NüXD wins SFU Business Plan Competition

Nü Experience Design (NüXD), a student-run company that designs interactive experiences, has won Simon Fraser University’s first Art of the Start Business Plan Competition.

The competition is run by SFU’s Venture Connection, which links student, faculty, staff and local entrepreneurs with experienced advisors, funding opportunities, and other business connections.

Art of the Start rewards a promising new SFU student venture with entry to Venture Connection's Student Incubator. The winning team receives up to one year of customized support to implement its viable business plan. NüXD beat out three other finalists, MAPT Media, Terrandin Entertainment Ltd. and Irotek. The four teams were judged by entrepreneurs Brad Palmer and Jim Derbyshire, Maureen O’Reilly of the BC Innovation Council, Ginger Grant from SFU’s Faculty of Business Administration and Maria Pacella of GrowthWorks.

Nü Experience Design consists of SFU students Ashish Gurung (Business Administration) and Diana Kidd (interactive arts and technology) and recent SFU graduate Christie Anderson. Gurung says the firm “reinvents the conventional design of physical environments into interactive experiences with technology, mostly for marketing communication needs. By taking interaction design concepts, NüXD brings the design world into the business world.” So far, the firm has developed a successful prototype of its showroom technology called e2, which allows prospective buyers in new condominium developments to virtually experience their future properties, Gurung says.

Venture Connection is funded in part by a grant from Western Economic Diversification, NRC-IRAP, the BC Innovation Council and a recent $125,000 sponsorship from Coast Capital Savings.

Contact: Janice OBriain, 778-782-8728, jobriain@sfu.ca