dumped into landfills due to cosmetic imperfections despite being perfectly healthy. Square Roots rescues this "less attractive" produce that would otherwise be discarded, offering it at affordable prices to those with limited access to healthy food.

Working with local contacts, Square Roots is currently bringing food to over 25 communities across Nova Scotia—the newest being Port Hawkesbury, D’Escousse, Sydney, Baddeck, Cornwallis Park, Digby, Yarmouth, Shelburne, Mill Village, and Lunenburg. The team intends to be in all Nova Scotia counties by May 2025 and, in the bigger picture, has plans to expand across Canada by 2026.

The SMU Enactus team is well-recognized in Canada and around the world. They have placed top 4 in the Canadian Enactus championships 11 of the last 13 years and won the national Canadian champion in 2024. With this recognition, the team represented Canada at the global Enactus championship in Kazakhstan in October 2024. The SMU Enactus team recently earned first place in the 2025 Enactus regional competition and heads to the national competition in May 2025.

Transforming healthcare: Saint Mary’s Experience Ventures partners with Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub

Students presented their ideas to the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub

A student team answers questions during their presentation

Some teams from across Atlantic Canada particpated online

Representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub give feedback on presentations

A unique collaboration driving change in healthcare

From January 22 to February 26, 2025, Saint Mary’s University’s Experience Ventures program embarked on an exciting collaboration with the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub, engaging 15 students across Atlantic Canada. This initiative provided students with hands-on experience tackling some of the province’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

The Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub was established to do the right things for the right reasons. As the front door for innovation and partnerships within Nova Scotia’s healthcare system, it is shaping a methodical approach to innovation and bringing together partners (patients, clinicians, industry leaders, healthcare foundations, governments and academic institutions) to take the best local and global ideas and make them a reality in the pursuit of better health for all Nova Scotians.

The Experience Ventures Challenge presented three challenges to students to build solutions:

• Challenge A: Exploring innovative approaches to address mental health challenges in senior populations.

• Challenge B: Leveraging technology to enhance health outcomes for seniors and improve long-term care delivery.

• Challenge C: Identifying best-in-class frameworks, strategies, and practices from other Canadian and global jurisdictions to advance public healthcare systems.

Throughout the program, students conducted detailed due diligence reports, market scans and final recommendations, presenting solutions to help Nova Scotia Health improve its care system. This initiative provided students with an unparalleled opportunity to gain industry exposure, develop research and analytical skills and contribute to meaningful healthcare advancements. The collaboration highlighted the power of innovation and the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in healthcare transformation.

“It was my pleasure to be part of the Experience Ventures program, where I learned how to apply my skills to solving real-world problems. I also got to make friends in such a short time and collaborate with them on the project,”  said Gulizar Sheikh Muslim, phycology student at Saint Mary’s.

Celia Peters and Michael Warner, Business Development Coordinators with the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub, were excited by the work presented. “It was a pleasure collaborating with the future changemakers and exploring real healthcare scenarios together,” said Peters. “We were inspired by the students' innovative ideas and the potential impact they could have on both the healthcare system and patient outcomes." 

"It was inspiring to watch the final student presentations, where their passion and thoughtful approach to senior care shone through. Their innovative ideas highlighted the importance of prioritizing this area, showcasing the significant impact innovation can have on improving the status quo in senior care," said Warner.

Stay tuned for more exciting collaborations as the Experience Ventures program continues to foster innovation and create opportunities for students to lead the way in healthcare transformation.

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Experience Ventures, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, enables post-secondary students to make an impact alongside real-world innovators through entrepreneurial thinking placements. EV is funded by the Government of Canda and delivered in partnership with post-secondary institutions nationwide.

Enactus Saint Mary's secures first place in Environmental Sustainability, Innovation & Impact and Entrepreneurship Competitions

The Enactus Saint Mary’s team at the Atlantic Regional Exposition in February 2025

Saint Mary's University placed first in three regional challenges at the Enactus Canada Atlantic Regional Exposition: the Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge, the Innovation and Impact Challenge powered by Enactus Alumni and the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge.

The team's success solidifies its leadership position in the Enactus network for its continued dedication to positive change through entrepreneurial action and sustainable business practices.

Championing Environmental Sustainability
The judges were impressed with Square Roots and EmerAlt, two projects in the Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge. Square Roots provides affordable fruit and vegetables to community members across Nova Scotia. EmerAlt is creating plastic cutlery from potato starch.

Driving Innovation and Impact
In the Innovation and Impact Challenge, powered by Enactus Alumni, Enactus Saint Mary's showcased its ability to identify and address real-world problems with creative solutions. Their project Alaagi, only in its first year of conception, won first place for its powerful combination of ingenuity and practical application. The judges were particularly impressed by the team's ability to develop a solution that focused on sustainability.

Empowering Entrepreneurial Spirit
In the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, the team showcased Square Roots and their ongoing growth by launching seven new locations, now totalling 16 across Nova Scotia. This expansion further proved the program's dedication to community empowerment. The team provided 25 entrepreneurs with essential skills, valuable tools and knowledge to foster entrepreneurial success within the community. 

With the recent win, Enactus Saint Mary's will compete in four competitions at the Enactus Canada National Exposition from May 6-8 in Calgary, Alberta, including defending its national championship title.  

