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Check out the videos below to learn more about how some GreenHouse Alumni were able to navigate problem exploration, solution validation, value propositions, skill building, networking and pitching.
Exploring & Identifying a Problem
Exploring & Identifying a Problem
Anna Keupfer-Wright - Cofounder & Director of Global Innovation at SheCycle - is passionate about designing for a more equitable future. SheCycle is a venture focused on breaking the cycle of poverty for women in developing countries by designing infection-free, antimicrobial menstrual pads. She reflects on the lessons learned while navigating & adapting to the system of maternal health.
Ben Kovacs is passionate about unlocking the creative applications of satellite image data to solve business and environmental problems at scale; specifically, resource allocation, community building and social isolation. He reflects on using systems thinking to explore, identify and validate problems.
Erin Hogan explored the the nutritional challenges people with MS face and found that financial constraints were often a root cause of nutritional challenges. Her team tackled this problem by making it easier for people to apply for disability benefits. She reflects on how the problem revealed itself when her team engaged with those with lived experiences.
Katherine Chen - cocreator of CUE Parties - researched how teachers provided students with a meaningful connection to the environment. Thus, CUE Parties was formed; a pilot project offering zero-waste birthday parties with an emphasis on consumption & sustainability youth education. She reflects on the paths she took to bring about change.
Manav Kainth's solution was driven by the need to help his peers manage their stress through meditation. He championed two approaches 1] Adopting the use of an app to meditate 2] Introducing meditation in the classroom. He reflects on how to bring value to a space of personal interest.
Rachel Thorburn is passionate about using research, collaboration, and outreach to improve access to mental healthcare, reduce stigma, and increase mental wellness in communities. She reflects on exploring a problem space and engaging with stakeholders.
Problem & Solution Validation
Problem & Solution Validation
Sarah Berdowski and her team launched My MentorPlus. This venture explored how to support the transition of youth with disabilities as they become adults. She reflects on the team dynamics of developing & refining their solution.
Aileen Agada was moved found BeBlended after her market analysis showed that over 90% of hair salons do not cater to black women’s unique hair. BeBlended is an online marketplace that connects black women with freelance hairstylists. She reflects on her entrepreneurial journey - from validating the problem to developing a solution.
Fardeen Chowdhury - Cofounder of Prospr - is passionate about problem solving and design. Prospr is a venture that provides software solutions for the charitable sector so that they can best manage and deepen their donor relationships. He reflects on how to identify and validate a problem.
Greg Maxin - Cofounder of Rocket Care - is passionate about building software for social good. Rocket Care is a venture that built a time-saving software solution to reduce wait times at KidsAbility - Centre for Child Development. He reflects on the importance of validating the problem before building a solution.
Prototyping
Prototyping
Michael Wideman - Founder of Eggplantr - is passionate about design, ecology, and the catalytic implications landscape interventions. Eggplantr is a biodegradable vegetable garden template that minimizes the planning and maintenance required of urban gardening. He reflects on the value of prototyping.
Cassie Myers - CEO of Lunaria - is passionate about black rights, accessible spaces and helping companies showcase the power of inclusion + equity. Lunaria combines software & expert advice to provide diversity + inclusion solutions that support businesses. She reflects on customer discovery, prototyping & where to focus resources for the best results.
Andrew Smondulak - Cofounder of Cove (previously Essentia Health) - is passionate about entrepreneurship and product development. Cove (previously Essentia Health) is a venture that aims to bridge gaps in mental healthcare. He reflects on how prototyping can unleash the creative side and help deepen the understanding of the problem being solved.
Value Propositions
Value Propositions
Andrew Smondulak - Cofounder of Cove (previously Essentia Health) - is passionate about entrepreneurship and product development. Cove (previously Essentia Health) is a venture that aims to bridge gaps in mental healthcare. He reflects on gathering / prioritizing insights from interviews and exploring different value propositions.
Storytelling & Pitching
Storytelling & Pitching
Lynne Murdoch - founder of VOHYS - is focused on improving lives of trans people. VOHYS is an accessible subscription-based speech therapy platform for trans people to retrain their voices to match their presented gender. She reflects on how an effective pitch can elevate an audience’s awareness of an issue.
Andrew Smondulak - Cofounder of Essentia Health - is passionate about entrepreneurship and product development. Essentia Health is a venture that aims to bridge gaps in mental healthcare. He reflects on the "art of pitching".
Discovery & Skills Development
Discovery & Skills Development
Hassan Moeen is a social entrepreneur creating a student portal for online counselling and mental wellness support. He reflects on how his personal connection to the problem space has fueled his drive to continue his venture despite the associated challenges.
Pragya Dawadi - Cofounder of The Dialogue Xchange - is passionate about empowering communities through education and conversation. The Dialogue Xchange is a forum to build strong & resilient communities that take ownership of their own social landscape by using powerful and inclusive conversation. She reflects on what it means to be an entrepreneur and the skills and mindset required to tackle social and environmental problems.
Devina Lookman cofounded a venture to make ethical and sustainable clothing more accessible to Canadian consumers. She reflects about getting outside your comfort zone and being okay with failing.
Aaiman Aamir is a community builder, storyteller & tech advocate who is passionate about making Canadian STEM more inclusive. Her passion project, Our Stories in STEM is a children’s book featuring stories of amazing women working in STEM fields today. She reflects on how she got started, how she mobilized a community and what this passion project has taught her about herself.
Building Connections
Building Connections
Lucas Moffitt is focused on increasing awareness & improving access to care for individuals experiencing Neurological Disorders & associated comorbidities. Lucas published TicTocGo - a book that addresses the fundamental deficit in health care resources for people with Tourette Syndrome. He reflects on the time he invested in making meaningful connections and how it led to opportunities to make an impact at a national level.
Sara Velasquez is a social innovator committed to tackle the issue of human trafficking in the Waterloo Region. She is the Waterloo Region Chapter lead for The A21 Campaign, and Host of the Walk for Freedom. These efforts seek to build awareness on the issue of human trafficking and put an end to it. She reflects on the tools & skills behind building awareness about a global issue and creating a movement locally.
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