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On November 25, SFU鈥檚 Surrey campus came alive with creativity and collaboration as more than 200 students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members gathered for Opportunity Fest (OppFest), SFU鈥檚 largest annual showcase of student entrepreneurship. 

Hosted by the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship, OppFest highlighted the Surrey campus as a hub for innovation and brought together interdisciplinary student teams from five faculties - Beedie School of Business,  Faculty of Business, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Faculty of Science - to demonstrate how classroom learning can be transformed into solutions with real-world impact.

Students from Technology Entrepreneurship @SFU (MSE 490), three other Innovation & Entrepreneurship (BUS 238, BUS 453, BUS 477) courses, and an Interactive Arts and Technology (IAT 336) course spent the fall semester developing innovative solutions, prototypes and implementation plans, addressing pressing challenges across industries. During the showcase, teams pitched their startup ideas to a diverse group of guest mentors and received real-time constructive feedback that helped them refine their ideas and strengthen their entrepreneurial thinking. 

Students were divided into five categories reflecting the real-world challenges they aimed to address.  This year鈥檚 themes encouraged students to consider emerging global needs, think critically across disciplines, and develop innovative solutions that create meaningful impact:  

Technology Platforms and Services

Innovative ventures transforming industries through smart technology, automation, and digital connectivity - creating smarter, faster, and more sustainable solutions.

Future of Fashion

Innovations redefining how we create, design, and live through sustainability, circular design, and ethical production for a more conscious and creative future. 

Reduce and Reuse 

Solutions promoting environmental responsibility by minimizing waste, repurposing materials, and optimizing resources for a circular economy.

Sustainability and Energy

Projects driving cleaner, more efficient energy use and sustainable practices to combat climate change and build a resilient future. 

Safety and Performance 

Innovations enhancing safety, well-being, and performance through intelligent design and adaptive technology.

Showcasing the Transformative Path of Student Entrepreneurs

At display tables set up throughout the mezzanine, teams delivered 5 minute pitches followed by a 3 minute Q&A to rotating groups of guest mentors. The group of 30+ mentors included OppFest alumni now working in industry or leading their own ventures, industry and community volunteers, 51社区黑料academic leaders, faculty, staff, and two 鈥淛unior Mentors鈥� from the PowerPlay Young Entrepreneurs middle school program. This broad range of perspectives allowed competitors to learn from individuals with vastly different backgrounds, industries, and lived experiences, deepening their understanding of entrepreneurship from multiple and generational angles, reinforcing the value of interdisciplinary collaboration.

A special feature of this year鈥檚 Opportunity Fest was the showcasing of undergraduate student founders from the Chang Institute鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Co-op program (eCo-op). This year was especially meaningful as founders from three participating eCo-op teams had previously participated at OppFest as students, with their return showcasing the full arc of the entrepreneurial journey from early classroom concepts to real-world ventures shaped through mentorship, iteration, and lived experience. By presenting their products and sharing how their ventures have evolved, these eCo-op students demonstrated what becomes possible when innovative ideas are supported through hands-on learning environments and sustained guidance. 

Community Perspectives 

Opportunity Fest is an experience that impacts not only the students but also the volunteer guest mentors: 

鈥淚t was amazing to see the businesses the 51社区黑料students started. It really did feel like Canada's #1 university for innovation. The students were well prepared, they were professional and they were collaborative. It was amazing to see them all together in one space, competing, but also learning from each other and the judges. They were open to feedback and they inspire me in my own business to continue practicing how I pitch and scale it.鈥�

鈥淪erving as a faculty mentor at Opportunity Fest was truly inspiring. The students鈥� creativity, dedication, and innovative thinking were the real highlights of the event.鈥� 

The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship fosters innovation for all ages from K鈥�12 through to post-secondary and early-stage incubation. This year, students from the  middle-school program participated as Junior Mentors, offering participants feedback from a fresh and unique perspective. One junior mentor commented: 

