Opportunity Fest 2015 to showcase interdisciplinary innovation

Opportunity Fest is the Beedie School of Business’ annual marketplace-style showcase of student creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation.

Students from across Simon Fraser University will step under the spotlight to demonstrate their talents as entrepreneurs and innovators at the fifth annual Opportunity Fest.

Opportunity Fest, the Beedie School of Business’ annual marketplace-style showcase of student creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation, will be held this year at the SFU Surrey campus on Thursday, March 26 from 5.30-9pm.

This year’s event will highlight the interdisciplinary collaboration that is increasingly occurring across the University. Some of the leading-edge student ventures on display will include drones, organic makeup, and a medical device aimed at reducing non-compliance with medicines.

Participating students will include those from Beedie’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation concentration, including the new 200 level entrepreneurship course open to all of SFU – with representatives from the faculties of Arts & Social Sciences, Applied Sciences, Communication, Art & Technology, Environment, and Health Sciences – as well as from Technology Entrepreneurship@SFU, and junior innovators from Fraser Heights Secondary.

They will compete for prizes in a number of different categories, including Most Impactful Solution; Most Innovative Technological Solution; Most Investable Opportunity; Mr. and Mrs. Opportunity; and Entrepreneurs Choice. As well, the project best demonstrating a dedication to economic, social and environmental impact will win the VanCity Grand Prize in Triple Bottom Line Innovation.

“Since its launch five years ago, Opportunity Fest has become not only one of the highlights of the Beedie calendar, but also that of the local entrepreneurship community,” says Dr. Sarah Lubik, co-director of Technology Entrepreneurship@SFU, and a lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation at the Beedie School of Business.

“The event allows students to showcase their brilliant entrepreneurial talents that have been further developed through many of the entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives on offer at SFU.”

The event underscores the Beedie School of Business’ engagement with the business community, with over 30 guest judges from academia, industry and local venture incubators set to assess the impact and commercial viability of the student entrepreneurs’ projects.

For more information on Opportunity Fest, visit beedie.sfu.ca/oppfest/overview/