Students excel in Venture Capital Investment Competition

Students from the Sobey School of Business gained valuable real-world experience and excelled in the recent Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) New England Regional Final held in Boston.

The graduate team, composed of students from the MTEI (Master of Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation) and MBA programs, took home a top award. “Entrepreneurs and start-ups participate at these events and they determine the winners for Entrepreneurs Choice. Our team won due to their ability to communicate and connect,” says the team’s advisor, Brennan Daley of the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

Gurprit Singh, MBA student

“Being part of VCIC in Boston was a truly transformative experience for me, giving me a real-world view of venture capital, pushing my critical thinking ability and exposing me to the vibrant Boston entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says MBA student Gurprit Singh. “The experience is not just a competition, but a stepping stone into the dynamic world of venture capital, shaping my skills and expanding my network in venture capital.”

Saint Mary’s participates annually in the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), the world’s largest venture capital competition with over 120 university and graduate school teams competing. VCIC is the only place where students get to be VCs for the day, and startups get an immersion in the fundraising process. The SMU teams compete against U.S. universities in the Northeast region and are judged by their preparation and thoughtful execution as a VC firm.

Top (L-R): Sorav Sogy, Ankit Mittal. Bottom (L-R): Shakkharatul Haque Mehad, Jacky Chiu, Shri Subramanian, Gurprit Singh, Sruthi Ganesapandian, Jack Poirier, Sidney Nuwahereza, Oscar Lu, Brennan Daley.

Sorav Sogy, BComm student

Bachelor of Commerce student Sorav Sogy says, “It's not studying; you're actively managing a Venture Capital (VC) fund as an associate. This involves making investment decisions, raising funds, attending conferences and building crucial relationships with entrepreneurs and VCs. You're making a real impact by working alongside industry leaders, facilitating co-investment deals, and learning directly from senior partners and associates at local VC firms. It’s as real as it gets.”

The university’s excellence in venture capital is well established through consistent winning performances in global competitions, expert faculty dedicated to mentoring students, and successful graduates who often pursue careers in this exciting field.

Mark Raymond, Interim Dean of the Sobey School of Business, notes that the teams from Saint Mary’s are the only Canadian teams competing at this elevated level against teams from prominent U.S. universities including Babson, Dartmouth and Notre Dame. “We are known for giving our students amazing opportunities. This is an example of how SMU students gain an entrepreneurial mindset and are equipped with the knowledge, insights, real work experiences and network to lead and make a positive impact.”

Saint Mary’s students, staff and faculty are paying it forward by hosting a national competition in Halifax in March for other Canadian teams who would otherwise not gain these lessons in entrepreneurship and innovation. "Hosting the Canadian regionals provides an opportunity for students from other schools to compete and engage with our vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem," notes Daley.

Finance students excel in global competition

The Saint Mary’s team earned eighth place for Canada in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge

Saint Mary’s University students gained valuable real-world experience that will help propel them into careers in capital markets and investment banking, by participating in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge. The Saint Mary’s team, comprised of students in the Sobey School of Business, finished eighth in Canada, 42nd in North America and 113th in the world out of 2,007 teams.

Teams from 309 universities and business schools faced the same challenge: use Bloomberg Terminals to invest $1 million virtual USD and be ranked on the profit/loss margin. “We were nervous,” says Master of Finance student Ifrahim Iftikhar. “We did not want to lose the $1 million (virtual) in the first two or three weeks.”

Team Captain Rehan Habib and the team members Nancy Naadei Kotei-Sass, Ryan Macalalad, Suja R.J. Vikas and Ifrahim Iftikhar are all from the prestigious Master of Finance program. They taught themselves how to use the Bloomberg Terminals from online videos and other resources provided by Bloomberg Education.

Influenced by world events, the students initially took a defensive position and followed a safe 60/40 diversification strategy focused on U.S. stocks, but soon found they were only matching the WLS index (Bloomberg World Large, Mid & Small Cap Price Return Index) which was underperforming at the time. They needed a change in direction to maximize returns over the short, six-week span of the competition.

