Student entrepreneurs see success in Accelerator program

THUNDER BAY – Six student-led startups have graduated Ingenuity’s Ascend Accelerator program at Lakehead University.

The program supports student entrepreneurs from both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.

“Our goal, even as we move along, is to get them some mentors, get them as much funding as they need, and then continue that path,” said Alison MacKay, manager of the Ingenuity program.

Over 10 weeks, participants received funding from the John Dobson Foundation, engaged in weekly business development workshops, and worked toward milestones with the support of mentors and community partners.

“So every week there's a workshop along the lines of business development,” said MacKay. “We get guest speakers, community partners in to do some of the other ones, and then they are responsible for creating and hitting milestones.”

The program launched in 2021 and has since expanded from one to two cohorts per year due to increased external funding. 

“This is actually my biggest cohort,” MacKay noted. “We used to run it just once per year. Now, in the last two years, we’ve run two cohorts per year.”

“They apply with their business idea, and then it gets down to a selection panel, so we kind of go to the top 10. And then from there, the teams are interviewed, and we took six,” she explained.

The latest cohort features ventures from sectors ranging from artifical intelligene (AI) and agriculture to construction technology and wellness.

Tony Braxton Tchio Ngoumeza developed GreenShade, a smart agriculture platform that uses machine learning to help farmers make better decisions. The system provides tailored recommendations to improve crop yields and reduce inputs like water and fertilizer.

“The point of the project is sustainability,” he said, adding that he is already testing the technology in Lakehead’s community garden.

Conversaver, created by James McDonagh and Gia Hieu Le, is an AI-driven tool that summarizes spoken conversations and translates in more than 40 languages. Designed to prioritize privacy, the platform helps users retain key information without manual note-taking.

Mackenzie Smith’s Aurae & Company is a virtual yoga and mindfulness platform built on accessibility and self-care. The studio features calming, beach-themed visuals and offers guided meditations, movement practices, and reflective exercises accessible from anywhere.

Magdy Alani launched Teknu Solutions, a startup delivering AI-based tools for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Its first product focuses on optimizing early-stage building layouts to improve material efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, blending structural engineering with advanced algorithms.

Vivideye Concepts, founded by Rambert Shaw, produces cinematic video content for clients including realtors, event planners, and small business owners. Originally launched in Accra, Ghana, the business now operates from Thunder Bay, supported by a production team back home.

“We have a turnaround time of three business days,” said Shaw.

SkillJa, created by Vince Butrico and Michael Gagliardi, is a platform that connects athletes with verified coaches in more than 35 sports. It streamlines the booking process while giving coaches tools to showcase their services and grow their client base.

Although the formal program wraps up with a graduation event, the relationship doesn’t end there.

“We graduate the program today, but I continue to work with the students as long as they want to do that,” said MacKay.