From tackling online scams to improving food security and creating inclusive campus services, a diverse group of student innovators at St. Francis Xavier University is turning ideas into action through the 2026 StFX Xaverian Innovation and Entrepreneurs Micro-Grant.
Delivered through the Coady Institute DiscoverBox, the program provides each participant with a $1,250 micro-grant alongside hands-on entrepreneurial training. Through weekly workshops, mentorship, and peer collaboration, students develop and test their ventures before presenting at a final pitch competition.
This year’s recipients: Lauren Harback, Shirley Prescott, Evan Wilson, and Paul Eades represent a wide range of academic disciplines, including business, environmental sciences, and social impact-focused fields. Their ventures reflect how entrepreneurship at StFX is shaped by lived experience, academic learning, and a shared commitment to solving real-world challenges.
Building a Safer Digital Canada
Lauren Harback – “Is this a Scam Canada”
Lauren Harback is developing Is this a Scam Canada, a web-based platform designed to help Canadians identify, report, and protect themselves against online fraud. Her initiative responds to a growing national issue, with Canadians losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually to scams, and many incidents going unreported. Her platform combines three key features in one place: instant verification of suspicious messages, accessible reporting tools, and educational resources to improve digital awareness. By offering both a free tool and a premium real-time protection service, her venture aims to make online safety more accessible while empowering users to take an active role in preventing fraud. Her work highlights the intersection of business, technology, and public safety.
Creating Inclusive Spaces on Campus
Shirley Prescott – “Fade X Flow Studio”
Shirley Prescott’s initiative, Fade X Flow Studio, addresses a critical gap in culturally appropriate services for students of African descent at StFX. After experiencing firsthand the challenges of finding hairstylists equipped to work with textured hair in Antigonish, she launched a pop-up salon model that brings skilled barbers and stylists to campus. Her research, including a campus-wide survey, confirmed strong demand, with many students currently forced to travel long distances or go without services. The initiative not only improves accessibility and student well-being but also creates opportunities for professional stylists and student entrepreneurs. Her work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, equity, and student experience, demonstrating how business solutions can directly address inclusion on campus.
Advancing Sustainable Food Systems
Evan Wilson – Sustainable Campus Greenhouse Initiative
Evan Wilson, a graduate student in Earth and Environmental Sciences, is developing a sustainable greenhouse and student-led food program at StFX. His initiative aims to address food insecurity and environmental sustainability by producing seedlings for campus and community gardens, while also generating revenue to fund student research. The project connects multiple disciplines like agriculture, environmental science, business, and community development and involves partnerships with local organizations and policymakers. Beyond food production, the greenhouse will serve as a hands-on learning space where students can engage in sustainable growing practices, marketing, and social enterprise. All food produced will support local organizations such as the Antigonish Community Food Bank and the Student Food Resource Centre, reinforcing a model rooted in community impact and reciprocity.
Strengthening Student-Led Fundraising
Paul Eades – “RALLY”
Paul Eades is developing RALLY, a digital platform that helps student organizations improve fundraising outcomes by increasing volunteer engagement and accountability. Inspired by his work with campus fundraising initiatives, his platform introduces features such as progress tracking, leaderboards, and task management to keep volunteers motivated and organized. The tool is designed to help student groups raise more funds while strengthening their internal coordination.
“Together, this cohort reflects the breadth of entrepreneurial thinking at StFX, spanning technology, social impact, sustainability, and community services. Their varied academic backgrounds demonstrate how innovation can emerge from any discipline, with each student applying their unique perspective to address meaningful challenges,” said Paula Brophy, Project Manager, Local Engagement with Coady Institute DiscoverBox.
“The Xaverian Micro-Grant is about more than funding, it’s about creating a space where students can experiment, learn, and grow as entrepreneurs,” she said. “This cohort is a great example of how students are taking their academic knowledge and lived experiences and turning them into ventures that have real potential to make a difference.”
As the program continues, participants will refine their ideas through workshops and mentorship before showcasing their ventures at the final pitch competition, highlighting the impact of student-driven innovation at StFX.