“Our diversity was a distinct advantage, says Rehan Habib. “ With team members from several countries including India and Pakistan, we had multiple perspectives and important sector insights.”

“We identified that the Indian stock market was doing extremely well, and the Pakistan market was at a historic high,” explains Suja Vikas. “We analysed the market and decided collectively how much risk we could take.” The strategy succeeded and the team secured a $65,000 lead by the competition's end.

Faculty mentor, Dr. Florian Muenkel, says that the competition is particularly valuable for the students studying in the Sobey School of Business. “It’s practical experience. Students learn how to take a large set of assets and identify which ones have the best potential.  They learn that we are all exposed to behavioural biases, and they learn how to overcome them. At the same time, they browse the news and consider macroeconomics and political risk.”

He notes that the Saint Mary’s team was successful due to teamwork—they were able to divide up the tasks and make decisions. “You have to rely on your team; they worked well together.”

Nancy Naadei Kotei-Sass says, “I learned a great deal—how to handle the Bloomberg Terminal and how to trade. Trading in a short period requires a lot of strategies because the market can be your friend today and an enemy tomorrow.” Ifrahim Iftikhar expressed a similar sentiment. “We found that good news such as strong company performance did not necessarily translate into a stock price increase. There were other factors at play. It was an eye-opener.”

Ryan Macalalad says, “The mentorship of faculty members, Dr. Florian Muenkel and Dr. Rahman Khokhar, extended far beyond the four walls of the classroom, inspiring us to explore our potentials as traders, face challenges and strive for excellence. Their encouragement and advice throughout the trading challenge was instrumental in the team’s success."

8,400 students across 38 countries competed in the 2023 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge, testing their skills in investing $1 million virtual USD. The global event is supported by the research and analytics team at Bloomberg for Education.

The Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge tests students annually on generating the highest relative profit and loss return (P&L) via Bloomberg Terminals. Each team is accompanied by a faculty advisor.

Students tackle health care, food security issues with Wicked Problem Lab awards

Students present their ideas at the LeaderVision Atlantic Wicked Problems Lab Awards

Four Saint Mary’s students are gearing up to tackle some thorny issues in health care, food security and sustainability thanks to an award program from the Wicked Problems Lab.  

Now in its second year, the LeaderVision Atlantic Wicked Problems Lab Awards (sponsored by SMU alumnus Douglas Coll BComm’89), provide $2,500 to two undergraduate students who present a compelling idea to address a challenging problem. The Wicked Problems Lab grants two additional awards of the same value to one graduate and one undergraduate student.  

“Wicked problems, like poverty or climate change, are by definition almost impossible to solve because they are complex and always evolving, with no real end point,” says Dr. Mat Novak, a professor in the department of Geography and Environmental Studies and director of the Wicked Problems Lab. “But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work to address them. These awards inspire and encourage students to work towards solutions.” The Lab supports the students by providing data, analytical software and expertise. 

Twelve projects vied for the award this year. The successful candidates began working with Drs. Novak and Matsumoto–the WPL’s Research Analyst–shortly after they were notified of their prize and will continue to develop and implement their idea this winter. Surveys, spatial analysis and census data will help inform their projects along with meeting local partners to carry out their ideas. Students will showcase their projects at the end of the term. 

Congratulations to the winners:

Lydia Lee 
Bachelor of Commerce, Sobey School of Business 
Project: Sustainable Seconds 

Sustainable Seconds aims to address food insecurity by delivering affordable and sustainable home meal kits. Using second products from local farmers and donated ingredients to create affordable and sustainable meal packages, it’s a cost-effective solution with pre-measured ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes.

Sorav Sogy 
Bachelor of Commerce, Sobey School of Business 
Project: CARE ETA 
 
Sorav Sogy, along with fellow BComm students Vaishali Sachdeva, Ishaan Singh and Aarav Sen Mehta, want to tackle healthcare wait times through the development of an interactive app. CARE ETA aims to improve the experience of patients waiting in lengthy queues in emergency hospitals by implementing a real-time system that lets people stay informed about their status.

