Reigniting My Creative Spark at Inventures

WRITTEN BY

Mark Zacharias

Developer and Team Lead

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QUICK SUMMARY

Mark Z. shares creative lessons learned at Inventures, an annual innovation and artificial intelligence (AI) conference held by Alberta Innovates to advance the province’s economic growth by capitalizing on Alberta’s innovation and research advantage.

Last month, I had the incredible opportunity to attend Inventures, an annual innovation event and three-day conference for entrepreneurs, investors, and industry decision-makers from across North America to tackle some of the most critical issues of our time using humanity and technology.

As the Chief Technology Officer of Standard Field Systems (SFS)—a roadside sobriety testing app and a spinoff of Punchcard Systems—this event was the perfect chance to showcase bold ideas, build relationships, and tap into Alberta’s innovation advantage.

Hosted by Alberta Innovates, a provincial funding agency that promotes economic growth through research and innovation in sectors like agriculture, energy, environment, forest, and health, Inventures boasts some pretty impressive stats including:

  • Over 4,000 attendees from more than 30 countries
  • 300 speakers, including angels, VCs, and corporate investors
  • 150 innovative panels, sessions, and demonstrations
  • Various startup and student pitch competitions
Ameca, the world’s most advanced human shaped robot, at Inventures. Photo Credit: Alberta Innovates Instagram Account

One of my personal highlights was SFS actually being selected as one of five (5) finalists competing in the Blurring Boundaries: Tech at Work Startup Pitch Competition for $10,000. Although we didn’t end up winning the pitch competition, it was an amazing opportunity to present our app to new audiences and receive valuable feedback from the distinguished judges. This input will undoubtedly help us better articulate the value of our solution in helping make our streets safer.

Another one of the most unexpected yet impactful parts of the conference was the keynote address led by Juno Award-winning musician and lead singer of Moist, David Usher. In addition to fronting one of Canada’s best-selling bands, David is also an artificial intelligence (AI) consultant and founder of Reimagine AI—an AI creative studio that helps organizations reboot their creativity in a world of disruptive change.

David Usher speaking at Inventures. Photo Credit: Alberta Innovates Instagram Account

David’s keynote on blending creativity with artificial intelligence reignited my own creative thinking regarding how organizations can better nurture creativity amongst their employees.

Here are my top three takeaways on creativity from Inventures 2024:

01
Embrace Fear

Humans are naturally risk-averse, often shying away from scary or uncomfortable situations. However, facing fear can trigger our “creative juices” by helping us learn and understand unique perspectives. Participating in more uncomfortable situations or daunting experiences, both personally and professionally, can push us to think outside the box and uncover novel insights.

02
Dedicate Time to Creativity

It’s essential to schedule time in your day for creative thinking. Like any muscle, the brain gets stronger with regular use.Try setting aside 30 minutes in your calendar to freely think about a particular topic or issue without any constraints. This practice allows your mind to explore new ideas and solutions carefree. By making time for creativity, we can nurture our ability to think innovatively and solve problems more effectively.

03
Get Physical

Exercise or physical activity is rarely thought of as a thinking tool, but it can stimulate the creativity hub in your brain. Any form of exercise, like going for a walk, can spark creativity, enhance mood, and improve overall mental well-being, leading to better and more creative thinking.

Creativity is the Key to Driving Innovation

Nurturing the creative process is crucial for generating new ideas and improving our ways of working both inside and outside the office. Embracing fear, dedicating time in our routines, and engaging in physical activity are three powerful strategies for fostering more unstructured, divergent thinking in our lives.

Myself and Rosheen, our Product Manager, at Inventures 2024.

As a digital transformation studio, we’re always looking for new technology and digital tools to spark creativity within our team and complement the ways in which our clients manage their workflows and processes.

David Usher’s keynote address at Inventures reminded me that sometimes even analog ways of thinking can be instrumental in identifying new perspectives, driving innovation, and unlocking new levels of creativity to achieve remarkable results.

Did you attend Inventures? What were your biggest takeaways from this year’s conference?

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