Enactify is a social enterprise gamification platform explicitly designed for Enactus students. It is part of a larger research project (see Gamification of Innovation Research for more information) that tests how gamification might affect the innovation process. Enactify has two main components"

The first component is a learning platform that teaches Enactus students to use a three-phase entrepreneurial process modelled after Eric Reis’ The Lean Start-up. These learning materials also integrate elements of human-centred design and design thinking from the “d-school” at Stanford University.

The second is a gamified platform designed to award Enactus teams across Canada with points, badges, awards and certificates as they progress through a social enterprise design/development using three entrepreneurial phases. Teams get points and badges for completing elements, level up for each phase completion, achieve power levels for each iterative testing of prototypes (Minimal Viable Products) and finally are awarded for both speed to completion and completion quality. Teams can also choose a collaboration route, achieving power levels for working with other Enactus teams and community partners. Finally, team progress is tracked on a leaderboard that highlights team achievements in various categories.

Fame, glory, knowledge… we’re kidding around, but there are two significant advantages to using Enactify. The first is learning to think entrepreneurially and using iterative testing to develop a “proof of concept” before bringing your project to market. This is designed to enhance your social enterprise projects' social, environmental and/or economic impact(s). The second advantage is that researchers hypothesize gamification keeps users engaged and motivated by using interactive social aspects (like comparison theory, the theory that we’re motivated by comparing ourselves to the success and failure of others). Essentially, this study tests the hypothesis that because humans are social and competitive creatures, allowing users to engage with each other in a game-like environment (and sometimes while working together toward a common goal) will help Enactus teams stay engaged and focused during project development.

Absolutely. Teams that only want to use the learning materials will be our control group. In contrast, teams that want to use both the learning materials and the gamified platform will constitute the treatment group (see Gamification of Innovation Research for more information).

It's simple. Before and after each phase, team members will individually answer questionnaires designed to measure states of entrepreneurial efficacy and intention. At the end of the study, teams will be invited to participate in virtual interviews and focus groups.

The learning materials and gamified platform are conceptually derived from three phases of entrepreneurial development, derived from Eric Reis’ book “The Lean Start-up”: ideation, experimentation, and implementation. Here’s some more information about each phase. See the headings below to learn more about each one.

Ideation is the process teams use to develop an idea (your social enterprise project concept). It includes completing a needs assessment, performing a human-centred design and design thinking process, creating a community ecosystem map, developing your project idea (conception/re-conception), and performing secondary research about your topic and project.

Sound entrepreneurial development rests on developing prototypes (called minimal viable products or MVPs) and iteratively testing them with potential users. This phase will lead users through the development of MVPs and various testing instruments (like surveys, for instance, but there are more than just that). Finally, users will iteratively test and improve their project design and product/service offer, learning and generating knowledge as they go. This phase will include developing a prototype (MVP), developing a prototype testing plan, developing test instruments (e.g., surveys), and iteratively testing (primary research) and improving your MVP until you reach proof of concept.

This phase is all about getting your social enterprise project off the ground. It includes learning and using project management techniques like developing a work breakdown structure, developing a cost/revenue structure and finally developing a short project management plan and project charter. Oh, extra points are awarded if you learn and use Monday.com, powerful (but easy to use) project management software.

Your faculty advisor has graciously agreed to sign off on all elements and phases of your project design and development. They’ve signed a pledge to be impartial observers and have been provided with checklists of items to look for. These aren’t secret - you can see the checklists under Faculty Advisor Resources and are encouraged to use them.

This is Enactus; of course there are awards. Badges and certificates are designed, awarded and accredited so you can upload them to your LinkedIn accounts to impress future employers. If that’s not enough, at the 2026 and 2027 Enactus National Exhibitions, top teams who complete their phases either competitively or collaboratively (with others) will win awards, including financial prizes that they can apply to their projects.

There is only one—you have to commit to completing the start and end-of-phase questionnaires and participate (if asked) in interviews and focus groups. This includes teams that are just using the learning materials. Everything will be virtual, won’t take too long and you’ll be able to do the questionnaires on your own time within one-week windows.

Timelines are below. They extend over a year and a half, to give your team maximum time to design and develop the best project you can. Historically the best Enactus projects take a few years to come to fruition, so the research designers in conjunction with Enactus Canada staff think this timeline is reasonable. The good news is that Enactus Canada awards will be presented by phases, so even if you only complete phases one and two by the 2026 Enactus Nationals, you’re in the running. The third and final phase awards as well as overall project development awards will be announced at the 2027 Enactus Nationals.

September 15, 2025 - December 1, 2025

January 1, 2026 - March 15, 2026

September 15, 2026 - December 1, 2026