Tech Lift Off: Kaydan Pring's Journey into Innovation

 

 

Meet Kaydan Pring, a third-year marketing student at Mount Royal University with a minor in innovation and entrepreneurship. Kaydan Pring’s focus goes beyond textbooks and classrooms, aiming to merge his marketing background with cutting-edge innovation with his involvement with startups and the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

 

Self-Discovery Through Creation

Kaydan Pring initially discovered the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship through posters in the business hallways promoting the Innovation Sprint, offering students a $600 stipend. His involvement with the Institute changed significantly when he joined the LaunchPad Lab the following year. His project, 'Free Range Unicorns,' a dating app, was conceived just a day before applying for LaunchPad Lab. Despite contemplating a major switch due to his passion for creation, Pring’s involvement with the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has nurtured his creative and innovative spirit, leading to substantial personal growth and a stronger expression of his innovative drive.

Kaydan Pring is embarking on an exciting journey with Tech LiftOff this Winter, 2024, an eight-month program for business and computer science students. This unique program fosters connections between students and top tech leaders, offering valuable insights into product development and business innovation.

 

Tech LiftOff in a Glimpse 

Tech LiftOff showcases distinguished speakers representing Calgary startups and scaleups, including MRU alumni startups: InspiredGo, Caret, Midas Labs, and Penseum. Throughout the winter semester, these technical experts will share what they built, for whom, and how they built their products to educate students about emerging technology and give them a jumping-off point to build their ideas over the next 8 months. 

Eighteen students will have the chance to participate in the Tech LiftOff. Successful program completion culminates in a stipend of $1000, awarded in April and August, marking a learning opportunity and a rewarding journey toward tangible achievements.

One of the main reasons Kaydan Pring joined Tech LiftOff was the encouragement he received from Diana Grant-Richmond, the program manager of Tech LiftOff and Associate Director of the Institute for Innovation for Entrepreneurship. Kaydan Pring shared, “It made me feel… like I had something to offer for this program.” 

Pring is eager to hear "someone who has a really good idea." Additionally, Pring hopes to absorb as much "technical talent" as possible during Tech LiftOff, recognizing its immense value for his growth and learning. Pring intends to leverage his hands-on experience to support his peers effectively in articulating tech solutions during Tech LiftOff. With Pring’s diverse experience in several ventures, Pring offers insights spanning customer discovery, branding, website development, and community building—components that Pring considers an important part of launching products.

 

Importance of involvement 

Pring strongly advises students to make the most of their university experience and to avoid remaining stagnant. Pring believes students are likelier to learn by applying real hands-on experience and engaging in student opportunities inside and outside the university campus. One of the best ways to achieve this is by getting involved with the university community and outside. Pring wants to tell students, "We are only so young. Go out there and try things.” 

 

Thank You

The Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship sincerely thanks the John Dobson Foundation for their support. Their dedication to student growth and innovation has been pivotal in creating transformative experiences. Your support is truly appreciated!

 

 

Join Us!

Stay tuned for further details on Tech LiftOff! Applications for Fall 2024 will open soon. Don't miss the Fall 2024 Demo Day for more insights. Get ready to launch your tech journey with us!