Tech Futures Challenge

As we reflect on the success of the Tech Futures Challenge 2026 Innovation Showcase, we want to extend our sincere thanks to the organizations and individuals whose support, leadership, and insights helped make the day possible.

To our Transformer Partners: thank you for your commitment to empowering the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and entrepreneurs.

TRANSFORMER PARTNERS
Hunter Family Foundation
Cenovus Energy
RBC Foundation

Because of your investment, young people from across Canada have the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges, develop innovative solutions, strengthen critical skills, and gain hands-on experience in the innovation process. The projects showcased this year demonstrated not only creativity and technical ability, but also a deep commitment to addressing issues that matter to their communities, industries, and our country.

We’d also like to thank the outstanding speakers who shared their perspectives throughout the day:
-Dr. Ed McCauley, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calgary: Highlighted the importance of curiosity, research, and innovation in shaping the future.
- Mayor Jeromy Farkas: Welcomed participants on behalf of the City of Calgary – Your Local Government and celebrated the energy and potential of Canada's next generation of innovators.
- MP Corey Hogan: Spoke to the role young innovators will play in strengthening Canada's future prosperity and competitiveness.
- Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking: Helped connect innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world impact.
- Grant Sanden, CEO of GeologicAI: Shared insights from the front lines of technology commercialization and venture creation.
- Dr. John Froh, President & CEO of STARS Ambulance: Demonstrated how innovation, machine learning, and AI are transforming healthcare and emergency response.
- Melissa Power, Geologist-Technology & Innovation, Canadian Natural: Spoke on the role of technology, innovation, and continuous learning in industry. Shout-out to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for being a funding partner for the 2026 Innovation Showcase!
- Jim Gray, OC, Founder of MindFuel: Reminded us that innovation begins when people choose to engage with challenges and work toward solutions.

The future of Canada depends on talented young people who are prepared to think critically, adapt boldly, and lead with purpose. Your support helps create the environments where those skills can flourish —and where the ideas that shape tomorrow can begin today.

Thank you for helping make Tech Futures Challenge 2026 possible, and for investing in the innovators who will help build Canada's future.

We hope to see all of you again for the 2027 TFC cycle.

Sometimes innovation runs on curiosity, creativity… and a little caffeine.

A sincere Thank You to Tim Hortons for generously providing the coffee that helped fuel MindFuel’s Tech Futures Challenge 2026 Innovation Showcase.

From early-morning setup and team presentations to judging sessions, networking, and award announcements, it was a busy day filled with energy, ideas, and activity. Thanks to Tim Hortons, students, mentors, judges, volunteers, staff, and guests had plenty of coffee on hand to help keep the conversations flowing and the innovation moving.

We can’t say every great idea started over a cup of coffee —but we’re not ruling it out!

Thank you for helping keep our innovators, judges, and special guests caffeinated, focused, and ready for a day of big thinking.

Over this past Tech Futures Challenge cycle, we challenged our teams to share their journeys, insights, and innovations with the world through our social media competition. We’ve loved seeing the incredible content, behind-the-scenes moments, and passion from everyone!

While the competition was fierce... a massive congratulations to the winner of our draw, MIRRA CALL! 🏆

MIRRA CALL is doing vital work advancing age-tech and assisted living innovation ecosystems, and their dedication to sharing their story has been nothing short of inspiring. Thank you to the team for your incredible engagement, and to all the teams who participated and brought so much energy to this TFC cycle!

We can't wait to see you again soon!

What a day it was.

The Tech Futures Challenge 2026 Innovation Showcase brought together some of the most promising young innovators from across the country —and, Wow! They delivered.

From bold ideas to fully realized prototypes, this year’s teams demonstrated what’s possible when curiosity, creativity, and determination meet real-world challenges. The level of thinking, collaboration, and ex*****on on display was nothing short of remarkable.

To the teams: your hard work, resilience, and willingness to tackle complex problems head-on is exactly what the future of innovation needs. You’ve set a new bar.

We’re also sincerely grateful to everyone who helped make the day such a success —our judges, mentors, partners, volunteers, and guests. Your support, insight, and enthusiasm created an unforgettable experience for these young innovators.

