Two engineering student startups offer smart solutions to tackle rising costs

Developed by teams of students at the Faculty of Engineering, Cart Compare and Electra are budding enterprises that offer innovative solutions to address practical challenges, such as managing grocery costs and improving energy efficiency.

Many Canadians are finding the rising price of groceries to be a financial challenge. Cart Compare offers a simple yet effective solution: this mobile app compares grocery prices across multiple stores in real time.

Cart Compare is the brainchild of a team of five engineering students—Etienne Borm, Trent Poitras, Christophe Graveline, Haonan Lin and McQueen Zhao. Users input their shopping list into the app and can instantly compare the total cost of their groceries at nearby stores. Cost Compare even highlights where the same item costs the least overall, allowing shoppers to make smarter, budget-friendly choices without spending hours manually checking prices.

The potential impact is significant: the app can help households better manage their budgets during inflationary times, and its intuitive design makes it readily accessibility for any user. In a market where every dollar counts, Cart Compare could become an essential resource for grocery shoppers across Canada.

Consumers are increasingly aware of sustainability issues and rising energy costs. To meet both these challenges, Electra is offering a forward-thinking solution to help consumers and businesses monitor and reduce their energy consumption.

Developed by students Gabriel Bercea, Kingsley Chidera Okafor, Mamoud Mohamed El Hacene, and Onadinma Grace Ntadom, Electra is a smart energy monitoring system that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to track energy use in real time. By providing practical information and tailored recommendations, the system empowers users to identify waste, lower their energy bills and reduce their environmental footprint.

With climate change and sustainability at the forefront of global concerns, Electra addresses a critical need. This system not only promotes smarter energy habits at home, but also positions itself as a practical tool for businesses aiming for cost savings and environmental responsibility.

Cart Compare and Electra were recognized for their innovative approaches at the Fall 2024 Engineering Pitch Competition at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Engineering. Cart Compare took first place in the Concepts category and received $2,500 to further develop their app, while Electra earned $1,000 as the top project in the Ideas category.

The twice-yearly Engineering Pitch Competition highlights the Faculty’s commitment to fostering student-led initiatives that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful change.