Welcome to the AquaHacking 2020 Challenge in Atlantic Canada! We’re so glad you’re here. If you’re ready to register, click the “JOIN” button to the right or scroll down to learn more.

Use this page to connect with teammates, learn about the water issues, and stay up to date with program events and workshops. 

What is AquaHacking? How does it work?

AquaHacking is a tech competition where young innovators team up to tackle urgent water issues through innovation and entrepreneurship. After five consecutive years focused on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Basin, AquaHacking is now expanding its model to Atlantic Canada. In 2020, Atlantic Water Network at Saint Mary’s University is proud to host the first edition of AquaHacking on Canada’s east coast. 

Over the course of seven months, post-secondary students and young professionals will work to develop implementable solutions for five critical water issues affecting freshwater and marine water health in Atlantic Canada. Participants receive round-the-clock mentorship and support from experts in water science, technology and business, and are offered skill-building and leadership workshops. Later in the program, teams get to participate in a judged semi-final pitching session – and for those who continue as Finalists – an immersive on-the-water expedition and culminating in an exciting Dragon’s Den-style finale.

The five Finalist teams compete for $50,000 in cash prizes and are each guaranteed a spot in a local start-up incubator. 

Atlantic Canada Water Issues

Teams will choose one of the five water issues defined by community-based organizations and water sector experts in Atlantic Canada. Leaders for each issue provide ongoing mentorship and insight into the context and data that will help shape each team’s solution.

Stay tuned! Specific water issues will be announced at the official Kickoff event held on February 26, 2020, at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. See event details to the right.

Learn More

Attend a webinar or in-person info session near you to learn more about the Challenge. You can see a full list below:

Don’t worry if you don’t see an event near you, we have a few more in the works!

For immediate questions, contact: aislin.livingstone@smu.ca

Rules and Regulation

To view this challenge's Rules and Regulations, please visit the bottom of the "Judging" page.

Workshops

These virtual workshops will help you design, build, and pitch your solution:
Design Thinking, Machine Learning, and Pitch Perfect.

We recommend starting with the Design Thinking workshop as it will give your team foundational tools for the initial concepts of your solution. The Machine Learning workshop will help your team understand what technical functionality is possible with machine learning algorithms. Finally, the Pitch Perfect workshop will provide tips to help you pitch your solution to the judges at the Semi-Final! You can find them all under the "Workshops" tab. 

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