Scale Beyond Limits
A Growth Accelerator Program
Grow your revenue, expand into new markets, and scale a company you’ve already validated, through expert mentorship and hands-on learning modules
Unlock Your Growth Potential with the Elevate Program
The Elevate Program is a commercialization and growth accelerator for technology companies that are past the building stage and ready to scale. Founders entering Elevate already have a validated product and early traction, and are now focused on growing revenue, acquiring customers, and expanding into new markets. Powered by the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, the City of Niagara Falls, and Niagara Region Economic Development, the program combines expert mentorship, weekly one-on-one coaching, and focused learning modules to help you commercialize, grow, and prepare for investment.
Built for What Comes After the Startup Phase
Elevate is designed for companies that have:
- A minimum viable product or commercial product already in market
- Customer validation or active pilots
- Early revenue or commercialization progress
- The ambition to scale well beyond the startup phase
Who Is It For?
For revenue-ready companies focused on:
- Commercialization & revenue growth
- Customer acquisition and market expansion
- Scaling and preparing for investment
- Investment readiness
- Strategic growth support
- Expert coaching and mentorship
What You’ll Learn
Identify Your Growth Levers
Pinpoint where revenue, retention, and expansion will come from, and build a plan to capture them.
SHARPEN PRODUCT-MARKET FIT
Refine and validate your commercial product against real customer demand.
CUSTOMER ACQUISITION & REVENUE GROWTH
Build repeatable sales and customer acquisition, and test pricing that drives revenue.
FINANCIALS & SCALE
Strengthen your financial model, understand unit economics, and prepare for investment.
How It Works
Tailored Coaching
Weekly one-on-one coaching with experienced advisors matched to your business.
Actionable Workshops
Hands-on modules covering problem validation, market strategy, sales, financials, and growth.
Exclusive Resources
Access co-working spaces, makerspaces, and state-of-the-art content creation facilities.
Networking & Collaboration
Engage with a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and mentors.
Outcome-Driven Milestones
Validate demand, build your MVP, generate early revenue, and hit real traction milestones.
What Awaits You as an Alumni?
Graduates of the Elevate Program gain:
- Twelve Months of Free Membership: Access to the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub's co-working spaces and amenities.
- Alumni Perks: Discounts on services like cloud credits, marketing campaigns, and private office spaces.
- Growth Opportunities: Explore financing avenues and new partnerships to help commercialize and scale.
- Special Projects: Collaborate with master's students on data analytics, marketing, and business growth plans.
- Exclusive Networking: Continued engagement with a thriving community of alumni and industry mentors.
Program Benefits
Expert
Guidance
Weekly coaching with seasoned industry leaders invested in your success and growth.
Learning
Modules
Hands-on modules covering commercialization, sales, customer acquisition, financials, and scaling.
Networking
Opportunities
Connect with growth-stage founders, mentors, and industry leaders.
Exclusive
Resources
Meet Our Experts-in-Residence
The Elevate Program is backed by an exceptional team of coaches and mentors, each offering extensive experience across industries to help you refine your strategy, overcome barriers to growth, and scale your business.
Laurent Balenci
Expert-in-ResidenceA healthcare business development executive with 15+ years of experience in R&D, product development, and operations. Laurent specializes in commercializing cutting-edge technologies.
Melanie Sodka
Expert-in-ResidenceA renowned founder, speaker, and Niagara College business professor. Melanie focuses on capacity-building, productivity optimization, and empowering teams to succeed.
Enmanuel Rumbos
Expert-in-ResidenceAs COO at Krinner Schraubfundamente GmbH, Enmanuel drives sustainable growth and excels in challenging business turnarounds.
Lisa Vanderlip
Expert-in-ResidenceA seasoned technology leader and transformation strategist, Lisa focuses on AI-driven innovation, process optimization, and empowering organizations to scale efficiently.
Raymond Simmons
Expert-in-ResidenceAn experienced executive with expertise in strategic management and lean manufacturing, Raymond has led operations globally with a strong focus on workforce development.
Additional Expertise
In addition to our core team, the Elevate Program provides access to a network of specialized professionals, each bringing unique expertise tailored to the specific needs of your business.
Dan Bordenave
CEO
CEO of the Niagara Falls Innovation Hub, Dan cultivates growth, partnerships, and resources to drive entrepreneurial success.
Dave D'Angelo
Expert in Residence
Lead Business Coach and founder of Trivium Industries, David is a proven innovator and expert in eco-friendly manufacturing.
Lou Vescio
Expert in Residence
Ecosystem and Community Advisor specializing in team dynamics and transformational growth strategies.
Marina Radovanovic
Program Coordinator
With a background in Product Management, Academia, and Entrepreneurship, she tailors each program to support and empower emerging startups.
Fred Davies
Expert in Residence
Strategic Advisor fostering team synergy and driving impactful growth through innovative leadership strategies.
Ready to Elevate Your Business?
Apply now to grow revenue, expand your customer base, and scale your business. We accept applications on a rolling basis, and spots are limited.
