Innovative Projects Realized

Portable COVID-19 diagnostic system using saliva sample

This project aims to develop an easy-to-use and cost-effective saliva test, fitted for COVID-19 diagnosis and
surveillance via multiplexed detection of SARS-CoV-2 viruses, COVID-19 specific antibodies immunoglobulin M and immunoglobulin G within 15 minutes. The supported intern will join a team, consists of researchers at the University of Waterloo and personnel from the partner organization, to leverage an existing point-of-care testing (POCT) platform, develop a standard test protocol, and evaluate test performance.
The proposed saliva test is designed to address the urgent need for fast, accurate, large-scale COVID-19 testing possible for a wide range of businesses and infrastructures. Potential locations include senior homes, factories, academic institutes. The multiplexed detection of virus and antibodies is highly desirable to improve the overall test sensitivity and specificity, as well as provide valuable information for predicting patient trajectories or determining infection history. The partner organization will benefit from the knowledge generated and expertise the intern brings to the project. The partner organization intends to commercialize the resultant product and will be consequently benefit from the project.

Marketing Initiative

The project is a marketing initiative with the objectives of delivering and promoting a brand new financial product. The initiative is a direct response to the impact of COVID-19. As a result of the pandemic, the organization will be launching a fully digital product and a new business model. The marketing efforts are expected to play a key role in driving demand within an under-served market and establishing the brand as an industry leader.

Marketing Analyst

Until recently, OnPoint was not in the position to bring on a marketing team or person and just before the pandemic hit we were starting the process of searching for both a sales person and marketing individual. As both of those efforts have needed to be suspended due to reduced cashflow, we feel that the opportunity to bring on a marketing intern would provide a needed boost to our outbound efforts and hopefully generate new clients which would counteract the negative growth we have experienced over the last 3 months.

Business development intern

SenseNet Inc. was founded in 2018, an ideation of engineers and computer scientists that technology can be harnessed for the greater good. Our work lies at the intersection of IoT and AI/ML. Our solutions can be applied to many business problems including but not limited to wildfire detection, oil and gas pipeline monitoring, and agriculture optimization. Since launching, we have developed prototypes and products, planning to enter the market in 2020. Our business and market strategies were designed before for pre-pandemic business. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19, all our business development and sales efforts have been put on hold per prospective customers’ requests (either due to financial difficulties or due to change in priorities).

As BC reopens, SenseNet must redefine our go-to-market strategy, pivot the organization’s business development efforts to new relevant market segments and re-engage with the potential customers to adjust product-market fit. The candidate, working with senior business executives, will assist management with this redefinition and pivot; we want to work closely with him/her to build new business and marketing strategies.

Duties:
– Perform interviews with prospective customers, conduct surveys and ethnographic research to understand how we should redefine our product-market fit and adjust our solution in the post-pandemic world.

Marketing Intern

Remedi Wellness is a leader in providing holistic wellness services – including nutrition, supplements and medical aesthetic services.
Prior to COVID-19, the primary services were medical aesthetics. Due to the order to shut down all service business, Remedi pivoted and is primarily becoming an e-commerce platform to sell its supplements and skin care products followed by medical aesthetic services (on a appointment basis only). Remedi is pivoting from 70% services and 30% products to 30% services and 70% products.
As such, in order to effectively develop an e-commerce strategy on how to sell its skin care products and supplements to its customer base, the intern will need to have a solid understanding of the current operations of the business and services provided.
The intern will need to:
1.Get an in depth knowledge of the current services of the business
2.Understand the operations of the business
3.With the CEO, understand how the business is pivoting given COVID-19
4.Research the industry and market and then develop an e-commerce solution.

