Eighth Ascend Accelerator Cohort Launches Businesses Focused on Wellness and Security
.jpeg "Ingenuity Graduates with manager, Alyson MacKay")
Graduates of the Ingenuity Ascend Accelerator program, Bohdan Krauze (L) and Kolamide Idowu (R) with Ingenuity Manager, Alyson MacKay (middle).
When creating the Rise + Bloom Counselling & Wellness Collective, Lakehead Orillia Master of Social Work students Kristin Dennis and Sarah Sallows were guided by the belief that meaningful, community-based connection is essential to how people make sense of their lives.
In its early stages of development, Kristin and Sarah’s new business will bring together mental health professionals with diverse training and lived experience, united by a shared commitment to strengthening connections to self, others, and community.
Rise + Bloom is one of four student-founded businesses advancing from concept to company following the students’ graduation from the Ascend Accelerator program on April 2.
The co-creators credit the 10-week Ascend program, delivered by Ingenuity, Lakehead’s business incubator, with helping clarify their vision for Rise + Bloom.
“We came in with an idea, and we’re leaving with something that feels more defined and truly aligned with who we are and what we want to build,” says Kristin.
From Individual Protection to Strategic Defence
Small, low-cost drones have become one of the deadliest modern threats to countries’ security due to their accessibility and precision strike capability. In response, Master of Science student Bohdan Krauze is developing an innovative counter-drone solution that detects and neutralizes threats in real time to reduce casualties in both civilian and military environments.
“I witnessed the devastating impact of war in Ukraine and kept asking myself whether there was anything I could do to help. That question became my motivation,” says Bohdan.
“Looking ahead, I aim to build and lead a company focused on creating hardware that strengthens defence capabilities and helps protect lives.”
Yet the idea of security doesn’t end at protecting airspace or infrastructure; it extends into the everyday realities of personal risk. For students, that increasingly means navigating and avoiding the growing threat of scams.
Fourth-year Lakehead Orillia computer science student Benjamin Noje is addressing that challenge with Campora, a verified, student-only marketplace that allows university students to buy, sell, and trade items safely. By limiting access to verified university emails, the platform eliminates scams and irrelevant listings while enabling fast, local exchanges with meeting spots right on campus. Free to use and community-driven, Campora also encourages students to save money and reduce waste through reuse.
Built on the belief that strong cybersecurity should not be out of reach, Master of Computer Science student Kolamide Idowu’s company Cybreon Consulting supports small and medium-sized organizations’ cybersecurity needs.
“Many of these organizations need strong cybersecurity support but often don’t have the resources for a full in-house security team,” Kolamide explains.
Through Cybreon, Kolamide offers a unique and comprehensive suite of services for customers, including risk assessments, cloud security architecture, threat detection, and regulatory compliance.
“I’ve always been passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems, and Cybreon was inspired by my desire to help businesses build safer, more resilient digital systems,” he says.
Nurturing Entrepreneurs and Strengthening Regional Economies
Through the Ascend Accelerator program, Ingenuity supports student entrepreneurs with funding from the John Dobson Foundation, access to expert mentors, and weekly workshops to develop their businesses.
The four graduating teams were held accountable for reaching milestone goals designed to support their path to launch.
“As we celebrate another Ascend graduation, I want to thank each of the teams for their dedication, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit over the past 10 weeks,” says Ingenuity Manager Alyson MacKay.
“This cohort brought an exceptional level of energy and collaboration, and their ventures reflect not only innovative thinking, but a strong commitment to creating meaningful impact within our communities.”
For more about Ingenuity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/centre/ingenuity.
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.
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.