Unleashing Innovation: The Crunch 2023

Career and experiential learning 
Entrepreneurship Hub
Student experience
Innovation
Entrepreneurship

By Samia Acherki

Assistante de marketing | Marketing Assistant, Carrefour de l'entrepreneuriat | Entrepreneurship Hub

Group of participants, judges and organizers at The Crunch event.
In a spirit of collaboration, The Crunch 2023, a dynamic partnership between the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College, unfolded a vibrant canvas of entrepreneurship during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Hosted at Carleton University this year, the event brought together 75 students who share a passion for innovation to form 14 teams who embarked on a transformative journey.

For three exhilarating days, participants immersed themselves in an intricate dance of ideas and collaboration. The Crunch provided a platform for individuals to address challenges and bridge gaps across various industries. The competition spanned a variety of categories, including health innovation, social impact, and emerging technologies, sparking creativity and purposeful collisions of thought.

The journey began with a whirlwind of ideation, with students proposing current entrepreneurial ideas or joining forces with like-minded peers, to eventually winnow the concepts down to 14 carefully chosen ideas that would shape the competition.

Saturday marked a pivotal point in the competition, with students engaging in a business model canvas training session. Inspiring entrepreneurs and community leaders were on hand to act as mentors and provide valuable guidance while the teams worked diligently on their business concepts. The Innovation Hub served as the backdrop, a nurturing environment where innovation thrived.

As Sunday dawned, anticipation filled the air as teams delved into a pitch training session. Their efforts culminated in riveting moments, during which each team practiced and perfected their pitches, honing their ability to effectively articulate their groundbreaking ideas.

One of the standout innovations was the winning team, Ecosorter, which comprised seven talented individuals. This revolutionary waste management solution addressed the prevalent issue of mis-sorted recycling. Ecosorter’s innovative approach incorporated technology to identify and organize waste according to categories, offering a promising solution to the challenges that plague current recycling practices. Their vision earned them the grand prize of $1000.

The Crunch 2023 not only showcased the power of innovative thinking, but also demonstrated the significance of purposeful collaboration. It provided a glimpse of the entrepreneurial landscape, offering participants a chance to create value and witness firsthand the dynamic life of a startup.

As this event unfolded, it left an indelible mark on the entrepreneurial journey of 75 students, fostering a community where ideas collide, innovation flourishes, and transformative visions come to life.