Melissa Alvarez Del Angel 
Bachelor of Science, Psychology major 
Project: Palm Oil Reduction and Healthier Food on Campus 

Melissa Alvarez Del Angel is promoting healthier food options to the SMU campus. In response to the environmental impact of widespread palm oil production, Melissa has proposed a comprehensive strategy for reducing the use of palm oil and advocating for healthier food alternatives at SMU.

Hasib Ahmed 

Master of Technology, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 
Project: Wellnex 

Hasib Ahmed is developing a platform to make blood collection more accessible. This project seeks to enhance urban and rural mobility by introducing a doorstep blood sample collection service facilitated by a visiting nurse/phlebotomist, eliminating the need for individuals to commute to the hospital.

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About the Wicked Problems Lab 

Established in 2020, the Wicked Problems Lab harnesses the power of data and advanced analysis to address the world’s wicked problems. 

The lab is equipped with the latest software and curated datasets and is staffed with a full-time analyst to help address your wicked problem.  

The lab offers: 

• One-on-one research help 

• Undergraduate and graduate-level problem-based learning activities 

• Workshops, seminars and group training 

• Self-directed tutorials for data and software, including GIS 

• Community-research help assistance 

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Related stories: 

• New award aims to help solve wicked problems 

• Wicked problems of food insecurity  

Sobey School globally recognized for supporting UN initiative

The Sobey School of Business has been named PRME Champions for 2024-2025. This is the third time the school has been reaffirmed as one of the world’s leading business schools, supporting the United Nations initiative - Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). 

“Once again, we are proud to be recognized as PRME Champions,” says Interim Dean, Mark Raymond. “The recognition places the Sobey School in a select group of business schools across the globe who are committed to sustainability and to educating the business leaders of tomorrow to make a positive impact on the world.”

As PRME Champions, the Sobey School is integrating the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across curriculum, research, and partnerships. Currently, the school’s research agenda is aligned to support the SDGs as faculty generate insights on issues such as corporate social responsibility, poverty-climate change nexus, social entrepreneurship, and the role of gender in venture capital funding. The research intensity associated with the SDGs is a strong point of distinction for the school. Nearly 50% of the faculty have contributed to the portfolio of research aligned with the SDGs with 65% of all research-active faculty engaged in SDG-related research.

The school has also adapted its curriculum to meet PRME objectives and in response to student demand. Professor Miguel Morales notes, “Over the past three years, we have strategically adapted the Bachelor of Commerce curriculum to embed sustainability as a core component. The renewed Program Learning Outcomes place a strong emphasis on sustainability, and in Winter 2024, we are introducing two dedicated sustainability courses. These core courses serve as pillars for developing a deep-rooted awareness of sustainable business practices early in students' academic journeys.” As a result, Sobey School students graduate with a distinct advantage; they are prepared for the new world of business, one that requires responsible leaders to rise to global challenges in new, integrated ways.

For the 2024-2025 PRME programme cycle, the Sobey School has committed to the refreshed Seven PRME Principles and, in keeping with the new principle on Practice to “adopt responsible and accountable management principles in our own governance and operations”, is championing the university’s completion of the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS) of the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).

Sobey is one of only four business schools from Canada to be considered a Champion of PRME. There are 46 other business schools from around the world to be named Champion. The Sobey School is the oldest and the most accredited business school in Atlantic Canada offering the largest portfolio of disciplines and programs graduate programs east of Quebec.  

Students compete to win $10,000 with innovative ideas

Innovation Cup winners Plastarch Packaging

Judges hear student pitches

Innovation Cup 2023 participants and judges

Team GalPal

Team CareETA

Team SeaCycle

The Innovation Cup, a 10-week experiential learning program, was launched at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre this fall. Thirty Saint Mary’s students from the faculties of Arts, Commerce and Science competed for a grand prize consisting of $10,000 to develop their start-up idea and a summer job opportunity. Through the weekly events, the participating students connected with industry experts to increase their business understanding, skills and network. 

