SFU’s largest showcase of student entrepreneurship projects.
SFU’s largest showcase of student entrepreneurship projects, Opportunity Fest, is back! Hosted by the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship, Opportunity Fest is an annual celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship that gives students a platform to share their venture ideas.
At Opportunity Fest, entrepreneurial-minded students team up to present their products and ventures through live pitches. These teams receive valuable feedback from a panel of esteemed mentors that will select standout teams to win cash prizes in support of their entrepreneurial journeys.
This year, we are excited to feature entrepreneurial projects and solutions from our from our early-stage startup incubator and Entrepreneurship Co-op students!
Join us and witness the creativity, innovation, and drive that fuel SFU's entrepreneurial community.
Key Dates
Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: SFU Surrey Mezzanine | SRYC 2400
Structure
Opportunity Fest is a booth-based pitching event where participating teams pitch approximately 6 to 8 times in a carousel fashion. For each rotation, each team pitches to rotating groups/pairs of industry expert mentors, followed by a Q+A, and then mentors award scores and provide feedback at the end. These rotations repeat until participants have pitched to all the Guest Mentors in their category, as well as any passersby and the general SFU student audience.
Categories
Urban Ecosystems: This category includes ventures designed to enrich urban living through sustainable, community-focused solutions. These teams address the evolving needs of city residents by fostering connectivity, accessibility, and responUrban Ecosystems:sible resource use. Whether by enhancing local housing options, creating vibrant social networks, or providing convenient transit solutions, these ventures support a cohesive urban ecosystem where residents can thrive and engage meaningfully within their communities.
Teams: JetScoot, MEJJK Hostels, Green Grid Homes, UniGather, BeanTalk
Good Living: This category highlights ventures dedicated to enhancing quality of life through sustainability, wellness, and fostering positive lifestyle habits. These teams offer innovative solutions that promote healthy living, responsible habits, and improved daily experiences. Together, they address practical needs—from financial wellness and recycling to health technology and recreational tools—making life more accessible, enjoyable, and fulfilling.
Teams: Deposit Drop, Schwara, AmyGo, DAJA Golf, IDK Wealth
Enhanced Workflows: This category features ventures that streamline and enhance professional collaboration, resource sharing, and operational efficiency. These teams provide innovative platforms and solutions—whether through data-driven automation, flexible talent sourcing, consignment partnerships, niche job marketplaces, or on-demand services—that support businesses and individuals in working smarter. Together, they enable industries to overcome resource constraints, improve productivity, and connect with the right expertise to drive growth and adaptability across diverse sectors.
Teams: DataBotix, Swequity, JB Network, AWork Hub, CitySync
Conscious Choices: This category includes ventures that empower individuals to make mindful, sustainable, and health-focused decisions. From eco-friendly fashion and food waste reduction to nutritious treats and affordable outdoor adventures, these teams offer solutions that prioritize personal well-being and environmental responsibility. Each venture encourages consumers to embrace lifestyle choices that are both fulfilling and aligned with a sustainable future.
Teams: Nutritiva, Circular Drip, Sustainly, WasteWise, Gear 2 Peer
Protection: This category represents innovative solutions dedicated to safeguarding individuals, communities, and environments. The teams in this category focus on advancing safety, enhancing resilience, and reducing risk in various sectors. From improving physical safety with ergonomic solutions and protective gear to revolutionizing disaster prevention and remote operations in hazardous environments, these ventures aim to create systems and products that prevent harm, foster inclusivity, and empower users with peace of mind. Their solutions prioritize long-term protection, whether through proactive risk management, inclusive safety equipment, or innovative technologies that safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Teams: Karkhakon Aerospace, Occupational Overlords, MindGuard Solutions, XOFORM, Unified Teleoperations Exploration Corp.
Prizes
After the evening showcase, awards will be handed out at a Ceremony in the Prospera Credit Union Theatre. Guest Mentor scores impact the Category Prize Winners.
Category Prizes: These prizes are awarded to the top student teams in each category. The winning teams are based on the scores / votes provided by Guest Mentors.
High Impact Innovator Award: The High Impact Innovator Award is awarded to the student team that best gives a compelling pitch for the high impact potential of the startup (to people and/or planet) and venture idea feasibility. Competitors submitted their entry for this award via video earlier in the semester. The prize winner will be internally selected prior to OppFest showcase, but announced at the evening’s Award Presentation.
SFU Entrepreneur’s Choice: This prize is awarded to the favourite student venture team overall, including eCo-op student participants. This is decided by the SFU peers and attendees. Guest mentors are welcome to place a vote.
Guest Mentors
Our guest mentors are a diverse mix of entrepreneurs, industry experts, and academics. They are paired up and assigned to a student category and listen to pitches, score, ask questions, and provide feedback.
Thank you to our Opportunity Fest 2024 Guest Mentors*:
Anne Hunger
Annika Rosanowski
Brandon Beaulieu
Brandon Chapman
Bethany Hill
Buk Nkosi
Chris Hart
Elizabeth Thorsen
Ella Dalling
Garrett Downes
Gurwinder Singh
Jerome Francis
John Nguyen
Kamaldeep Sembi
Kavita McDaniel
Michal Vorac
Rachel Chase
Rahul Singh
Refayet Siam
Ryan Stolys
Simren Brar
Spencer Pallone Helm
Steve Dooley
Vance Williams
Wesley Wong
William Brenner
*Please note this list is still being finalized
Volunteer
Volunteer applications are now closed.
Thank you so much for the overwhelming interest in volunteering for Opportunity Fest 2024! Due to an incredible response, we have now closed our volunteer applications. We're grateful for everyone’s enthusiasm and support for this event, and we look forward to a successful Opportunity Fest together.
If you didn't get a chance to sign up, please stay tuned for future opportunities – we’d love to work with you at our upcoming events!
FAQs
As an Opportunity Fest participant, can I find out what guest mentors will be attending ahead of time?
We will be updating our list of attending guest mentors closer to the event date, as we are still in the recruitment phase. We can notify participants in our emails when the list is updated and point in the direction of our website, but please note that the category designation of guest mentors will not be included, and that the list is continuously growing.
Can anyone attend Opportunity Fest to see the student projects?
Absolutely! Everyone is encouraged and welcome to witness the entrepreneurial minds of our participating SFU students and community. We are more than happy to have you attend!
I am participating in Opportunity Fest. The demo I have in mind will require more floor space - is this possible?
Each participating team will have their own table. Since there are many participating teams across numerous classes, we unfortunately cannot accomodate a larger floor space for participants due to logistics. If possible, we recommend capturing a demo on video to show Guest Mentors on the showcase day!
My team may need a projector on Opportunity Fest Day. Where can I request the AV requirements that my team needs?
For any AV requirements, please write it in team registration form, and we will get back to you by email. Please note that our ability to provide AV requirements is restricted, and we may not be able to accomodate everyone. We recommend borrowing equipment from the SFU library!
SPECIAL THANKS TO
Opportunity Fest Course Instructors
Thank you to these SFU instructors who have worked closely with student teams over the semester to prepare them for Opportunity Fest 2024!
Amyn Somani for BUS 238
Kate Dilworth and Dr. Ramtin Rakhsha for TechE (MSE 490)
Douglas Fast for BUS 477
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