Pictured are (back row, left to right) Magdy Alanani, Ingenuity manager Alyson MacKay, Tony Braxton Tchio Ngoumeza, and Rambert Shaw, and (front row, left to right) Gia Hieu Le and James McDonagh.

By: Melissa Burton

Six student-founded ventures graduated from innovative ideas to tangible businesses at Thursday’s Ascend Accelerator program graduation hosted by Ingenuity, Lakehead’s business incubator.

“This group brought a remarkable level of energy, and their business ideas showcased an exciting variety of perspectives and innovation,” says Ingenuity manager Alyson MacKay, who was thrilled to see the diversity in this year’s businesses, ranging from precision agriculture to AI-powered audio summarization to an online yoga studio.

“As we wrap up another dynamic cohort of the Ascend program, I want to extend my sincere appreciation to each of the teams for their commitment and drive,” she says. “I also want to express my deep gratitude to the mentors and community partners whose guidance and support continue to play a vital role in the success of this program."

Privacy is the priority of James McDonagh (HBSc’25, BSc’25) and Gia Hieu Le’s (HBSc’25) new venture, Conversaver. Their AI-powered audio summarization tool delivers customizable summaries of conversations using strict data protection measures.

James, a second-time Ascend participant and recent Lakehead computer science and mathematics graduate, says the program is an incredible catalyst of growth and learning. “For any aspiring entrepreneur, it’s an experience that gives you the skills, confidence, and support to truly turn your vision into reality. The mentorship and workshops were invaluable, but what really stood out was Alyson MacKay’s unwavering support and commitment to helping founders succeed.”

Vivideye Concepts is another of the new student-led business ventures supported by Ascend. Launched by Rambert Shaw (MSc’25), Vivideye produces cinematic, story-driven videos that elevate brands, capture attention, and drive results with a turnaround time of only three business days.

Tony Braxton Tchio Ngoumeza, a software engineering student, is the founder of GreenShade, a precision agriculture system that leverages machine learning to optimize farming practices. By integrating data-driven analysis and predictive modeling, GreenShade is poised to help farmers maximize yield, improve resource efficiency, and identify the most suitable crops for their specific environment and climate.

Concurrent Education student, Mackenzie Smith started the online yoga studio, Aurae & Company, to blend mindfulness and self-care with accessibility. With a flexible, “practice anywhere” ethos, Aurae invites users to reconnect with themselves and move with intention -  no matter where they are.

Created by fourth-year mechanical engineering student Vince Butrico and teacher-turned developer Michael Gagliardil, SkillJa provides a unified space to bring together athletes and coaches. Built by athletes for athletes, SkillJa helps athletes find trusted coaches across 35+ sports, while coaches can showcase their expertise, manage bookings, and grow their business.

Magdy Alanani’s (PhD’24) Teknu Solutions is a research-driven startup providing advanced engineering solutions for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) sector. This company integrates structural engineering expertise with AI and optimization algorithms to streamline and enhance building design. By improving material efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and accelerating early-stage design decisions, Teknu Solutions builds the foundation for smarter, more sustainable structural design.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation congratulated the graduates.

“The graduation of our seventh Ingenuity Ascend cohort is a testament to the incredible entrepreneurial spirit thriving at Lakehead University,” he says. “Over the past 10 weeks, our graduating students have embraced the opportunities and challenges of turning their ideas into market-ready businesses.”

“Their innovative solutions have addressed gaps in the market, and I'm confident these diverse ventures will contribute to our region's economic growth.”

The ventures accepted to this year’s 10-week program received funding from the John Dobson Foundation, mentorship, and weekly workshops to develop their businesses. The teams were held accountable for reaching milestone goals as they progressed on their entrepreneurial journeys.

For more about Ingenuity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/centre/ingenuity.

February 22, 2024 – Orillia, Ont.

The spotlight will be on research, innovation and collaboration during Lakehead University’s 19^th annual Research and Innovation Week, March 5 to 7, at the Orillia campus.

A venue for researchers to showcase their activity and expertise, Research & Innovation Week highlights the profound impact Lakehead faculty, graduate and undergraduate students have on our community and beyond through advancement of new perspectives and innovations.