After several elimination rounds, four teams made it to the semi-finals on December 8:

• GalPal, a safety-enhancing mobile application that empowers women to stay alert and stay safe;

• SeaCycle, a water filtration system designed to remove plastic waste, ranging from water bottles to microplastics, using a multistage gravity filter, while also providing automated water quality reports;

• CareETA, a comprehensive digital platform revolutionizing healthcare by providing real-time insights for waiting room well-being;

• Plastarch Packaging, a bioplastic alternative made from set-to-be-wasted root vegetables, solves the need for environmentally friendly cutlery and food packaging.

The semi-finals saw these teams give their best pitches to the panel of judges, who did not hold back with their questions and feedback. Following a 15–minute discussion, the judges decided that GalPal and Plastarch Packaging would move to the finals.

The finals, also on December 8, were energetic and both teams had improved pitches to present to the panel. With two unique and fascinating business ideas, the judges and the audience had a tough time choosing the winner.

Ultimately, the winner of the first Innovation Cup was Plastarch Packaging, with a team comprised of Madeline Bristol, Susan MacInnis and Mya MacDonald. The team had a compelling pitch, backed by the numbers and validation, paired with the team’s passion for developing sustainable solutions.

The Innovation Cup will be back next fall for all the young entrepreneurs to pitch their innovative business ideas!

Student launches Black haircare and beauty supply vending machine on campus

Queen-Esther Okundonor

Students, friends and staff celebrating together

Group photo with everyone who was at the launch event including Dr. Summerby-Murray, Professor Rohini Bannerjee and staff from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Event attendees looking at the new vending machine

Queen-Esther with the QTress Beauty Supplies vending machine on campus

Queen-Esther Okundonor, a fourth-year Marketing and Finance student from Nigeria, has a passion for helping people. This passion led her to launch her new business, QTress Beauty Supplies, a vending machine located in the Loyola Academic Building on campus. QTress Beauty Supplies aims to provide convenient and easy access to hair and beauty care products for the diverse student body at Saint Mary’s University and Halifax at large. 

Before opening in October, Queen-Esther had spent three years thinking about starting her own beauty supply business after learning about other vending businesses. At first, she was hesitant to make business plans while balancing her schoolwork and tuition payments, but she decided to give it a try.

Although Queen-Esther faced some ups and downs throughout the journey of planning and envisioning her business idea, she did not give up on her project. Instead, she worked harder. She learned to pivot when things did not work out. To Queen-Esther, the whole process was worth it because she was able to meet many supporters and gain a community.

This fall, friends, students, staff and faculty, including Saint Mary’s President Robert Summerby-Murray, gathered at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and celebrated the launch of QTress Beauty Supplies. The new vending machine, which carries a variety of beauty and hair care products for different hair and skin types, is located on the first floor of the Loyola Academic Building.

The story of Queen-Esther’s entrepreneurship journey inspired many students, igniting a spark of motivation and encouraging them to chase their own dreams. “When you look your best, you feel your best, and this should not be only a luxury,” says Queen-Esther.

Watch a CTV News story about Queen-Esther Okundonor and QTress Beauty Supplies: Easy access to Black beauty supplies | CTV News

Alumnus brings local holiday tradition to life through 3D printing

Woody the Talking Christmas Tree (Paul Hollingsworth/CTV Atlantic)

It's that time of year again when the mall fills with holiday shoppers, dazzling lights and a magical talking tree from the North Pole. Woody, the talking Christmas tree, returned to the Mic Mac Mall in Dartmouth in 2021, after a 15-year hibernation. Woody has a fresh new look, and it's not just because he's been getting plenty of beauty sleep.

Mohammed Issa BComm’16

Mohammed Issa BComm'16, the founder of Eureka Technologies Inc., has restored life to Woody's face through 3D printing. Woody also owes his magical abilities to Eureka Technologies Inc., who designed and built all the mechanical elements that bring Woody to life.

Although Rome was not built in a day, Woody was constructed in just two weeks. The mall had initially contacted Eureka Technologies Inc. in March of 2021 to inquire if they could take on the Woody project but then decided to move forward at the end of October.

