• 220+ students engaged across all programs
• $120,000+ in total, student honoraria and prizes awarded
• 25+ industry partners and start-ups involved
• 82% EDI (Equity, Diversity & Inclusion) participation rate

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This past year, Brilliant Catalyst, in partnership with Experience Ventures, has been a driving force in promoting innovation, experiential learning, and entrepreneurial thinking among Ontario Tech students. 

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Experience Ventures, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary and funded by the Government of Canada, connects post-secondary students with real-world innovators through paid experiential learning placements. 

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Our continued partnership and collaboration with Experience Ventures brought forth a variety of programs, each designed to challenge students, foster innovative thinking, and help them build meaningful connections with industry. These programs equipped students with the skills and competitive edge they need to thrive in today’s dynamic workforce.

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Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights!

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Catalyst Challenge: Advancing Health Innovation through AI and Technology

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One of the year's most anticipated events, the 2024-25 Catalyst Challenge, developed in partnership with Lakeridge Health, focused on advancing health innovation through AI and technology. This 9-day ideathon invited Ontario Tech students to tackle real-world healthcare challenges.

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The participants were introduced to the quadruple aim of healthcare: population health, patient care, sustainability, and team wellness by the leadership at Lakeridge Health. The teams then brainstormed and developed innovative solutions to address the identified issues within the Canadian healthcare system. The challenge wrapped up with a final pitch competition where students competed for over $6,000 in cash prizes, and each received a $325 honorarium for their participation. Student ideas were judged by industry experts from Lakeridge Health and Ontario Tech University. 

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Congratulations to the winning teams:

• ‍Axis (Farah Diba Haidary, George M., Isabel Okonwo, Jkwon Benjamin)
• ‍MedRoute (Abdullah Mustafa, Blake Pezzarello, Eloghosa Avenbuan, Gabriella Pamy, Mikayla C., Mira Saad)
• ‍NavConnect (Aaliya Moolla, Alya Rasoul, Elaha Noori, Hiba Patel, Saffiya Mehraban, Tia Avutova)

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Energy Systems Innovation Challenge

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In partnership with Ontario Tech’s Student Enrichment Program, The Energy Systems Innovation Challenge focused on sparking creativity and finding solutions to critical energy issues Canada faces today. This challenge welcomed students passionate about energy and sustainability, offering a $525 honorarium per student for participation and a chance to win up to $2,000 in cash prizes. 

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Throughout the two-week challenge, students teamed up to develop practical and forward-thinking solutions to energy challenges under the guidance of mentors and professionals from powerhouses like AtkinsRéalis, Westinghouse, and E.S. Fox. The competition concluded with a pitch competition where students presented their innovative, complete solutions to a panel of expert judges. The collaboration and creativity displayed were truly inspiring, leaving participants with entrepreneurial mindsets and newfound professional connections.

• 1st Place: FrostGuard (Muhammad Farooqui, Muzzammil Rehman, Taha Yaseen, Yaseen Mohammad Rehman, Hammad Mian)
• 2nd Place: Piezoelectric (Caren Eissa, Kealey Paoletti, Inshal C., Imtihal Amjad, Aadit Singla)
• 3rd Place: EcoHaven Communities (Aysha Mohmand, Muadh Mugdi, Colton Bernas, Irene Mafuru)

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Durham Mobility Idea Sprint

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The Durham Mobility Idea Sprint, in partnership with Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) and Durham RTDS (Durham Regional Technology Development Site), encouraged students to rethink the future of transportation. In a one-week sprint, students tackled mobility challenges in the Durham region, proposing creative solutions such as AI-powered traffic management to reduce congestion.

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Participants received $325 honorariums for their contributions, and the event concluded with a final pitch competition where students presented their transformative ideas. The winning team, HiWay (Atif Saeed, Noah Aguirre, Mohamed Mukhtar, Ngoc L., Ali Sajad Sultani), stood out with their vision for enhancing regional mobility. 2nd Place went to ChargeShare – (Adam Klimek, Peter Hsu, Muhammad Musa, Alexander Pardy), whose innovative concept also impressed the judges.

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Brilliant Work-Integrated Learning (BWIL)

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The Brilliant Work-Integrated Learning (BWIL) program offers students the opportunity to participate in short-term, project-based placements with dynamic start-ups and organizations. Designed to align with students’ academic backgrounds, these placements allow participants to contribute meaningfully to real-world projects while spending 60+ hours gaining hands-on experience. Each placement is hosted by an organization that provides supervision, mentorship, and in-kind value, making the program beneficial for them while ensuring a rich learning environment for the student.

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In addition to an $825 honorarium, students benefit from access to professional networks and entrepreneurial mentorship. BWIL helps bridge the gap between academic learning and the workforce, giving students a competitive edge as they approach graduation. They gain tangible experience to list on their resumes, build connections that can lead to future employment, and often contribute fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that provide real value to the host start-ups. By participating in BWIL, students enhance their employability while helping early-stage ventures grow.

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Brilliant Students-in-Residence Program

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The Brilliant Students-in-Residence (BSiR) program offered two unique projects this year: one focused on developing a custom AI for entrepreneurship resources in Durham with insights from Cheffery and 1855 Whitby, and another involving a placement with Moduleaf Technologies and Turnkey Aquaponics to support their work in the Homegrown Innovation Challenge with the Weston Family Foundation. Students gained valuable experience that supports early career development and job readiness, while contributing meaningfully to growing ventures.

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The Brilliant Students-in-Residence (BSiR) program offered a unique chance for students to engage with multiple ventures. Over the course of a semester, participants contributed to diverse projects, fostering adaptability and broad industry insight. Like BWIL, this program included an $825 honorarium and the opportunity to connect with mentors.

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Looking Ahead

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Our year with Experience Ventures has been nothing short of inspiring. This collaboration has enriched our students' academic journeys and equipped them with the practical skills and confidence needed to succeed in today’s evolving workforce. As we continue to lead innovation and hands-on learning, we’re excited to expand these opportunities and empower even more students to thrive.

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Want to Get Involved?

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Discover how you can be part of our upcoming projects by visiting the Experience Ventures page.

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Don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on upcoming programs, opportunities, and events!

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