When it comes to entrepreneurship, second year StFX Schwartz School of Business student Isaac Hierlihy has a history of making an impact early.
Take his first venture—it came in Grade 9! That’s when the Quispamsis, NB native launched Dunkin Apparel, a clothing company with three friends. Now, in only his second year at StFX, he can already count on his resume being a co-founder of Impact X.
Helping bring that major event to life was a rewarding, impactful and exciting experience, bringing nearly 75 like-minded individuals, albeit from all different backgrounds, together to foster connection.
“Just seeing all the pieces come together, that will have a lasting impact,” says Mr. Hierlihy, who keeps busy with his business studies and as an entrepreneur himself.
In the last two years, he co-founded two start-up ventures: Athlete Aid, a health initiative for amateur sports teams, and Valley Pressure Washing (formed this past summer with two friends from his Quispamsis.)
Mr. Hierlihy co-founded Athlete Aid, a subscription-based app that helps triage and track injuries for minor sports athletes, with his friend Morgan MacKinnon, now a Saint Mary’s University student. He says they both grew up playing sports and saw a need: when injured, they didn’t have anyone like a therapist to help. The app, which they plan to launch in a pilot phase in September 2025, will provide triage information and will also track data on player health.
‘Entrepreneurship will be in my life 100 per cent.’
~ StFX student Isaac Hierlihy
Last year, Mr. Hierlihy and Mr. MacKinnon came in second place when they pitched the venture at the UNB Apex Business Plan Case Competition, and this past summer they furthered the project, participating in Collide Launch, a 12-week summer accelerator based at Dalhousie University for students committed to turning their ideas into businesses.
StFX entpreneurship professor Dr. Neil Maltby encouraged them to apply for this opportunity.
Mentorship like this is one of the benefits of attending StFX, Mr. Hierlihy says. There are tons of resources and passionate professors like Dr. Maltby, who want to see students succeed. Dr. Maltby meets regularly with Mr. Hierlihy. Dr. Maltby has also been involved with a group of students who’ve created the StFX Incubator, an initiative bringing student entrepreneurs together to connect, share ideas and resources.
Mr. Hierlihy says StFX provides much opportunity for budding entrepreneurs. It is home to DiscoverBox, led by Paula Brophy, which provides hands-on, participant-driven programs and offers funding opportunities. There are, of course, the academic entrepreneurship classes as well as extracurricular opportunities like case competitions that provide much practical experience.
In less than two years on campus, Mr. Hierlihy has made an impact. He was part of a team that won the university’s SBS Internal Case Competition, and he was twice part of the winning team at StFX’s International Business Case Competition, open to first and second year students.
With over two years to go until his StFX graduation he hasn’t decided yet on a future career direction, but he knows that entrepreneurship “will be in my life 100 per cent.”