"Woody arrives at the mall the day before Remembrance Day and wakes up the day after (November 12). So, we only had two weeks to construct and assemble Woody," says Mohammed.

No stranger to challenges, he was confident that his team would deliver.

Mohammed was a mature student studying for a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Saint Mary's. With three small children at the time, he enrolled in the business program to gain the knowledge required to start a completely different business venture he had in mind.

"I purchased my first 3D printer intending to create a prototype for my new business idea. However, I realized I could also generate extra income by providing 3D printing services using Kijiji." This led to the birth of Eureka Technologies Inc. in 2015. As a full-time student, Mohammed utilized his entrepreneurial spirit to support his family with his printer, which ultimately led to the success of his business today.

Today, Mohammed is passionate about growing the entrepreneur in others, and he does so by collaborating with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. Together, they offer a robotics class where Eureka Technologies Inc. provides each student with 3D-printed robot kits. The students get to build and program their robots in this class.

"Learning entrepreneurship through this class is expanding the mindset of our students from diverse backgrounds across different faculties," says Mohammed.

Mohammed's dedication to Saint Mary's students and his entrepreneurial mindset is evident through his active participation in the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The Saint Mary's University Alumni Association has recognized his exceptional work with Eureka Technologies Inc. and his unwavering support for young entrepreneurs by awarding him the Alumni Entrepreneur of the Year for 2023.

"I plan to continue giving back to the community and supporting students the way that I was helped as a student," said Mohammed, expressing his gratitude for the recognition of his efforts.

To learn more about Eureka Technologies Inc., visit www.eurekatec.ca/about.

Check out Woody's Twitter account to join in on the magic!

Strategic planning underway for Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health

Discussions underway at the October 23rd Strategic Planning Meeting.

On October 9 and 23, Saint Mary’s University welcomed over 40 students, staff, faculty, and sport industry professionals from across Canada and the US to participate in strategic planning for the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business, and Health.

The new Centre's mandate is to enhance, produce, and deliver socially responsible approaches to sport through the lenses of business and health.

Centre Director Dr. Cheryl MacDonald organized the sessions to inform the development of priorities in support of the mandate, specifically as they relate to marketing, community engagement, research, and the SMU student and athlete experience.

“It was important to have a diverse group of voices in this conversation, not just from the SMU community but also from experts in the field,” said Centre Director Dr. Cheryl MacDonald.

Prominent advocates in the sport community included Jessica Platt, the first openly trans woman in professional hockey, and Mark DeMontis who founded the Canadian Blind Hockey Association.  Additional industry experts included Maritime Women’s Basketball Association Executive Director Crystal Watson and Jennifer Cotterill, a Senior Manager in Event Operations for the Events East Group. Centre Research Associate and author Dr. Brian Kennedy of Pasadena City College in California also attended.

Kieran Block, the first Black national-level parahockey athlete in Canada and a current Master of Counselling student, joined from Edmonton, Alberta. Notable alumni who participated in the in-person meetings included former Huskies Soccer athlete and current CBC Sports commentator Signa Butler and former Huskies Hockey athlete and recent honorary degree recipient Bob Dawson.

Early feedback from the sessions suggests that Centre priorities should include student experiential learning opportunities within the sport business industry, research on athlete wellbeing and mental health, and programming that pays special attention to the experiences of marginalized members of the sporting community.

 “What is going to make this Centre unique is its focus on social responsibility in the context of its connection with Athletics and Recreation as well as the Faculty of Arts and the Sobey School of Business,” said Dr. MacDonald. “I’m grateful to everyone who has generously shared their time and energy with us. The Centre will be better and stronger as a result of this collaborative work that will set a precedent for excellence in its future endeavours.”

New speaker series: Men's Elite-Level Ice Hockey Culture

The Centre is continuing on with previous programming plans including a free monthly online speaker series on men’s elite-level ice hockey culture and a weekly online writing group beginning in January 2024 for students and scholars working on socially responsible approaches to sport in the areas of business and/or health.

