Ignition Program
The Ignition Program offers post-secondary students a 10-week program that gives access to training, mentorship, resources, ecosystem connections; and honorariums to support personal and business development.
Registration for the fall is now open!


What to expect
Participants are trained in essential transferrable skills such as goal setting, design thinking, networking, pitching and more, ensuring they will understand the value of those complementary soft skills as they develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
Training and Mentorship
Students will receive access to training sessions that cover a range of essential transferable skills. These skills include goal setting, design thinking, networking, pitching and more. The program aims to equip students with a well-rounded skill set that goes beyond academic knowledge, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset.
Connections
Students will have the opportunity to connect with mentors, industry leaders and fellow students from different educational institutions.
Coaching and Consulting
The Ignition Program provides a support system through coaching and consulting sessions. Participants can meet with experts to receive guidance, assistance and accountability for achieving their personal goals or transforming their ideas into reality.
Resources
The program offers access to a range of professional and entrepreneurial resources. This access can be crucial for participants as they navigate their entrepreneurial journey, providing them with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed.
Honorarium
Participants can earn $20 per session for their attendance and focus.
Eligiility
This program is open to students who are enrolled in a post-secondary Canadian institution.
Schedule
Sept 16, 2024 | Introduction to Entrepreneurship |
Sept 18 | E-commerce and Online Retail |
Sept 23 | Financial Literacy for Entrepreneurs |
Sept 25 | Design Thinking |
Oct 2 | Digital Marketing Strategies |
Oct 7 | Networking and Relationship Building |
Oct 11 | TBD |
Oct 16 | Leadership and Team Management |
Oct 21 | Social Impact and Sustainability |
Oct 23 | Introduction to Cloud Tech |
Oct 28 | Intellectual Property Rights |
Oct 30 | Market Analysis and Competitive Intelligence |
Nov 4 | Crisis Management and Resilience |
Nov 6 | Scaling and Growth Strategies |
Nov 18 | Personal Branding and Professional Development |
Nov 20 | Effective Communication Styles |
Nov 25 | Innovation and Disruption |
NOv 27 | How to Pitch: Strategies & Best Practices |
Dec 2 | Validating Your Business Idea Using Technology Including AI |
Dec 4 | Black Entrepreneurship Resources: Business Development |
From our students
“Being a part of the Ignition program was truly a transformative experience. Over this incredible program, I gained invaluable access to a wealth of training, resources, and opportunities that have propelled me toward success. Being able to be an active participant and engage with the speakers and my fellow participants not only provided me with guidance but also inspired me to push my boundaries and pursue my aspirations with confidence. I would say that Ignition is more than just a program; it is a supportive community of mentors and peers that foster growth, innovation, and collaboration. I am grateful for the mentorship, support, and opportunities that this program has provided me, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”
—Mariah Mulla, Saint Mary’s University

“The Ignition program has been so informative and eye-opening! I admittedly did not know a lot coming into the session, but my expectations were exceeded. The speakers have all been dynamic and always answer any questions that we may have, happily providing more insights. Need to know about Digital Marketing or how AI can help you run your business? Ignitions got you! The Ignition program expands on pressing subject matters that every entrepreneur should know while forming the foundation for success. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to start a business or who just wants to expand their knowledge on diverse topics.”
—Augustina Tucker, Saint Mary’s University

From our instructors
“I had the pleasure of hosting a session for the Ignition program with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and it was such a remarkable experience. We had around 70 students join in, and they were very engaged with the session and the topic, it truly shows the value of mentorship, connections and real-world experience for post-secondary students. We all learned something new that day”.
—Mary Navas, Founder & CEO of MACAW Marketing Events and Ignition Speaker

PAST INSTRUCTORS
The Ignition Program brings the best of local and international entrepreneurs who have years of experience navigating the entrepreneurial world and remain passionate about sharing it with students:

Canberk Bal
CEO & Founder Haligone

Mohammed Issa BComm’16

Meredith Drost BComm’19 MTEI’23
Manager, Business Design at Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre

Lopsii Olagoke
Founder of Ooreva Software & Technology Inc.

Mary Navas BComm’20
CEO & Founder Macaw Marketing

Solmaz Ziaabadimiya MTEI’23

Ritika Saraswat
Founder of Redefined

Zahra Qureshi
Executive Director Social Venture Circuit

Omena Babalola MBA’92

Tia Upshaw

Aymen Dewji

Lopsii Olagoke
Founder of Ooreva Software & Technology Inc.

Adam Khamis BComm’21

Areeb Khawaja

JulieAnne Dayrit
Founder and CEO of Herbiome Skincare

Quinn Cavanagh
Founder of RFINE Biomass Solutions

Saeed El Darahali BSc’02 MBA’04
SimplyCast

Keisha Turner BA’12
Starberry Drink Co. / Akwekon Enterprises Inc.

Evan VanderMeer
Indigenous Entrepreneurship Coordinator / MycoNutrients

Dianna Rievaj
Highlander Law Group

Stephanie Holmes-Winton
CacheFlo

Andreas Robinson
Social Impact Entrepreneur / Infinitus Academy Inc.

Tia Upshaw
BWIE / Femme Noir Business Consulting

Shubhra Singh MTEI’23
EmployNXT

Dr. Darren Burke
Future Foods

Bisola Ogamba
Ventrure for Canada

Jennifer Montgomery
Blue Door Group / 40 Cups of Coffee

Stephanie Clark
Blue Door Group / 40 Cups of Coffee

Nevell Provo
R&B Kitchen/Smooth Meal Prep

Leah Skerry
SquigglePark

Sehmat Suri BComm’19 BA’19
Founder of POCketbook

Tiffani Young
Natural Butter Bar

Sunil Sarwal
The Small Monsters

Ossama Nasrallah BComm’18 MBA’22
The Harbour Watercraft and Adventure Tours

Micah Brown BA’13
BATLX/ Halifax Harbour Hawks

Jason Buchanan
Premiere Van Lines

Mel Holmes
SpaceX

Sahil Ahuja
Volta
Sponsored by

Partner Institutions
Partners at Saint Mary’s University, NSCAD University, Mount Saint Vincent University, Nova Scotia Community College, University of King’s College and the Atlantic School of Theology provide opportunities for people to connect and then nurture those connections as ideas become reality.





