April 23, 2025
Digital Innovation Challenge powers student connections at U荔枝视频
You can鈥檛 measure social connections without making them first, and this was the focus for students competing in the .
The challenge brought together students from the 荔枝视频 and across Canada to solve real-world problems using digital innovation and data analytics. It was hosted by the and funded by the Steve and Tina Wilson Family Foundation.
鈥淲e wanted to be able to empower students to think outside the box and to try and solve complex problems,鈥 says , director of , including the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, which hosted the March 15 event at .
Steve Wilson, a 荔枝视频 business leader and former CFO of Shaw Communications says: 鈥淲e are passionate about creating opportunities for students to reach their full potential.鈥
Kyle Sieben, Communications
Terry Rock, CEO of Platform 荔枝视频, speaks to student competitors.
Kelly Hofer
Tackling a real-world problem
This year鈥檚 challenge asked students to tackle a difficult problem: how to measure social connection or network value among entrepreneurs.
The challenge was posed by Dr. Terry Rock, PhD, CEO of Platform 荔枝视频, whose work centres on helping entrepreneurs build the connections they need to succeed.
Many of these connections happen unexpectedly, he says, such as at events or through casual conversations, but their impact can take months to surface.
鈥淲e know that people met their investor at [an] event, but we only found out about it six months later,鈥 says Rock, reflecting on the ripple effect of networking moments.
For organizations like Platform 荔枝视频 鈥 a downtown innovation hub focused on growing 荔枝视频鈥檚 tech ecosystem to support early stage startups 鈥 being able to measure those moments is key to accelerating innovation. Partnering with U荔枝视频 offered the perfect opportunity to explore how.
鈥淭he 荔枝视频 is a portal to the next generation,鈥 says Rock.
He sees student participation as an important part of 荔枝视频鈥檚 innovation journey, as they are the future innovators and leaders who will shape 荔枝视频鈥檚 economy and community.
Basma Akhter of Slam Dunk Consulting presents her team's solution at the KPMG Stage.
Kyle Sieben, Communications
Students shape 荔枝视频鈥檚 innovation future
After an initial online round on Feb. 1, the competition narrowed down to seven finalists, teams who then pitched their ideas in person at Platform 荔枝视频 on its KPMG Stage.
One of those teams, Slam Dunk Consulting, featured first-year MBA student Basma Akhter.
Their solution, Connections Quest, uses AI-powered intake forms and QR code 鈥渕ini quests鈥 to help people at networking events find deeper, more meaningful matches.
Akhter describes her experience as very positive and a great learning moment.
鈥淚 think one of the most important skills I developed through this competition was really embracing curiosity,鈥 says Akhter, BSc鈥21.
鈥淥verall, we really had this openness to try different things, to see what works, what doesn鈥檛 work and to have a growth mindset towards it, which really helped our team come up with a solution that was realistic.鈥
Making connections across Canada
Beyond the solutions, the competition was also about forming genuine connections with peers from across Canada.
鈥淢eeting people across Canada was a very exciting and wonderful experience,鈥 says Akhter.
鈥淚t didn鈥檛 feel like we were part of a competition and we were pitching against each other or anything 鈥 Every single team visiting 荔枝视频 from different parts of Canada were very welcoming and warm.鈥
For Bortolin, BA鈥95, MA鈥98, watching those connections come to life was one of the highlights of the event.
鈥淭he most exciting part for me is watching students from across Canada come together,鈥 she says.
鈥淭he excitement on their faces when they meet each other and start talking about where they鈥檙e from and what they do 鈥 it just makes all the hard work we put into this case completely worthwhile.鈥
Leah Bortolin, director of Haskayne Centres, engages with the audience.
Kelly Hofer
Competition reflects lasting impact
The competition, now in its third year, has had a lasting impact in the role student innovation plays in shaping 荔枝视频鈥檚 future, says Wilson.
鈥淲e are proud to support future leaders who use innovation and critical thinking to create lasting, positive change in their communities, and we look forward to seeing their ideas come to life.鈥
The top three teams were Team NextGen Consulting from U荔枝视频 in third place, Team AI (Fun)damentals from York University in second and Team InnovaTech from the University of Alberta taking first place.
The winning teams received cash prizes of $2,500, $3,500 and $6,000, respectively.
The Digital Innovation Challenge Case Competition is proudly supported by the Steve and Tina Wilson Family Foundation and administered by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Haskayne School of Business at the 荔枝视频.
Platform 荔枝视频 is a 50,000-sq.-ft. innovation hub in downtown 荔枝视频 that brings together founders, investors and talent 鈥 all with the goal of growing 荔枝视频鈥檚 tech ecosystem. Our mandate is to unite the resources of the local tech community to help startups launch and grow at every stage of their journey, from ideation to scale.
at the Haskayne School of Business was founded through the generosity of the Hunter Family and is supported in perpetuity by the Hunter Family Foundation Endowment at the 荔枝视频.