The speaker series, which begins Wednesday, November 22nd, will feature academic experts in the field such as Dr. Courtney Szto of Queen’s University, Dr. Taylor McKee of Brock University, and Dr. Janice Forsyth of the University of British Columbia.

Saint Mary’s University unveils Sobeys Inspiration Hub as flagship of innovation and entrepreneurial excellence

43,000-square-foot expansion designed to foster innovative multidisciplinary collaboration

On October 11, Saint Mary’s University celebrated the new Sobeys Inspiration Hub, a four-storey, 43,000-square-foot building dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship and innovation at the university. The Sobeys Inspiration Hub is named in recognition of a $5-million investment in the building, part of an $18-million gift from the David & Faye Sobey Foundation, The Sobey Foundation and Sobeys Inc., as well as the personal donations of Paul and Marsha Sobey, and Janis Sobey-Hames and Chris Hames, all longtime supporters of the university.

The Sobeys Inspiration hub is designed to create a natural intersection for the business, academic and student communities. Its incubators, accelerators and technology labs will provide a catalyst for innovation where students can seamlessly participate in classes, workshops, internship opportunities, seminar series, conferences and business plan competitions. The Hub is adjacent to and integrated with the Sobey School of Business, home to one of Canada’s leading Commerce programs, which has attracted business minds from around the globe.

Students work on the DSC retail robot project

The building is the new home of the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services (DSC). Established through the generous support of the late David F. Sobey, the Centre focuses on cutting-edge retail research, innovation and education and will feature a mock store for testing new retail concepts and technologies, a biometric lab for neuroscience research and a digital lab for developing apps and AI solutions. Students, researchers and industry partners work together at the David Sobey Centre to lead innovation in Canada’s retail sector.

“In today’s world, we must all think differently to make great things happen; where we not only seek, but embrace, new approaches to the old way of doing things,” says Michael Medline, CEO of Empire Company Limited. “That is why we are so excited to see the Sobeys Inspiration Hub come to life. This environment is about tapping into potential, the incubation and growth of ideas, the space to challenge, take chances–and yes, even fail–and in turn, create greatness. Most importantly, it is a space where students are certain to thrive.”

A centrepiece of the Sobeys Inspiration Hub is the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, supported by a $5-million gift from Arthur L. Irving, Sandra Irving DCL’10, Sarah Irving, the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation and Irving Oil Limited. The Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre addresses the needs of the modern student, fostering an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ across all faculties. It features a collider space, discovery zone, digital prototyping lab, meeting spaces and a podcasting production studio. Most notably, this campus expansion arrives at a time when the university is engaging more students than ever across the region and Saint Mary’s students are consistently achieving high-level results in national entrepreneurship competitions.

“We are proud to support Saint Mary’s University in their pursuit to provide the very best in business education, instilling the values of hard work, respect and passionate commitment to community," says Arthur Irving. “We are honoured to have the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre as part of The Sobeys Inspiration Hub, inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada.”

The Sobeys Inspiration Hub is a catalyst space that energizes the connection between the Sobey Building and the Loyola Academic Building, fostering innovative multidisciplinary work, and strengthening the connectivity and engagement of Saint Mary’s University’s more than 6,600 students, professors and researchers across all faculties, including Arts, Science, Graduate Studies and Research, and the Sobey School of Business. The hub will also play a vital role in the activities of the David Sobey Centre for Excellence in Retailing and Services.

“The way students learn as well as how and where they learn is a strong consideration for us. This transformational addition to our campus is a demonstration of how we are responding to the needs of our curious, forward-thinking scholars who need the environment and resources for those natural collisions to happen–so different perspectives can come together to create innovations for the times ahead,” says Saint Mary’s University President and Chancellor, Robert Summerby-Murray.

In an early effort to spur entrepreneurship and innovation for the province, the Government of Nova Scotia made a significant contribution to this project with its funding of $11 million in 2018. The Government of Canada is contributing $8 million to support green energy and green infrastructure on campus, which includes the Sobeys Inspiration Hub. 

