CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Four teams of interdisciplinary UPEI students put their heads together recently to solve an energy efficiency challenge at Venture for Canada’s Innovation Jam in Charlottetown.
After pitching their solution to a panel of judges, they walked away with new skills, a stronger network and a $1,000 cash prize.
The company that posed the challenge to the UPEI students also walked away with fresh, new marketing plans.
The jam, hosted by national charity Venture for Canada, is a mashup of a hackathon, pitch competition and training event for post-secondary students. It introduces a real business problem from the startup space for students to solve and present their solution in a pitch competition.
Attendees are trained in entrepreneurial skills, such as persuasion, collaboration and emotional intelligence. These jams are held across Atlantic Canada.
“I think these events are important for anybody looking to grow in a professional sense,’’ said Regan Mills, a student participant and president of the Engineering Society at UPEI. “It’s obviously an exciting prospect to think about how students could be helping a business succeed.’’
Stash Energy presented the startup problem that challenged students to collaborate on a solution for the business’ market expansion with environmental considerations. The Fredericton-based clean technology company focuses on creating sustainable heat and cooling products and systems.
“I think it’s great to have young people exposed to entrepreneurship because it’s the easiest time to get into it, honestly,’’ said Daniel Larson, CPO at Stash Energy.
