91��ɫ

Every submission is scored across the following dimensions to ensure it�s meaningful, industry�relevant, and useful to future founders. You don�t need to write an essay�just be clear and specific.

1) Clarity & Problem Quality (20%)

• The problem is specific (one issue, not many).
• You explain who experiences it, where/when it occurs, and the impact (time, cost, risk, frustration).
• Based on first�hand observation (not hearsay).
• No confidential details from your employer.

2) Evidence of Pain & Frequency (20%)

• The issue is recurring or affects multiple users/teams.
• There are visible workarounds or measurable impact (e.g., delays, scrap, rework, overtime, safety incidents).
• There is urgency to fix it (deadlines, compliance, lost revenue, safety).

3) Market Potential (High�Growth Lens) (30%)

We�re not asking you to pitch a solution�but we do assess whether this problem could support a high�growth venture if solved.

Signals of sufficient potential (you don�t need all of them):

• Who would pay to solve this? (Name the buyer/user role or budget owner.)
• The problem likely exists beyond one company or site (industry�wide patterns, standards, or common tech stacks).
• There is current spend on workarounds or inferior tools (licences, headcount, consultants, overtime, scrap).
• The problem sits in an area with regulatory drivers or clear KPIs (safety, uptime, emissions, quality, compliance).
• The affected market is sizeable or growing (e.g., >[X] organizations locally/globally; strong sector tailwinds).
• Stakeholders express willingness to pay or clear budget alignment (�We�d pay to fix this.� �We already spend $X on this.�).

Tip: A quick way to describe market potential is:
Who hurts + how many + how much it costs today + who has budget authority.

4) Existing Alternatives & Gaps (10%)

• What�s used today? (manual work, spreadsheets, legacy systems, consultants)
• Why is it not good enough? (accuracy, speed, cost, integration, usability)

5) Context from Co�op (10%)

• Short, concrete examples from your work term that show authenticity (keep it non�confidential).

6) Ethics, Safety & Compliance (Pass/Fail)

• Submissions must avoid disclosing confidential or proprietary information.
• Respect employer policies and your co�op agreement.

Who decides? A rotating panel of MUN alumni with relevant industry experience makes final acceptance decisions using this rubric.

 

---

 

Important Note on Rights & Intellectual Property

There�s no intellectual property in problem statements. Submissions do not include solutions nor any employer information.