Laurie

Review: As a parent of four children who have studied in the French Immersion system, I see the value in this venture and would invest. I like that the tool supports collaboration between teachers and provides learning tools for teachers to use in their classroom. French Immersion teachers don’t often have colleagues in the same school (or district) that are teaching a similar grade. This makes it challenging for teachers to share resources. Allons-y is a practical tool to address this need. I would also invest in this resource because you have shown that there is a strong team behind the venture. As well, this is a non-profit venture so it would be something districts could support more easily than a commercial product. There is a need for a product such as Allons-y and I wish you luck with your venture if it is something you plan to develop.

Review: Yes, I would invest in this venture. It looks like you have a solid team, have done the necessary market research and defined the three areas where your product fits – instructional support, instructional content, and enterprise management. You have also developed a practical tool that supports teachers. The one aspect that I am skeptical about is the removal of the human element in your pitch. The creation process involves people collaborating and sharing ideas. While lesson plans that are created by teachers are one-dimensional in the sense that they are created on a flat surface (paper or digital), they can still be shared and created through collaborative effort. It is also the execution of the lesson that makes it dynamic. Your product has the potential to create novel lessons because many resources can be pulled together quickly, which is a selling feature for teachers who are looking for different ways to teach a subject. I do like that your program allows lessons to be shared between teachers and students. This has the potential to support distance learning as well as personalized learning. Good idea!

Review - Susan, you have found a solution to a real problem that many face in terms of tracking, documenting and reminding to update competencies in one's field. This is true for employees in many sectors of employment. This type of tool would also work really well for employees in the trades sector who develop competencies through post-secondary training and apprenticeship hours. Safety training certification is also required so having an online tool to help record competencies is very useful. I felt your venture was strong in terms of outlining a competent team to support the venture, addressing a gap in the current market of such tools, and selling the product as something that could generate income. Your product name cleverly links to health care and an essential life support, as this tool is targeting nurses, however it does imply that your tool is related to the heart/breathing. Maybe you could mix up the letters and create a word that relates to developing competencies such as PRaCtice (just an idea…) Well done!

Feedback - Great idea Jason! Using technology to better recruit and retain employees makes sense, especially with shortages being predicted. Because there are geographical and time constraints on holding more than one interview with a potential employee, this type of tool can be used to handle many of the initial first steps of recruiting. It also allows potential employees to get more information on the realities of the job that they are applying to beforehand so they don't apply for a job that is does not fit with their goals. It can save both the employee and employer time and money.

Feedback: You have addressed a coming need for teachers in BC with the curriculum changes that are happening. Having a site for teachers to go to in which they can access ready-made resources in the area of virtual reality has merit. I would have liked to have been given an example of a virtual reality resource that might be available on such a site. It is challenging to invest in an idea rather than a product without a concrete example. I only watched the elevator pitch however, so you may have given examples on the longer version of the pitch. Great idea!

Feedback: I like that you are combining hands-on learning with emerging technology. Traditionally, students learn how to power a light bulb by creating a complete circuit connected to a battery source. Adding a 3D printed object extends this learning to practical application. I haven't listened to the entire venture pitch so I can't say whether or not you went into the product more in depth as to how to generate funds. I would like to hear more about how this idea compares with other circuitry programs that are available. It does seem like a novel idea, however, by adding the 3D printed object slant to your venture.

Feedback - Personalizing learning is essential in today's classroom. Your venture is targeting a need! We work with a program called Assess at our school, which features many tools that you listed. It is important to remember students are individuals and have individual learning needs.

Feedback - This is a great idea of using technology to promote literacy for early learners. The app also supports acquisition of English as a second language. It makes learning new words fun for the learners. Your app addresses a significant learning need. As an investor, I would like to hear more about how such a venture generates income. Great idea!

Feedback - Field trips do add a lot to the teaching experience and require a lot of planning as you say. There is also a growing need for students to participate in experiential learning and going on field trips are an excellent way for students to participate in hands-on and authentic learning. As well, there can also be a misalignment in matching student learning needs with programs that are created by organizations that do not necessarily have experience in creating resources that are sound in pedagogy and best teaching practices. Therefore I see potential in creating an app such as incentivED and the value in providing a space for teachers to share field trip expertise. As an investor, I might wait to see how the program fairs after a short-term of time to see if there is teacher buy-in into such as a product. If it catches on likeTripAdvisor for example, where people see value in sharing ratings and reviews of visited places, I might consider investing.

Feedback: Emily, I thought your topic is very relevant to today’s families, not only in the North, but across North America. Eating nutritionally balanced meals is essential to healthy living and it is challenging to meet budget restrictions when nutritional choices are more expensive than less nutritional ones. Your idea fosters both eating better and balancing the books. Your idea of using an app to determine prices which foods have the highest nutritional value per dollar is an excellent idea. I do see some challenges in the execution. Fresh produce changes in price depending on the season and how far North you go. I live in Northern BC and we pay much for items such as lettuce in the winter versus the summer. As you go further North, I assume that the prices fluctuate as well depending on the availability. If the app adjusted for these fluctuations in supply/demand and seasonal variations, I would definitely use such an application.