NEWS The seventh edition of Innovation Boot Camp brought together over 30 participants, all eager to tackle important challenges focused on sustainability, technology and much more.
Winners Andreas Harnindito, Bertil Johansson, Kalliopi Akonidou and Romana Crgol
ImageEvelinn AppelkvistOver an intensive weekend, teams collaborated to develop innovative solutions with the potential to make a real impact. Throughout the event, participants received guidance from experienced business coaches who helped them refine their ideas and strategies. The weekend included hands-on workshops, collaborative brainstorming sessions, and opportunities for teams to prototype their concepts.
– The energy in the room was incredible. Everyone was pushing their creative boundaries and worked together to tackle real-world problems, said Karin Borge Renberg event organiser.
The event culminated in a final pitch session, where each team presented their business idéas to a panel of experts. From tech-driven innovations to sustainability-focused initiatives, the pitches showcased a wide range of creative ideas, each with the potential to spark meaningful change.
– It was our first time pitching, and it was definitely intense. I could feel my legs shaking! Despite the nerves, our communication was solid and we had fun, stated Kalliopi Akonidou and Romana Crgol.
I could feel my legs shaking!
Shortly after the pitch Andreas Harnindito reflected on the future of his team’s idea and the event in general.
– I’ve been in Umeå for only two months, so I’m happy to meet like-minded individuals. After this, our team plans to launch a startup and collaborate with incubators and investors who are interested in our idea.
After much deliberation, the judging panel awarded top prizes in three categories: most innovative idea, best market potential, and best social impact.
Most Innovative Idea: The award went to AI Reader created by Bertil Johansson. This innovative concept revolutionises reading by using AI to deliver personalised, interactive content based on user preferences.
Best Market Potential: Developed by Andreas Harnindito, Setiyo, Syanne Anandyah, Ardiansyah Prasaja, and Sayed Farqad, StudyZi addresses a key need by simplifying the search for Master's programs and scholarships with AI-driven, personalised recommendations.
Best Social Impact: Culture Hub by Kalliopi Akonidou and Romana Crgol unites education, culture, and art in Umeå, fostering collaboration and empowering the community through exhibitions and events.
Innovation Boot Camp participants working and networking during the event.
ImageEvelinn AppelkvistParticipants are eager to continue working on their projects beyond the boot camp. And many teams have already expressed plans to seek further funding and partnerships to bring their ideas to life.
– I will continue working on my idea, and hopefully, I will have an alpha prototype ready next year, says Bertil Johansson.
Meanwhile, the winners of Best Social Impact, Kalliopi and Romana, shared their ambitions for the future:
– We’ll focus on more networking, brainstorming, connecting with artists, and establishing ourselves on this path before moving forward from there.
As the event drew to a close, business coach Christopher Frisk praised the quality of ideas and the collaborative spirit of this year’s participants.
The ideas we've seen this weekend have been of outstanding quality
– The ideas we've seen this weekend have been of outstanding quality, and the teamwork has been exceptional. Some team members didn’t even know each other before the event, yet they came together and developed great solutions.
Innovation Boot Camp once again proved to be a launchpad for innovative solutions, and with such promising projects, the future looks bright for this year’s winners.
Innovation Boot Camp is organised by the Innovation Office at Umeå University in collaboration with multiple partners from Umeå's innovation support system. These include: A working Lab, Uminova Innovation, SLU Holding, Ung företagsamhet, Venture Cup, eXpression Umeå, Coompanion, Drivhuset and Region Västerbotten.