From Lab to National Stage: PhD Student Jenny Alabi Champions Sustainable Innovation

(April 30, 2026) — Laurentian University is proud to feature Jenny Tola Alabi, a first-year PhD student in Engineering Science from Sudbury, Ontario, whose innovative startup, Green Subsidiaries, is making waves on both the local and national stage. Following a first-place victory at Laurentian’s 2026 Be Your Own Boss (BYOB) Pitch Competition, Alabi recently represented the University at the national Arena Pitch Competition, showcasing the strength of Northern Ontario’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Alabi’s venture rethink’s waste management by converting organic waste into electricity using AI-optimized biodigesters. “Waste should not be treated as a cost, but as a resource,” says Alabi. “Our system allows us to not only reduce waste but also generate usable energy and create economic value. It is a business with the potential to operate at scale and contribute to energy production in a meaningful way.”

The transition from a campus-based competition to a national arena provided Alabi with a unique platform to test her vision against the top student minds in the country. Reflecting on the experience, Alabi noted that the biggest lesson learned was the power of communication. “You can have a highly technical idea or complex idea, but if it is not communicated clearly, it will not resonate. The experience reinforced the importance of being able to simplify without losing depth, and to communicate with confidence and purpose.”

Alabi credits much of her growth to the support found at The Foundry, Laurentian’s innovation hub. Working closely with staff to refine her technical concepts into a compelling business case was instrumental in her success. “The Foundry provided a space to test ideas, receive feedback, and continuously improve. It allowed me to move from a technical concept to a well-structured business idea.”

As Green Subsidiaries moves toward pilot deployment and real-world validation, Alabi’s journey stands as a testament to the impact of experiential learning at Laurentian. Her advice to fellow students with a "big idea"? “Start before you feel ready. Each experience builds confidence and leads to opportunities you did not expect. Over time, those small steps create momentum, and that momentum can lead to opportunities you did not expect.”