University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

5 undergraduate students receive 2024 RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 15:30:39 +0000

5 undergraduate students receive 2024 RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

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rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 11/07/2024 - 10:30

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RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

Undergraduate Students

University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

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(clockwise from top left): Isabella Tang, Riya Mathur, Harmandeep Gill, Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad and Jessica Tang (supplied images)

Five U of T undergraduate students – Harmandeep Kaur Gill, Isabella Tang, Jessica Tang, Riya Mathur and Sarvnaz Ale Mohammad – have received 2024 RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology.

The award recognizes Black, Indigenous and/or woman-identifying students entering their third year who are interested in careers at the intersection of technology and financial services. Recipients are selected based on academic achievement, their demonstrated interest in exploring a future career in technology and their work on creating innovative solutions, which demonstrate an entrepreneurial mindset.

This year's recipients are all women and their interests range from researching black holes to helping seniors manage their prescription medication and developing energy-harvesting devices to help patients with heart failure.

“Investing in the future of technology and building key technical skills is core to RBC’s strong engineering culture,” said Kendra Dubyk, director, technology partnerships at RBC. “The RBC Award for Diversity and Innovation demonstrates our commitment to the equity and inclusion of deserving students and recognizes their creativity, curiosity and technical aptitude.”

Each student receives a $15,000 award, renewable for a second year.

Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 15:27:20 +0000

Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

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rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 07/25/2024 - 11:27

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St. George

Artificial Intelligence

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Undergraduate Students

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Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou (supplied image)

Xatoms, a startup co-founded by University of Toronto students Diana Virgovicova and Kerem Topal Ismail Oglou, has been recognized with three prizes at Startupfest 2024.

The company, which uses quantum chemistry and AI to discover molecules that can efficiently purify water, took home the $100,000 Best of the Fest, $100,000 Women in Tech Investment and $50,000 Front Row Ventures Student Entrepreneur prizes. Those prizes will be matched by the Business Development Bank of Canada, bringing Xatoms’s total winnings at Startupfest to $500,000.

Additionally, Xatoms has also been selected among the top 14 out of 9,400 teams for the prestigious Hult Prize, and will compete for the $1-million grand prize in September.

The startup evolved out of a discovery that Virgovicova, its CEO, made at age 17 when she used quantum chemistry software to model a photocatalyst molecule that can eliminate pollutants from water when exposed to sunlight.

Xatoms, which was part of The Bridge accelerator program at U of T Scarborough and is now part of the SpinUp wet lab incubator at U of T Mississauga, builds on that discovery by incorporating AI and machine learning to discover more – and more efficient – materials and molecules.

Biomaterials startup Erthos recognized with 2024 Governor General’s Innovation Award

rahul.kalvapalle — Tue, 28 May 2024 15:01:48 +0000

Biomaterials startup Erthos recognized with 2024 Governor General’s Innovation Award

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rahul.kalvapalle Tue, 05/28/2024 - 11:01

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Governor General's Innovation Award

University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

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Nuha Siddiqui (L) and Kritika Tyagi (photo by Matthew Volpe)

Erthos, a biomaterials startup co-founded by University of Toronto alumni Nuha Siddiqui and Kritika Tyagi, has received a 2024 Governor General's Innovation Award.

Launched in 2016, the annual awards celebrate exceptional Canadian individuals, teams and organizations for their excellence in innovation and their contributions in helping to shape our future and positively impact our quality of life.

Erthos, which began as a research project of Siddiqui’s while she was studying at U of T, was recognized for its efforts in helping tackle plastic pollution with its novel plant-based resin, which serves as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics. The startup was nominated for the honour by the Business Development Bank of Canada.

“Nuha Siddiqui's leadership at Erthos is a testament to strategic vision, adaptability and a commitment to global sustainability,” reads the award citation. “Erthos stands resilient, inspiring transformative change for a more sustainable and inclusive future.”

Read about the 2024 Governor General's Innovation Awards

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Four U of T students awarded 2022 RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

lanthierj — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 17:36:41 +0000

Four U of T students awarded 2022 RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

Academic Achievement

lanthierj Fri, 10/14/2022 - 13:36

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Mississauga

St. George

RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

Faculty of Arts & Science

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

U of T Mississauga

University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

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(L-R) Mouaid Alim, Sana Hashim, Muhammed Yakubu and Yara Nassar

Mouaid Alim, Sana Hashim, Yara Nassar and Muhammed Yakubu are the recipients of the inaugural RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology.

The undergraduate students are all in their third year of studies at the University of Toronto – in the Faculty of Arts & Science, at U of T Mississauga and the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering.

The scholarships, which recognize and support undergraduate students who are from equity-deserving groups and interested in emerging technologies, were announced at the Tech for a Greener Future - RBC Innovation Challenge.

“As part of our efforts to accelerate a more inclusive future, we are proud to support the RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology,” said Emily Mercier, chief operating officer of RBC technology and operations. “These winners are champions of positive change both in their classrooms and their communities, and we can’t wait to see what they accomplish next.”

Recipients were selected based on academic and extra-curricular achievements that demonstrate innovation and an interest in technology. Each was awarded a scholarship valued at $15,000, renewable for a second year.

“It is a great honour to be selected as a recipient of the RBC Scholarship for Diversity and Innovation in Technology,” said Yakubu. “This award will inspire me – alongside fellow students and innovators – to keep finding solutions to problems around us, while connecting me to a network of like-minded individuals who will be pivotal in my journey toward my long-term goals.”

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University of Toronto Entrepreneurship

5 undergraduate students receive 2024 RBC Awards for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

Read more about the award recipients at U of T Entrepreneurship

Xatoms startup named Hult Prize finalist, wins three prizes at Startupfest

Read more about Xatoms CEO Diana Virgovicova

Read more about the Hult Prize

Biomaterials startup Erthos recognized with 2024 Governor General’s Innovation Award

Read about the 2024 Governor General's Innovation Awards

Four U of T students awarded 2022 RBC Scholarships for Diversity and Innovation in Technology

Read the UTE story