Trent University student Jeremy Brooks has taken home the grand prize at the 2018 annual Cubs’ Lair competition hosted by FastStart Peterborough, the Innovation Cluster and the Trent Youth Entrepreneurship Society.

The archaeology masters student and self-proclaimed “digital Indiana Jones”, won for his creation AVROD (Archaeological Virtual Reality Online Database), which he developed to advance the way archaeologists work and learn.

Working out of the Innovation Cluster incubator and utilizing The Cube’s Virtual and Augmented Reality Zone, Jeremy has been able to turn two archaeological sites (including one in Mongolia) into a virtual reality experience. Users will be able to magically transport to a site of their preference and interact with the archaeological site.

“AVROD allows students to learn about global sites without having to travel there, not to mention avoiding potentially dangerous countries,” says Mr. Brooks.

AVROD was one of five ideas pitched to the judging panel consisting of Kate Withers (business development manager at Ontario Centres of Excellence), Jennifer Olauson (academic chair of the School of Business at Fleming College), Diane Richard (president of Diatom Consulting), Jim Gastle (patent agent at Gastle & Associates), and Helen Smith (CPA, CMA, CGMA at Part Time CFO Services).

The judges commented that Mr. Brooks has high potential to grow his business as his platform is first-to market and there is a need for it in the industry. Statistics show the majority of virtual reality platforms created are for gaming, second being neuroscience, and the third being education like AVROD’s platform.

Mr. Brooks will now be able to grow his startup with the grand prize package, valued at over $10,000, which includes six months of incubation space at the Innovation Cluster and an assortment of marketing, finance and business coaching services from local Peterborough businesses.