“Research and Innovation Week is designed to elevate awareness of the university’s world-class research activity and expertise, create opportunities for collaboration, and recognize exceptional achievements,” explained Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation. “Through research and scholarly activity, we can improve every aspect of society.”

Various events are happening throughout the week including guest speakers, interactive exhibits and display, and research showcases.

On Tuesday, March 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. (as part of SDG Week Canada), Lakehead will host The Climate Baby Dilemma, a film screening and research panel hosted by Dr. Ellen Field, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education, Dr. Helle Møller, Associate Professor in the Department of Health Sciences, and Sidney Howlett, Master of Education student, that will discuss the emotional dimensions of climate change and climate justice. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/815837581167.

On Wednesday, March 6 at 1 p.m. in OA 2019, undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Sustainability Sciences will host It’s a Mossy World, a practical workshop and research showcase on bryophytes – true mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

That afternoon from 4 to 6 p.m., join us for an industry panel to discuss leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to support your business and drive success. This session is presented in partnership with the County of Simcoe, City of Barrie, City of Orillia, and Georgian College. Register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/811687177197.

And, on Thursday, March 7, students from the Media, Film and Communications program will present their annual showcase, Sandbox. From posters and multimedia to big-screen films, join us from 4 to 7 p.m. in Simcoe Hall.

Other highlights include faculty and student research poster presentations. The full schedule can be found at www.lakeheadu.ca/ri.

Events are free and open to the public. Registration is not required unless mentioned above. All events take place at the Lakehead Orillia campus at 500 University Ave. in Orillia.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

A graduating business class taught by Dr. Herman van den Berg at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus recently conducted a business study for Orser Technical Services of Orillia. Orser General Manager Ray Gammon and President Tony Telford (seated l – r) attended the final class in April to receive the students’ final reports and presentations.

May 15, 2014 – Orillia, ON

The final class for a group of Lakehead business students last month was not your average end-of-term get-together.  For the ten students who were completing their business degrees, they spent their last class making strategic business recommendations to the senior management team of Orser Technical Services, based in Orillia.

The capstone assignment was part two of a fourth-year Strategy Management course taught by associate professor of business, Dr. Herman van den Berg.

“This was the students’ opportunity to apply all that they had studied over the course of the program,” explained van den Berg. Students were required to analyze an existing organization and to submit a detailed report of their findings, analyses, and recommendations for the future. “I think it’s important to do this in a real world situation, rather than through a case study,” added van den Berg.

The students agreed. 

“This was the most hands-on, practical experience we’ve had,” said student Andrew Palubiskie. “What made it interesting was the fact that it was a smaller business with restricted resources. Our textbook learning was primarily focused on larger corporations.”

“Being able to talk to a CEO was great,” added Brandon MacDonald. “It made it personal and we found out that these business leaders are just like us.”

Orser Technical Services president Tony Telford, along with general manager Ray Gammon, quickly agreed to be part of the project when approached by van den Berg.  “We support the University and understand its value in our community,” said Telford. “As a member of the community, we are committed to helping build the synergy between the school and the business community – this is how we pay back.”

Both Telford and Gammon were impressed with the students’ presentations and recommendations.

“I was surprised at the parallel visions between the students and ourselves,” said Telford. “They were very observant and intuitive; some of their recommendations were things we’ve also discussed and have considered implementing.  “We definitely have takeaways from each group,” added Gammon.

For student Cindy Karikari, the project brought her studies into focus. “It showed us what was really important in this degree and what is most useful to apply; and a great preparation for the real world.”

Lindsay Lewis said it was interesting to find that their textbook analysis had so many similarities to a real management team. “We were really on the same page,” she said. “It’s cool to see that our academic backgrounds are in line with where this company was at in terms of challenges and solutions.”

The value that the project brought to the students was what was most exciting to Telford. “The student reports, with their fresh perspectives, will be beneficial to our business, but we hope that what the students gain from the exercise will surpass what we get. Ultimately, it’s a win-win situation.” “That’s the intention,” added van den Berg.

The students will graduate with their Honours Bachelor of Commerce (HBComm), or in the case of transfer students, a Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) degree at the University’s convocation ceremony this June.

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