“The Government of Canada is proud to have contributed to the Sobeys Inspiration Hub, a space on campus that will provide programming designed to help under-represented groups, as well as supporting small business owners, those with an interest in entrepreneurship and those seeking employment services. This outstanding addition to Saint Mary’s campus will make the possibility of entrepreneurship a reality for more community members,” says Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax.

Innovative retail store will revolutionize how we shop

Saint Mary’s University, recognized as a top Canadian university, is teaming up with some of Canada’s most influential retail companies to create one of the foremost retail laboratories on the continent. It’s all part of the ground-breaking research at SMU’s David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services.

Visitors will soon become part of a living experiment designed to transform the future of shopping and reshape the retail landscape. Students and visitors to the south end of campus will walk into a deceptively simple convenience store that is actually a cutting-edge laboratory.

The retail robot is programmed to glide through stores tracking price tags, missing items and other information, which it relays to employees.

Inside, a retail robot glides through the aisles, logging items that have run low and sending messages to the stockroom. The robot is designed for large stores where it tracks inventory on shelves and assesses planogram and price compliance, explains Ramesh Venkat, Director of the David Sobey Centre. “The robot, equipped with cameras, matches price tags to the computerized lists, checks price tags for compliance for the latest discounts, spots misplaced or missing items, generates a report and sends a real-time alert to an employee.”

And if a shopper wants to take an item home? No need to look for a cashier; there isn’t one. Instead, when you exit the store your credit or debit card is charged automatically. But wait, maybe you want to try on something before purchasing? Step in front of 3D digital screen to model clothing using virtual fitting technology.

SMU researchers are building a futuristic “frictionless customer experience” without inconveniences such as line-ups and check-outs, where customer privacy and protection of information are priorities. “We don't collect any video footage or store any credit card or debit card information. We will provide best-in-class privacy and security, which will set us apart from companies that are doing computer vision in retail environments,” adds Venkat.

The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services brings together university researchers and Canadian retailers to test new technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and robotics. Vivek Sood MBA’98, Executive Vice President, Related Businesses, Empire Company Limited and Sobeys Inc., and Chair of the David Sobey Centre notes, “The retail sector is one of the main drivers of Canada’s economy and an incredibly exciting place of major innovation right now. Each time I visit campus I am eager to see the advances being made by the professors and their top research students.”

Students gain hands-on experience building tech solutions for retail

The retail store and its related labs offer SMU students unparalleled opportunities for hands-on learning and collaboration. Saint Mary’s University professors and students are building leading-edge tech from scratch: computer vision systems, augmented reality and robots.

The digital lab and mock store will allow researchers to track shoppers as they interact with digital platforms, including websites and advertisements. In the biometrics lab, graduate students will use advanced tools such as EEG (Electroencephalography), eye-tracker glasses and GSR (Galvanic Skin Response) sensors to understand customer behaviour and decision-making. Faculty and student researchers from several disciplines–marketing, psychology, information systems, engineering, and computer science all benefit.

Jason Rhinelander

Engineering Professor Jason Rhinelander, Head of Technology and Innovation for the David Sobey Centre, understands that the David Sobey Centre presents him and SMU students with a huge opportunity. “Retail has so many challenges and that is key for engineers and computer scientists. We don’t invent algorithms for the sake of it. We need problems to solve.”

“We can benefit small and medium-sized Atlantic Canadian companies recovering from the pandemic and battling stressors like inflation. By placing their products in our store which acts as a ‘living lab,’ we can provide data about how customers feel about their packaging, service and overall quality. We can also test the retail environment for accessibility: lighting levels, noise levels, and colour schemes.”

Watch: Jason Rhinelander loves solving problems with technology

Vinod Bachhao

Vinod Bachhao came to SMU as a Master’s student in 2015, graduated to PhD studies and is now the university’s first AI engineer. “I could have gone to Toronto, but I love Halifax and the environment here. I grabbed the opportunity to work on the SMU robot and state-of-the-art AI and computer vision. There is nothing better than this.”