Combined Building Integrated PV/Thermal (BIPV/T)Collector with Two-stage Variable Capacity AirSource Heat Pump for Net-Zero Energy BuildingApplications

Incorporating the Two-stage Variable Capacity Air Source Heat Pump (TS-VC-ASHP) into
Building Integrated Photovoltaic/Thermal (BIPV/T) system has the potential to reduce building
heating and cooling costs and dependence on non-renewable heating fuels. ASHPs could
boost the quality and quantity of heat output of a BIPV/T system by delivering a seasonal
Coefficient of Performance (COP) of between 2.0 and 4.0, which means 2-4 times more
energy output than the amount of energy (electricity) consumed.
When used in Canada’s cold climates, however, ASHPs alone have been found to
underperform at low temperatures due to the scarcity of heat that may be pumped out of the
atmosphere. One solution to this is the two-stage VC-ASHP which can provide a higher COP
at very low winter outdoor temperatures. The incorporation of PV/T and two-stage variable
capacity ASHP into building integrated sloped roof, flat roof and curtain wall solutions in
existing residential and commercial buildings will furthermore have the potential to lower
overall costs of such systems..TOBECONT’D.

TopSpin Technologies Ltd.

A challenge facing the sports industry is the overshadowing effect of Covid-19. Many people are rightly focused on much bigger and immediate health issues as opposed to longer term issues, like concussion. However, for athletes, preparation during this time off is critical to staying competitive when sports return; it is also a great opportunity for TopSpin to become part of this preparation.

TopSpin Technologies has the ability to redefine how athletes prepare for their sport and take care of their health. It is my goal through this project to help TopSpin carry out this mission and get athletes ready for return to play. Specifically, my project will accomplish this by helping to create an effective post-Covid sales and marketing strategy, thereby getting the devices on the heads of athletes. This project will enable TopSpin to pivot in order to remain relevant with customers and continue their growth momentum.

Susgrainable Business Development Intern

Susgrainable is in the midst of a business pivot away from food service and into consumer-packaged goods (CPG). This has involved the team creating an online shop amongst other initiatives. The team has recently lost 2 founding members due to a massive economic contraction within the food service space. The team is looking for a student to evaluate a viable opportunity that the current staff had begun to explore prior to COVID-19 which would utilize the CPG products being produced this summer

Business Strategist

The intern with the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC (ORC) works in the outdoor recreation and trail sector to research a sustainable funding model to support the BC trail system. Historically, this sector has been mainly volunteer-powered and community-based; however, due to the pandemic there has been a loss of funding. The intern will conduct research by examining successful funding models in other jurisdictions, analyzing survey data and interviewing stakeholders in order to put forward recommendations to the Provincial Trail Advisory Board (PTAB). The PTAB provides advice to the BC Government on the implementation of the Trails Strategy of BC and the PTAB is co-chaired by the ORC.

Finance and Operations Summer Associate (MBSI)

Conatix is an early-stage startup in Montreal that has been through several leading Canadian accelerator program. Conatix is in the process of completing the prototype of an AI-based cybersecurity system for testing at some of the largest banks in Canadas. Conatix is looking for an intern skilled in finance and Excel to help adapt the financial model and projections to the new pandemic and post-pandemic reality. In addition, the intern will work with Conatix to develop new customer pricing models and help consolidate the internal monthly expenses on collaboration and other services. Finally, the intern will also get involved in other aspects of running and building an early-stage technology startup.

Business Developer

Company Background:
Castofly is a cloud-based platform for online education to seamlessly create, share, watch and collaborate on videos. The platform empowers educators to quickly create high-quality concise videos and easily change the content after production without any video editing background.

Anticipated Project Activities:
• Prepare sales pitch to raise money (pre-seed round) for the company
• Arrange meetings with the potential investors with any possible means (cold calling, email, attending networking events)
• Present our mission and vision to the investors (along with the founders)
• Contact potential clients and demo the technology to them
• Help to find the right market fit for the technology (market research, interview with potential customers, etc.)

Marketing Analyst Intern

For the Marketing Analyst Intern role at Conatix, I will be helping to build the contact management system and play a key role in supporting the marketing system. I will also be speeding up the customer acquisition process. I will also assist with operations that support the company’s goals of completing its AI-based cybersecurity prototype.