Lakehead’s Start Up Fund Supports Indigenous Student Innovators
  

Ellen MacKay, MEd, RTTP
Director, Innovation Development
Lakehead University

 

Narjes Achach, PharmD, LLM
Intellectual Property Analyst, IRICoR (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer Commercialization of Research)
Chair Elect, AUTM EDI Committee

 

Indigenous communities around the world are key contributors to economic and social prosperity on regional and global levels. Many academic research institutions are implementing partnership programs to support projects, businesses and students within these communities.

At Lakehead University in Ontario, Canada, the Ingenuity business incubator has launched an Indigenous Start Up Fund to help student innovators from Indigenous backgrounds become part of the innovation ecosystem.

In recognition of November as National Native American Heritage Month in the US, Narjes Achach, chair elect of AUTM’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, spoke with Ellen MacKay, Director of Innovation Development at Lakehead, about the initiative.

Achach: What is the Ingenuity Indigenous Start Up Fund?

MacKay: Ingenuity's Indigenous Start Up Fund is a great opportunity for an entrepreneurially minded, Indigenous Lakehead University student to transition an idea into a business opportunity or accelerate the growth and development of an early-stage startup. The Ingenuity Indigenous Start Up Fund delivers startup support funding to a business idea for costs associated with business development. Along with the funding, Ingenuity provides mentorship and support to help move the business idea to the next stage.

Achach: What was the motivation for implementing this type of program?

MacKay: Lakehead University is committed to social justice, and one objective within the Lakehead University Strategic Plan (2023-2025) is to support Indigenous and other underrepresented groups. Lakehead University also respectfully acknowledges that both of its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples and is committed to a relationship with First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples based on the principles of mutual trust, respect, reciprocity and collaboration in the spirit of reconciliation.
This startup fund was a dream of Ingenuity’s since its doors opened in 2018. Supporting entrepreneurs is the main goal of Ingenuity, and working with Community Partners to support Indigenous entrepreneurs is one of its priorities. Lakehead’s External Relations team worked hard to secure a donor who wanted to help Indigenous students pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Awardees also receive business development support and mentorship from Ingenuity and its large group of community partners.

Achach: What are some of the challenges facing Indigenous entrepreneurs, and how is Lakehead addressing them?

MacKay: The unique challenges faced by Indigenous entrepreneurs in Canada include limited access to resources, funding, education/training, and community support. This lack of access significantly impacts the success of their businesses. Additionally, it is sometimes challenging for Indigenous entrepreneurs to stay true to their traditions, culture and customs, while learning to navigate a different ideological system in order to be successful.

In addition to the Start Up Fund, other strategies used by Lakehead and Ingenuity to support Indigenous entrepreneurs include partnering with Indigenous organizations to better understand the needs of the community, ensuring we have Indigenous representation on the Ingenuity Advisory Board, and offering Indigenous-specific skills training workshops and mentorship.
 
Achach: Can you share an outcome you are proud of? 

MacKay: In November 2021, Ingenuity put out a call for applicants to a $5000 Indigenous startup fund. The chosen recipient was Sabrina Slade, who was finishing her Master of Medical Science. Sabrina and her business partner created a web-based tool called Scout for recruitment of healthcare professionals in Northern Ontario. Currently the team is working with Ingenuity to get their app ready to launch, including marketing and promotion to raise awareness. Ingenuity will continue to work with the Scout team to commercialize their app and scale their business.

Achach: What are the next steps for Ingenuity Indigenous Start Up Fund?

MacKay: Funding is one of the main challenges facing entrepreneurs, and Ingenuity’s leadership hopes to continue to offer the Indigenous Start Up Fund to support Indigenous entrepreneurs as part of Lakehead’s commitment to culturally appropriate and environmentally sustainable social and economic objectives.