Business at Lakehead Orillia

03/10/2025

03/25/2024

Apply for the Ingenuity Ascend Accelerator Program: Fuel your entrepreneurial journey!!

Ingenuity is Lakehead University's business incubator. We offer space and resources for students who are looking to start a business or develop their idea. Along with providing space for budding entrepreneurs Ingenuity also offers a learning environment to help develop knowledge and skills that help support business development and growth.

About the Ingenuity Accelerator program: Ingenuity Ascend Accelerator program is a great opportunity for entrepreneurial minded Lakehead University students and alumni looking to transition an idea into a business opportunity or accelerate the growth and development of their early stage start-up. The Ingenuity Accelerator program will accept up to 4 business ideas per cohort and deliver up to $5000 per business idea for costs associated with business development.

Key Dates:

Applications close April 14

Interviews week of April 22

Program starts May 6-July 12

Applications are online here

What to expect (what participants should be ready for) Ingenuity Ascend participants can expect the following daily activities:

Throughout the 10-week program, early-stage companies will have the opportunity to:
Participate in networking events
Attend business development workshop sessions
Connect with entrepreneurial mentors
Participate in milestone meetings with Ingenuity staff to review progress and set upcoming month milestone goals.
Access up to $5000 per team to help fund business development activities (some restrictions apply)

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Have at least one founder connected to Lakehead University (Student or Alumni up to 3 years post graduation)
Must be willing to commit to the program
Must have decision-making ability
Must participate in all Ingenuity Ascend events, workshops and competitions throughout the program duration (available in online format for Orillia participants)
Must be eligible and meet the requirements of starting and running a business in Canada

FAQ’s
Q. Does it cost anything to join the program?
A. There is no cost for this program. This program is completely free for all current students and recent graduates from Lakehead University.
Q. Do I need to have my business running to join?
A. No, we encourage applications from all stages of business development including the idea stage.
Q. What is the time commitment like?
A. Ingenuity requires one milestone meeting per week (up to an hour) as well as there will be workshops throughout the 10 week program. Ingenuity will work with the participants to schedule workshops and meetings at mutually agreed upon times. It is understood the participants may be in classes or working and Ingenuity will work with them to find the best suited times.
Q. Is Ingenuity only for business students?
A. No, we serve students from all disciplines.
Q. Does Ingenuity take any equity or royalties of my company if I use their services?
A. Ingenuity does not take any equity or royalties of any kind.
Q. Who can I contact for questions?
A. For all general inquiries, please email [email protected]

Funding restrictions:
The Ingenuity Ascend program will cover some costs associated with business development and will disperse funds based on a milestone delivery plan. Some costs that are not eligible for this program include rent, labour and wages, and large inventory purchase. All spending will need to be approved through the program coordinator prior to purchase to ensure it is eligible.

10/01/2023

Free Workshop in Innisfil, October 5!😀

10/17/2022

Join us for an amazing line-up of speakers at CCSBE 2022, Hosted by Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University!

Visit the conference website: https://www.ccsbe.org/ccsbe-conference/
For more information and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dr. Yuanyuan Wu, [email protected] 😀

The Canadian Council for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (CCSBE-CCPME) is part of a global network of leaders dedicated to the advancement and development of small business and entrepreneurship. CCSBE’s annual conference serves as an internationally-recognized convening platform for thought leaders in entrepreneurship research, education, and practice.

11/16/2021

NOV17 -Northern Policy Institute's Virtual Student Info Session
See below.
Looking for a co-op placement, a summer job, or that first position after graduation?
Northern Policy Institute (NPI) has multiple opportunities for communications, marketing, business administration, office administration, finance, political science, public administration, economics, and law students.
NOVEMBER 17 12 – 1 PM EST
RegisterLink: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../northern-policy-institutes...
But don’t self-select!
NPI has hired librarians, historians, community developers, planners, and geographers. If you are in the social sciences and interested in not for profits or public policy, you may be a fit with us.
Come to NPI’s free virtual information session and learn about the many regions and communities in Northern Ontario. Be informed about our competitive salary and benefits packages. Find out how to apply. We can even point you to former interns and coop placements so you can ask them about their time with NPI.
Plus, get a sneak peek at our upcoming summer placement opportunities.
Want to learn more about working and learning at NPI?
Visit our website at: northernpolicy.ca/careers
We would like to thank RBC Foundation, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the SM Blair Foundation, and the Canada Summer Jobs Program (a program of the Government of Canada - Employment and Social Development Canada) for their support of our Experience North program. Without this generous support, we would not be able to offer these unique opportunities for youth in Northern Ontario.

Northern Ontario internship north growth youth job growth

10/18/2021

BDC Small Business Week 2021 Oct 18-23 - Free Events (online)
Register here:

BDC virtual events Free events and webinars you can attend from anywhere. BDC events Check out our events to discover the best of what Small Business Week has to offer. OCTOBER 18 - 12:00 PM EDT A (better) way forward: Canada’s Changing Business Landscape Join Isabelle Hudon, BDC’s first woman P...

09/28/2021

FOBA Speakers Series: Canadian Findings on The Future of Work
oin Lakehead University Faculty of Business Administration

for the first event of the 2021/22 Speakers Series

This is a free event open to all

Please share with your networks

Registration link: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvdequrDovEtRRRlk83XXxmbtWsfXI6Zld

08/21/2020

Lakehead University has developed a relationship with Magnet https://swpp.magnet.today/, a delivery partner for the federal SWPP (Student Worker Placement Program).

Magnet is providing dedicated funding for employers to hire Lakehead University students into positions related to their field of study, either part time or full time.

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) at Lakehead has reserved 60 wage rebates for Faculty of Business students and additional rebates have been reserved by the Lakehead’s Office of Co-operative Education.

Employers are eligible for a rebate of 75% of wages, up to $7,500. The funding can be applied retroactively to student positions from this past summer or for positions starting this fall.

For non-profit organizations, WIL at Lakehead has some funds available that could be used to support the non-profit’s 25% contribution student wages.

For more information, or support with SWPP applications and hiring processes, please contact MaryAnn Kleynendorst at [email protected].

07/29/2020

New options to help you become "workplace ready"!

06/29/2020

2019 Business graduate, Ben Leatherdale, discusses his experience at Lakehead Orillia.

Hey guys, this is my first podcast featuring Benjamin Leatherdale a recent graduate from Lakehead University with Honours in Bachelors of Commerce Honouring ...

02/21/2020

TD Insurance Challenge. Application deadline: March 1, 2020.

Contest is open to post-secondary students and alumni who graduated within the last two years from a university or college.

Help TD Insurance improve its positive impact on society and enrich the lives of its customers, communities and colleagues.

09/26/2019

Free one-day student seminar with presentations from leading policy experts, Q&A, and informal discussions. Lunch is included. Saturday October 26, 2019, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm, at the Chestnut Centre, Toronto.

Free one-day student seminar with presentations from leading policy experts, Q&A, and informal discussions. Lunch is included.