Innovator challenge finalists emerge

A social network to reduce isolation, software to direct patients to clinics with shorter wait times and a project to connect people needing housing are squaring off as finalists in the South Island Prosperity Project’s Future Innovator Challenge.

The challenge, a competition for high school and postsecondary students to develop projects that will improve the quality of life for people in the region, tasked students to come up with solutions to regional problems.

Up for grabs is seed funding of $1,500, $750 and $500 to put toward the projects.

Three finalists were named in the secondary school competition: • Yassin Guitouni of Mount Douglas Secondary came up with HMU Sports, a social-networking app that reduces social isolation and increases physical health by connecting young people through sport. • April Shan and Sophia Vasko, also of Mount Douglas, developed Project RED, to reduce wait-times by directing patients to the closest, most available medical clinic. • Jenny She, Yiwen Cai, Daniel Chen and Yuyang Jiang of Saint Michael’s University School came up with Dormie House that connects people to address the rental crisis for low-income families, students, and new graduates.

The three finalists in the postsecondary category are all from UVic. They are: • Clio Hofler, Gavin Kratz, Alex Sawers, Annie Washington and Ian Zhong, who have developed a platform allowing non-profit organizations to collaborate • Audrey Wright, Cyrus Lee, Josh Desrochers, Magnus Kristensen and Tyler Arseneault who developed Lug, a person-to-person shipping service that crowdsources deliveries. • Jarl Whist, Sophie Eckard, Ian McGavin, Sydney Blackwell and Juan Castillo’s project SharedSpaces, a platform they hope will improve rental vacancy rates and reduce rents.

“We were extremely impressed at the quality and ingenuity of the students’ submissions,” said Emilie de Rosenroll, chief executive of SIPP. Both groups of students The six finalists will pitch their projects to a panel of judges in Flury Hall in the Bob Wright Building at UVic Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.