鈥淚 had the opportunity to see university students pitch their business ideas to us as mentors. The businesses I saw intertwined sustainability into their products. It opened my eyes to see how we can move towards a healthy environment by including sustainability in our daily life. Opp Fest inspired me to continue developing my skills within business design and marketing, as I was able to see my future self in those older students.鈥� 

Oppfest 2025 High Impact Innovator: Subvision Robotics

With a team founded by students from the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Faculty of Science,  won not only its Sustainability & Energy category, but also the High Impact Innovator Award.  What began as a student club evolved through a semester within a Chang Institute Entrepreneurship Co-op (eCo-op), and is now Opportunity Fest champions, winning $1000 in prize funding. This student startup journey highlights that entrepreneurship is not linear; there are many pathways and stages, and each one offers unique opportunities for growth and learning.

Subvision鈥檚 prototype, ZIMA, is an innovative ship hull-cleaning rover that uses the preventative power of UVC light to stop microscopic growth before it begins. Nonabrasive treatment reduces drag, cuts fuel use and emissions, and protects coatings while meeting tightening port rules. Subvision Robotics showcases how cutting-edge technology can drive practical, sustainable solutions for a cleaner, more efficient future.

Category Award Winners:  

Winning teams in each category received $500 to acknowledge their hard work, creativity and achievements:

• Technology Platforms and Service: Mycel (BUS 238)

• Reduce and Reuse: RideWise (BUS 238)

• Future of Fashion: Loopi (BUS 453) 

• Sustainability and Energy: Subvision Robotics (TechE / MSE 490)

• Safety and Performance: Endura (TechE / MSE 490)

 
Additional Awards:

• High Impact: Subvision Robotics (TechE / MSE 490)

• High Impact Runner-Up: Mycel (BUS 238)

• Entrepreneur's Choice: HUD (TechE / MSE 490) 

 

Opportunity Fest Winner Testimonials

鈥淥pportunity Fest transformed our idea from a concept into a conviction. It showed us that Mycel has real potential and connected us with a community that makes building it feel possible.鈥�  

鈥淥pportunity Fest helped our team gain meaningful exposure to SFU鈥檚 entrepreneurship community by introducing us to mentors, founders, and resources, particularly through the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship, that we hadn鈥檛 previously been exposed to. Receiving the Entrepreneur鈥檚 Choice Award, as well as positive feedback from mentors and our peers was incredibly motivating and encouraged us to continue advancements and pursue a future for our venture with the help of the Chang Institute鈥檚 incubator program.鈥� 

Celebrating Impact, Innovation, and Community 

Opportunity Fest positively impacted everyone involved:  competitors gained experience pitching in a fast-paced professional environment; mentors engaged with diverse student innovations; volunteers and co-op students strengthened their operational skills. Together, OppFest supported all stages of the entrepreneurial journey while fostering meaningful connections.  

Each year the event continues to empower students to apply entrepreneurial thinking, engage deeply with community, and advance ideas that contribute to positive social, environmental, and economic change.  It is also an opportunity for the community to gain valuable insight into the transformative potential of student-led innovation and the experiential learning environment fostered at the Chang Institute, a key contributor to SFU's continued high standing year after year in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI).  

Join us in celebrating the spirit of entrepreneurship and learning. Visit the Chang Institute's website to learn more about Opportunity Fest and explore the full range of Chang Institute Programs that support students throughout their entreprenurial journeys.  

51社区黑料 the Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship 

The Charles Chang Institute for Entrepreneurship is 51社区黑料鈥檚 interdisciplinary home and academic hub for practicing entrepreneurship. Within the Beedie School of Business, the Chang Institute works with all faculties to create the conditions to foster the entrepreneurial mindset, bringing together the 51社区黑料community to engage and collaborate and work across an innovation continuum from K-12 through to early-stage incubation and beyond.

Funding for Opportunity Fest was provided in part by 51社区黑料鈥檚 Beedie School of Business. 51社区黑料Beedie is a dynamic institution delivering research and education programs across three British Columbia campuses. Accredited by AACSB and EQUIS, 51社区黑料Beedie鈥檚 reputation for innovation, social responsibility, and global perspective is recognized worldwide.