And now, we’re proud to recognize this year’s award winners:

Best Prototype — $5,000
BioGate Dynamics - BMERIT - University of Calgary

Best Prototype (Returning) -- $5000
United Robotics of Lacombe - BEEWISE

Runner-Up — $2,500
University of Lethbridge iGEM team - MOSMAGE

Most Iterative Project — $1,000
Project 90 – Hip Abductor - University of Calgary

Most Tangible Next Steps — $1,000
IGEM Guelph - Lumifert

People’s Project Choice — $500
University of British Columbia (Vancouver) - BARK Watch

Congratulations to all of our winners —and to all participant who brought their ideas to life.

This is what the future looks like.

A quiet moment on stage before the announcements begin...

After a day of pitches, presentations, and thoughtful deliberation, our judges are ready to reveal this year’s TFC Innovation Showcase winners. We can’t wait to introduce them to you next week, so stay tuned!

Jim Gray is speaking, and people are listening.

A mentor, a builder, a connector --and someone who’s spent decades turning ideas into action. From the early days of Alberta’s energy sector to helping launch organizations that support communities across Calgary, Jim’s impact shows up in more places than you might expect.

He’s been a university student and an oilpatch entrepreneur, and now he’s a philanthropist and a connector of people and ideas. And his fingerprints are on a surprising number of undertakings in Calgary --whether it was chairing the first Petroleum Show --now known as Global Energy Show Canada-- in 1966 to connect Albertans to the energy sector, serving as chairman of the Canada West Foundation, being a director of the Calgary Stampede, or as the impetus behind numerous local organizations, including Momentum, the Calgary Homeless Foundation, the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter, the Calgary Native Friendship Centre, Bow Valley Wildfire, and, of course, MindFuel.

The message he’s sharing is simple:
Don’t stop at identifying a problem.
Ask yourself —What am I going to do about it?

It’s a mindset that helped spark what would become MindFuel, rooted in a belief that access to science, technology, and opportunity should reach every community.

You can draw a straight line from that vision to today —youth innovators, ideas on display, and a room full of people asking what comes next.

If there’s one takeaway from Jim’s time on stage, it’s this:

Progress begins when someone decides to act. And that’s exactly what we’re seeing from our youth innovators today —ideas backed by action, and the willingness to take the first step toward something bigger.

We can’t wait to see where these teams go next.

Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, is now leading a panel with Dr. John Froh, Grant Sanden, and Melissa Power.
“Where Innovation Meets Impact” is the theme of the moment.

How do you prepare for a future that’s anything but predictable?
What actually set you up for success early on?
How much do networks matter?
Failure and pivots: What do you do when things don’t go to plan?

This is where curiosity meets expertise —where youth innovators get an unfiltered look at the paths behind the ideas.

Right now, inside the Tech Futures Challenge 2026 Innovation Showcase…

Among our distinguished guests today is Guy Levesque, Executive Director of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking. He’s here today to introduce our Inspiring Speakers, and then to moderate a panel among them.

The audience listens as Dr. John Froh, STARS Ambulance, Grant Sanden, GeologicAI , and Melissa Power, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, share what innovation looks like in the real world.

From AI enhancing critical care and emergency response, to deep tech transforming resource discovery, to new approaches shaping the future of energy —these are the kinds of ideas moving industries forward right now.

And just as important: the people behind the ideas. These are leaders who’ve built, tested, failed, adapted —and kept going.

Sessions like these are meant to give young innovators a clearer sense of what’s possible, and how to get there.

Looking to show your support for MindFuel in style?

Whether you're a longtime champion of youth innovation or just looking for a great new hoodie, tee, or polo shirt, our MindFuel Merch Store has something for you.

Every item helps celebrate the curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving spirit that drives the next generation of innovators.

From the classroom to the boardroom —and everywhere in between— it's an easy way to carry the MindFuel mission with you wherever you go.

Take a look, find a favourite, and help spread the word about the power of STEM learning and innovation.

Browse the collection here: https://urstore.ca/group/mindfuel

Get yours while supplies last!

Around the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, different rooms have come to life.
TFC teams are presenting their prototypes to judges who are asking questions and getting a real sense of what these teams have created.
From clean tech and energy solutions to biotech, agri-tech, and AI-driven tools, the range is wide —and the thinking is bold.
Our judges —bringing experience from across industry, research, and entrepreneurship-- are listening closely, challenging assumptions, and helping push ideas a little further.
There’s a lot on the line, too.
Best Prototype — $5,000
Runner-Up — $2,500
Most Iterative Project — $1,000
Most Tangible Next Steps — $1,000
People’s Project Choice — $500
The TFC 2026 Innovation Showcase is thought provoking and it’s hands-on. And it’s where innovation takes shape.