University of Niagara Falls Canada students graduate from Niagara Falls Innovation Hub business-focused programs
Maimo Mary Mah didn’t have to look far for her business inspiration. She drew from her own experience.
Her venture, Reset Solutions Consulting, aims to help women in their 50s build confidence with everyday technology as more essential services move online.
“As someone who is in her 50s, I find it challenging to adapt to new technologies. I worry about pressing the wrong button and breaking something,” she said. “People, especially seniors, need to know how to bank, access health care, and navigate the digital world safely.”
A former journalist now completing a Master of Arts in Digital Media and Global Communications at the University of Niagara Falls Canada, Mah is embracing a digital mindset and hopes to help others do the same. To turn her idea into a viable business, she joined the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub (NFIH)’s Business Basics program, a cohort-based introduction to entrepreneurship that offers eight modules of foundational skills and personalized mentorship.
“I’ve met so many mentors, and their coaching helped me gain clarity and plan my next steps. I’m still doing market studies, but I’ve learned so much,” she said.
Mah was one of several UNF students who graduated last week from Business Basics, alongside peers completing the next program in the series, Investor Readiness - a five-month accelerator designed to prepare entrepreneurs for investment and sustainable growth. Through a partnership between the university and NFIH, both programs are open to students developing business ideas outside of their regular studies.
Master of Management student Gian Carlo Noa Donaire joined Business Basics to advance an idea he first developed in a User Experience Design class at UNF.
“At the end of the class, my professor said it was a good idea and ready to pitch,” he said.
The program helped him sharpen his market research, gain marketing insights, and refine the pitch for his family-focused app.
Fellow Master of Management student Maria Gonzalez Grullon said the program helped her move her idea to the next stage and now her business is ready for investors.
“I recommend the program to level up your idea and to network with other entrepreneurs,” she said, adding that the community she built was just as valuable as the skills she gained.
Small and medium-sized enterprises make up 98% of Canada’s economy, and supporting entrepreneurs is key to strengthening economic development in Niagara Falls. Through coaching, resources, and programs like Business Basics and Investor Readiness, NFIH works to empower Niagara entrepreneurs to build scalable businesses.
“There are so many people who have good ideas and good energy, but they don’t know what to do next,” said Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati. “Mentorship helps them channel that energy in the right direction so they can move forward.”
Speaking to graduates, he encouraged them to make the most of the opportunity and to grow their businesses right here in Niagara Falls.
NFIH CEO Dan Bordenave said it’s inspiring to see students choose entrepreneurship, noting that it contributes directly to Canada’s economic growth. As an entrepreneur himself, her understands how critical support and resources are in the early stages. He chose to keep his medical device company in Niagara Falls rather than relocating to larger markets like Toronto, Waterloo, or the United States because of the strong community support system.
“When you’re an entrepreneur living a very siloed lifestyle, that support means so much,” he said.
Through its partnership with UNF, NFIH reserves seats in its programs for interested students and connects them with established startups for real-world experience.
“I've never met such a motivated group of students that are so professional and diligent in their work,” Bordenave said.
As new graduates of Business Basics and Innovation Readiness, participants will receive a period of free NFIH membership, giving them continued access to resources and co-working spaces, exclusive networking opportunities, and ongoing coaching as they take their next steps as entrepreneurs.
