Innovation Sprints: Turning ideas into impact
When Stefan Williams walked into NSCC’s Dartmouth Makerspace for his first Innovation Sprint, he wasn’t sure what to expect. As the founder of High Powered Customs, he knew his custom apparel business had room to grow, but what he discovered was a room full of students ready to think big and move fast.
“I’m going to use probably all their ideas,” Stefan said after the event, impressed by the creativity and practicality of the solutions pitched. From marketing strategies to operational improvements, the students didn’t just brainstorm, they delivered actionable insights that could help a local business thrive.
What are Innovation Sprints
In partnership with Saint Mary’s University Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, NSCC hosted its first three Sprints this fall, bringing together students from multiple institutions and disciplines to tackle real-world challenges for Nova Scotia businesses. Over just a few hours, teams dive deep into a company’s pain points, collaborate under pressure and pitch solutions that matter.
The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre has been running Innovation Sprints since April 2023 and has hosted almost 20 events since then: “These sessions have engaged over 600 students from various universities and connected them with unique businesses across HRM and beyond.”
Students gain real-world, hands-on experience that goes beyond the classroom. From ideation and solution development to public speaking and pitching, these are transferable skills that benefit students from any discipline.
Why students love them
For students like Autumn Messervey, Co-President of Enactus NSCC, the experience was more than a competition, it was a chance to apply classroom learning to real business problems. “Events like this help you network and think outside the box,” she said. “It’s hands-on, and it prepares you for the future.”
Others echoed the same sentiment. Prabhath Sundarapalli from Dalhousie’s Computer Science program highlighted the Sprint’s intensity: “You learn to research fast, pitch effectively and communicate with business owners. It’s a great platform to build skills and connections.”
Even those who didn’t take home a prize left with something valuable. NSCC student Leonid Mykhailov summed it up: “You can only come up with so many ideas yourself, but in this community, you see amazing concepts that inspire even greater ones.”
The benefits go both ways. For business owners like Stefan, the Sprint isn’t just about getting fresh ideas, it’s about building relationships with future talent and gaining perspectives that might otherwise take months to uncover. “I’d recommend any business to come out and learn more,” he said. “The support is incredible.”
Coming up: Winter 2026 Innovation Sprints
NSCC and SMU are gearing up for three more Innovation Sprints this winter, continuing to bring students and businesses together to solve real-world challenges. The first two sessions of 2026 are already scheduled:
- NSCC Truro Campus on Friday, January 30 from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM, featuring local business Addvocacy.
- NSCC Burridge Campus on Thursday, February 19 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM to tackle challenges for a business that will be announced soon.
“Our partnership with NSCC allows us to take these unique, experiential learning opportunities to communities across Nova Scotia,” said SMU’s Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. “We see Provincial Innovation Sprints growing into a long-standing event that pioneers collaboration between industry and academia, engaging alumni, community members and students from all backgrounds.”
As NSCC and SMU gear up for the winter Innovation Sprints, one thing is clear: these events aren’t just competitions - they’re catalysts for growth, collaboration and innovation across Nova Scotia.
Want to get involved?
Whether you’re a student looking to sharpen your skills or a business ready for fresh ideas, Innovation Sprints are your chance to make an impact. Learn more and sign up for the winter Innovation Sprints here