Competition inspires business students to improve design of cup holders at the movies

The University of Calgary Downtown campus vibrated with energy as 12 young teams of entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their new venture on April 15. With sweaty palms and bright smiles, the teams nervously awaited the judges’ verdict at the second annual RBC Fast Pitch Competition hosted by the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Cups2Go took home the top prize and was voted viewers’ choice. The team specialized in creating an innovative, paper-thin cup holder design that will enhance a customers’ experience at movie theatres and other venues by allowing them easy transportation of their food and drink purchases.

“It felt amazing to win,” says Daniel Schneider, member of the Cups2Go team. “The current drink trays are ugly, flimsy and overall, a bad product. I knew I wanted to improve it even before this course.

'We tested it in the Globe Cinema'

“When I found out what the course was about, it inspired me to pursue this idea. People saw the value in this product when we tested it in the Globe Cinema.”

“It was a pretty surreal moment when you walk on stage and see how your hard work has paid off. I am excited to move forward in developing this product,” says Schneider.

STOCK took second place and AgriSwamp took placed third; both specializing in streamlining the agriculture industry.

Creating diversity through entrepreneurial thinking

Entrepreneurial thinking was the theme of the day. Along with the student teams pitching, there were presentations from last years’ teams, Mayor Naheed Nenshi made a surprise appearance and Danny Way, president of The Viridis Group and Hunter Centre volunteer, shared his views on the importance of this competition.

Way believes that student competitions such as these are vital to creating a diverse and exciting business landscape in Calgary through entrepreneurial thinking.

“I really believe the business world is changing. Smaller, dynamic companies are going to be the way of the future,” says Way.

Helping small businesses thrive

“To thrive in a small business-based world, you need a different set of skills that the work place today has some of, but not enough. It is essential to be able to think with an ‘entrepreneurial mindset’ or outside-the-box thinking, but you also need to have the willingness to try and fail with ability to learn from those mistakes.

“These skills are important as Calgary diversifies and as the world changes.”

“This course [ENTI 317] and this competition support this way of thinking and shows the hard work it takes to try, fail and learn,” says Way.

This intensive, experiential course saw 500 students from the fall and winter semesters collectively put in 1,500 hours of rigorous problem-solving, supported by 106 business advisers.