The labs, mock store and the cashier-less store all provide the infrastructure for exploring new ideas and innovations that can shape the future of Canadian retail. “The purpose of the David Sobey Centre is to develop and share innovations, expertise and skills that help build a vibrant retail sector–domestically and globally. This new infrastructure and the collaboration between researchers, retailers and technology companies vitally enable us to achieve that vision. It's really exciting,” says Venkat.

Meet the new face of retail: the Saint Mary's retail robot

L-R, Mohammad Rahimipour MSc in Applied Science; Professor Adel Merabet; Lucas Orychock first-year Diploma of Engineering; Uzair Tahir MSc in Applied Science; Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha MSc in Computing and Data Analytics; Francis Kuzhippallil MSc Computing and Data Analytics.

Students are arriving to Saint Mary’s University from Nova Scotia and around the world to create the next generation of robots.

Uzair Tahir

“It was a very big decision to leave my country, my family, come to Canada and start from zero,” says Uzair Tahir, a Master of Science in Applied Science student who left Pakistan to join the team in Dr. Adel Merabet’s lab on the third floor of the McNally Building. Only three months into his studies, he is enhancing his skills in computer vision and machine learning and can see a bright future. “My work here leads to a career in robotics and I see the potential for commercial application.”

The Saint Mary’s robot is the brainchild of the university’s David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services. The robot is just one of several technology-based innovations currently being pioneered at the Centre, all designed to transform our everyday shopping experience. The robot will certainly free up retail employees from humdrum tasks, but that is only the beginning. The real advantage is its ability to capture voluminous data about customers’ buying habits, which can lead to greater efficiency in inventory management and eventually enable retailers to anticipate shopper demands. Combine the robot with machine learning and AI, as the Saint Mary’s team is doing, and we are entering the Fourth Industrial Revolution which will transform how we work, conduct business and how we shop for goods and services.

Does this mean robots will commandeer grocery aisles or replace humans at your favourite big box store? No, but robots are finding their niche by enabling better data capture before and after point of sale, allowing managers to respond more quickly to customer demands for everything from potato chips to batteries.

Students work together on the retail robot in Professor Merabet’s lab

Francis Kuzhippallil and Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha, both current students in the Master of Science in Computing and Data Analytics program, see the project as a great gain for their future careers. They contributed to the development of algorithms and codes that enable the robot to take photos of products on store shelves and transmit the information without overlap or duplication, a key factor in planogram compliance, which lets retailers know exactly which products have been moved or purchased and when to restock.

“I want to be one step ahead and this project gives me that opportunity,” says Latha. For Francis Kuzhippallil, the project has boosted his portfolio. “Interviewers and colleagues are always interested to know more about this project. I am honoured to have a role.”

Francis Kuzhippallil

Abhishek Vijayakumar Latha

Mohammad Rahimipour, who is in the Master of Science in Applied Science program, came to Saint Mary’s from Iran in 2022. “My experience here has been amazing,” says Rahimipour. “Saint Mary’s University is very multi-cultural. The environment is collaborative; students know their input is valued and the professors support us.”

Mohammad Rahimipour

Rahimipour is the team leader—he has led the construction of version 3, a robot that is autonomous and able to operate without a human controller. New cameras allow it to take accurate photos at a greater distance, all advantages for a machine that will need to navigate around bargain shoppers or avoid a ‘cleanup on aisle two.’

“I have made a lot of changes to the robot. I see my progress every day as the robot performs and the project improves. I can’t wait to try out the robot in a real store. That’s the next step,” says Rahimipour.

Lucas Orychock

Entering his second year in Engineering at Saint Mary’s, Lucas Orychock from Bedford, Nova Scotia, knows it is unusual for an undergraduate student to gain this type of first-hand experience. During his summer work with Dr. Merabet’s team, he had the opportunity to learn how to use sophisticated tools to capture photos from high-quality cameras. “Achieving this level of exposure to hands-on research is motivating. There is a place for everybody’s input.”

For Professor Adel Merabet, the collaboration with the David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services and the participation of many students from programs such as Engineering, the Master of Science in Applied Science and Computing and Data Analytics, is the perfect example of a project that is interdisciplinary, combining the talents of many researchers and pragmatic, demonstrating real-world application and commercial potential.