Sprint to Innovate – The Innovation Challenge may not be an athletic competition but the business and technology students who race against each other and the clock to solve real-world business problems over the course of a weekend feel the same pride, exhaustion and elation as any Olympic sprinter setting a personal best.  

Red River College Polytechnic teamed up with Tech Manitoba, the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Science and presenting sponsor, Access Credit Union to host the latest Sprint to Innovate instalment at Manitou a bi Bii daziigae in late January. The three-day friendly competition brings together post-secondary students and instructors with industry mentors in an exercise designed to spark and inspire an entrepreneurial spirit.

Physical speed and strength aren’t tested in this sprint, instead students must flex their cognitive muscles to reach the podium by presenting a solution or prototype that addresses a challenge submitted by a local business. The judges are looking for the most dynamic thinkers who excel at organization, collaboration, and communication – critical skills for all innovators.   

The judging panel of Noah Wilson, Ashley Richard, Dean Staples, and Ashleigh Lodge had some very tough decisions to make based on the outstanding solutions offered by the student teams.

The top prize of $6000 went to RRC Polytech’s Team Saturno for their solution to the candidates challenge from Canada’s Association of IT Professionals (CIPS) Manitoba. The RRC Polytech students developed a system to evaluate job candidates and candidate resumes objectively and responsibly using the Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) Skills Credentialing Framework.

Another College team, Innovate to Elevate took second place and $3000 for tackling the City of Winnipeg’s Snow Clearing Challenge.

Team Better Safe Than Sorry brought students from the U of M and RRC Polytech together to solve the Campus Safety Challenge and shared the $2150 third place prize.

All teams advancing to the semi-finals cashed an additional cheque for $550, including The Squad, InnoBusinessRRC, The Conqueror, and The Rubber Duckies.

In the event’s opening keynote, Managing Director at Ubisoft Winnipeg, Michael Henderson shared advice and guidance based on his global experience working his way up to studio leadership with tech giants like Disney and Dreamworks, and in his current role.             

Organizers would like to thank all the volunteer mentors who supported the students throughout the weekend and the challenge representatives from CIPS Manitoba, Integrationworx, Winnipeg Airports Authority, Access Credit Union, Renterii Inc, City of Winnipeg, and Daniel Saltel. 

The prize pool continues to grow annually thanks to Title Sponsor Access Credit Union, and Event Sponsors inVision Edge, Riipen, Red River Mutual, Red River College Polytechnic, Faculty of Science, University of Manitoba, CIPS Manitoba, Integrationworx, National Research Council Canada / Conseil national de recherches Canada, City of Winnipeg, and Neo Financial.

Planning is already underway for next year’s event. Sprint to Innovate – The Innovation Challenge gives students from varied disciplines a unique opportunity to learn from mentors and each other, network with future employers and contacts, and apply their skills to solve tangible business challenges under deadline pressure – invaluable experience for the innovative leaders of tomorrow.