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About Enactus Saint Mary's

Enactus Saint Mary's is a student-led organization dedicated to creating a better world through entrepreneurial action. They develop and implement projects that address social, environmental and economic challenges, empowering individuals and communities to thrive.  

Watch as 64 students compete in The Arena, Canada’s premier pitch competition - starting March 3

The Arena is an online pitch competition running throughout March

The Arthur L Irving Entrepreneurship Centre will welcome 64 enterprising students from across Canada to The Arena, where they will compete for a total of $17,000. Modelled after the NCAA March Madness, students compete in dynamic head-to-head pitch competitions, presenting their innovative ideas to panels of expert judges.

Now in its fifth year, The Arena continues to grow its national reputation and appeal, attracting applications from 37 post-secondaries across Canada, including the University of Toronto, McGill University, Queen’s University, University of Alberta, University of Calgary, University of Waterloo, as well as schools throughout Atlantic Canada. The first-place prize is $10,000; the runner-up prize is $5,000, and third and fourth-place competitors each receive $1,000.

The Arena runs fully online from March 3 to April 1 and includes six rounds of competition. The entire competition can be followed on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. The entire Saint Mary’s community is welcome to join in! Find match and streaming details on the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre website.

“The Arena is an adrenaline-pumping showdown where student entrepreneurs showcase their ideas and compete for the title of the nation’s top innovator,” says Michael Sanderson, Director, Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. “This competition is transformational and lucrative—students get valuable, immediate feedback and the chance to win a total of $17,000 in prize money for their business.”

The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre is grateful to Metronomics, The Arena prize sponsor. Metronomics was founded by Saint Mary’s University alumna Shannon Byrne Susko BComm’89 BSc’92, a successful serial entrepreneur who has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 25 Inspirational Women Leaders and one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.

The first round of competition starts March 3 at 1 p.m. Atlantic time and features four Saint Mary’s University students. Arts students Brad Gilmet and Stuti Sandhu, science student Samih MohamedAli and commerce student Hasib Ahmed are among the top students selected. Hasib kicks off the pitches from Saint Mary’s on Monday at 4 p.m. Atlantic time.

Visit here for details on all 64 competitors and the dates and times for each round of competition.

Fresh ideas for accounting’s future

The AC Group teams up with students to tackle recruitment challenges in the CPA industry at recent Innovation Sprint challenge 

Tezas Sethi showcasing their solutions to the AC group representatives

Pari Ajay Mehra, Iram Sheikh and Rishita Mishra present to the AC Group

SMU students Asmita Ale, Hazzaa Sujeer and Lydia Lee present to AC Group

Students brainstorming ideas

Third-place team Kathleen Murray, Angus Bonnyman (CEO of The AC Group), Nguyen Thu Trang Truong, Aquilya Smith

Participating students and the AC Group

Last week, 28 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and NSCC worked in teams on an Innovation Sprint. In this short, high-energy event, students collaborate to generate solutions for business challenges. The AC Group of Independent Accounting Firms Limited (AC Group) brought forward a challenge focused on addressing recruitment challenges within the CPA and accounting industry. 

The AC Group is an alliance of 13 independent accounting firms in Atlantic Canada. It facilitates the member firms' being leaders in serving the needs of owner-managed businesses in their marketplaces. 

Students heard from Angus Bonnyman, CEO of The AC Group, and Shirley Jollimore, Director of The AC Group. They provided insights into topics such as attracting high-quality applicants and increasing awareness and opportunities in the CPA and Accounting industry. 

The participating students brought fresh perspectives and creative strategies to the table, creating a win-win situation for both students and the AC Group. 

Solutions from the winning team, comprised of three business students, Hazza Sujeer, Lydia Lee and Asmita Ale, ranged from building strategic university partnerships for talent acquisition to targeted social media strategies aimed at increasing brand exposure. Reflecting on the competition, Hazza shared, “We tackled one of the biggest challenges in public accounting, which is to attract and retain top talent. It was an incredible experience being around creative and like-minded individuals to develop real-world solutions.” 

Business student Munyaradzi Matura and science student Q’Ba Richards won second place, while a team of business students, Kathleen Murray, Nguyen Thu Trang Truong, and Aquilya Smith, secured third place. 

The AC group representatives were highly impressed by the students’ professionalism and innovative thinking. Angus remarked, “We worked with a very dynamic group of students who had great ideas about how we could solve a real-world problem.” The firm was enthusiastic about implementing some of the proposed solutions. 

At the end of the Sprint, businesses choose the winning teams, with the first-place winners receiving $1,000, second-place winners receiving $700, and third-place winners receiving $300. In a unique opportunity, The AC Group also opened scholarship applications to participants and actively encouraged students to submit resumes for potential career opportunities. 

Find out how to participate in an Innovation Sprint. 

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About Innovation Sprint  

Innovation Sprint is a short, focused event that brings business and keen, creative students together to generate ideas and solutions to business problems.  During the Innovation Sprint, participants:  

• engage in time-sensitive bursts of intensive problem-solving and developing business solutions;  

• receive insightful resources and mentorship, helping them address business challenges;   

• learn how to facilitate rapid and effective outputs to challenges they may face in their business. This is a unique entrepreneurial experience that can be translated into their own chosen fields;  

• collaborate with students from across Atlantic Canada from various faculties and disciplines.