The Kick-Off Event was a successful start to the 2025 season!
On Saturday, January 18th, 2025, the Waterloo Chapter of Technovation officially launched its 12-week program with its Kick-Off Event. The event brought together 55 young girls and gender-diverse individuals, aged 8-18, all passionate about technology and entrepreneurship.
The event started with an overview of what participants can expect throughout the season. The girls will work in teams to create mobile apps that address real-world problems, with a focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Through this process, they will gain valuable experience in coding, entrepreneurship, and technology, while also developing key skills in leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. Their projects will not only enhance their abilities but also aim to make a positive impact on their communities.
The majority of the day was dedicated to starting the 5-week ideation process. The girls began by brainstorming communities. They were encouraged to consider communities they knew, whether they were part of the community or connected in some other way. They organized their ideas into seven categories on whiteboards, then worked together to break each category into sub-categories.
In the afternoon, the girls began thinking of challenges these communities might face. Participants brainstormed potential problems in the communities they identified earlier, then organized them on whiteboards into groups aligned with the UN SDGs. They, again, worked together to break each category into subcategories.
Overall, the Kick-Off Event was an excellent opportunity for the girls to meet other like-minded individuals and start the ideation process. This event was the start of an exciting 12-week journey, and we can't wait to see all the incredible creations these girls will make!
Thank you to everyone who attended!
Thank you to everyone who attended our Kick-Off Event! An extra special shoutout goes out to our volunteers, who without, this event could not have been possible!
We were so excited to have so many of you join us to start off the 12-week journey, and we can't wait to see the amazing things you'll create during this program. We hope you enjoyed the event and had fun meeting like-minded peers who share your passion for technology and entrepreneurship.
Stay tuned for our upcoming weekly online workshops and monthly in-person working sessions, where you'll get the chance to collaborate with your team. Our next in-person working session is on Saturday, February 22 – more details will be shared soon. Keep up the great work, and we look forward to seeing your progress throughout the season!