Carleton Students Take on AI Agents in MindBridge’s 2026 Data Science Challenge

‘This year’s competition pushes students to build intelligent AI systems capable of detecting financial anomalies — and opens a direct pathway from the classroom to one of Ottawa’s leading AI companies.’

Carleton University’s brightest data science minds are back in the spotlight as the MindBridge–Carleton University Data Science Challenge returns for 2026 — and this year, the competition is stepping boldly into the world of AI agents.

The annual challenge, now in its second year, has quickly become one of Ottawa’s most compelling showcases of emerging tech talent. Organized in partnership with Carleton’s Data Science and Analytics Institute (DSAI), the competition invites undergraduate and graduate students to design intelligent systems capable of spotting financial anomalies — the kinds of subtle irregularities that can signal fraud, risk, or deeper issues inside complex financial data.

If last year’s challenge was about proving what students could do with advanced analytics, this year is about pushing them into the next frontier of AI.

A New Era: AI Agents Take Centre Stage

The 2026 edition officially launched on January 28 with a guest lecture by MindBridge Senior Data Scientist Dr. Aras Kayvan, who walked students through the foundations of agentic AI, design patterns, and real‑world applications. The session set the tone for what participants will tackle over the next eight weeks: building AI agents that can reason, adapt, and autonomously navigate financial datasets.

“AI agents are changing how we think about financial processes,” says Rachel Kirkham, MindBridge’s Chief Technology Officer. “This challenge gives students hands‑on experience with emerging AI techniques that will soon become foundational to how businesses identify risk and drive insights.”

It’s a timely focus. As global financial systems become more complex, organizations are looking for tools that can analyze massive volumes of transactions in real time. AI agents — systems that can independently perform tasks, make decisions, and learn from data — are quickly becoming essential.

A Competition with Real‑World Stakes

Over the coming weeks, students will design agentic workflows and code‑based solutions aimed at real auditing and risk‑assessment challenges. Their work mirrors the problems tackled daily by MindBridge’s own data scientists, who build AI‑powered tools used by auditors, finance teams, and regulators around the world.

For Carleton students, the challenge is more than an academic exercise. It’s a chance to test their skills against real industry expectations — and potentially launch a career.

Last year’s competition proved that point: one of the top competitors is now a paid intern at MindBridge, working directly on AI solutions for financial decision‑making. It’s exactly the kind of academic‑to‑industry pipeline the partnership was designed to create.

“Agent‑based systems are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in AI,” says Olga Baysal, Director of Carleton’s Institute for Data Science. “Through this challenge, our students gain valuable exposure to real industry problems while experimenting with one of the most exciting areas of data science today.”

How the Challenge Works

• Eligibility: Open to Carleton students in data science, computer science, engineering, and related fields
• Kickoff Lecture: January 28, 2026
• Submission Deadline: March 13, 2026
• Winners Announced: March 31 at Carleton’s Data Day

Projects will be judged on performance, creativity, innovation, and clarity of presentation. The top three entrants will take home prizes ranging from a MacBook Pro to an iPad Pro, but the real reward may be the opportunity that follows: winners receive an interview for a paid internship at MindBridge.

For students hoping to break into AI, fintech, or advanced analytics, that opportunity is priceless.

A Growing Ottawa Tech Tradition

Last year’s challenge drew attention for its blend of academic rigor and real‑world relevance. Students tackled financial irregularities using machine learning, producing solutions that impressed both Carleton faculty and MindBridge engineers. The competition’s success helped cement Ottawa’s reputation as a hub for AI innovation — and set the stage for this year’s expanded focus on agentic AI.

With AI agents now at the forefront of global research and industry adoption, the 2026 challenge arrives at the perfect moment. It gives students a chance to experiment with cutting‑edge techniques while contributing to a field that is rapidly reshaping finance.

And for MindBridge, it’s a chance to meet — and mentor — the next generation of AI talent. As the competition unfolds over the next two months, one thing is clear: Ottawa’s AI ecosystem is thriving, and Carleton students are ready to show just how far they can push the technology.

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