{"id":22770,"date":"2025-09-08T10:06:57","date_gmt":"2025-09-08T14:06:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/?p=22770"},"modified":"2025-11-25T12:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T17:05:14","slug":"glendons-genial-initiative-helps-former-student-focus-his-passion-for-the-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/2025\/09\/08\/glendons-genial-initiative-helps-former-student-focus-his-passion-for-the-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Glendon\u2019s GENIAL Initiative helps former student focus his passion for the game"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n

La version fran\u00e7aise suit la version anglaise.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Semi-pro player, trainer, coach and York University, Glendon Campus alumnus now runs his own soccer academy for young players thanks to the GENIAL entrepreneurial incubator<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nolan Karuta knows what it takes to be successful in soccer and it\u2019s more than fundamental skills, footwork and passing. It\u2019s about having the right mindset coupled with a passion for the game. The same can be said for the entrepreneurial game of business.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Semi-professional soccer player Nolan Karuta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Karuta, a 2023 York University Glendon Campus graduate with a bilingual degree in business economics, is not short on passion. \u201cI played soccer my whole life and stopped for a couple of years,\u201d he says. \u201cI came back to it when I went to York University because they were known as the best soccer program in Canada. I played and trained with them and played semi-pro for about seven years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He wasn\u2019t just passionate about playing soccer, he had an entrepreneurial spirit and an abundance of ideas for businesses, from preventing package theft at front doors to print-on-demand. \u201cI was always kind of entrepreneurially minded. I was always ready to take a leap of faith,\u201d says Karuta.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nolan Karuta training young players<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

But discovering which business venture best suited his unique set of skills, strengths and connections came after graduation when he joined the entrepreneurial incubator of the Glendon ENtrepreneuriat et Innovation A L\u2019international (GENIAL<\/a>) Initiative at the suggestion of Glendon Associate Professor Angelo Dossou-Yovo<\/a>. Through GENIAL, Karuta was able to focus his passion. \u201cI think it's a great program, something that's really unique,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dossou-Yovo, the management and entrepreneurship professor who developed the initiative in 2017, agrees. \u201cIt\u2019s the only business incubator in Ontario that I\u2019m aware of that focuses on the process of discovering business opportunities. In addition, we offer a bilingual program, both French and English, and that makes us different. We don\u2019t just have participants develop a business model. At the outset, you really need to make sure you're starting the right business because there is no point developing a business model for a venture that would not gain any market traction or end up not surviving within one to three years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Associate Professor Angelo Dossou-Yovo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Through the process, Karuta soon realized what was there all along \u2013 a business that drew from his extensive knowledge, experience and skills at playing, teaching and coaching soccer. That was what first sparked the idea for Karuta Futbol Academy<\/a> to train young players in both English and French by focussing on technical fundamentals and defensive intelligence, a skill set he says is often overlooked in grassroots Canadian soccer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt seems natural in hindsight, but it took some time to realize it. I had a strong football (soccer) network, was a trainee, and coached and played with an ex-Arsenal player towards the end of my career. I thought, I can do this. Without the GENIAL Initiative I don\u2019t think I would have had the same confidence. It helps develop resiliency and provide a support system,\u201d says Karuta. With more than a decade of coaching experience, he continues to be asked by pro players to help coach, such as at FC Bayern M\u00fcnich\u2019s summer football (soccer) camps. He traveled with them for four weeks and underwent coaching from their philosophy under the Bayern world squad head coach Christopher Loch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also an annual Student Entrepreneurship Competition<\/a> where students can pitch their ideas, learn how to communicate the value of their business to potential partners and hopefully attract seed funding to launch and scale their business. Karuta took second place in the competition last year and won the public choice award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s competition was held on Oct. 2 and presented by Glendon GENIAL and Desjardins Financial Group, which has donated to this initiative and a second initiative, YSpace\u2019s ELLA<\/a> for women entrepreneurs, to expand both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That gift helped not only with infrastructure needs for the GENIAL incubator and its Entrepreneurial Skills Passport program (ESP), but also resources for the experiential education component of the courses, specifically in social enterprise design, as well as the entrepreneurship project course. In addition, it allowed more modules to be added to the ESP program and provides seed funding to the student entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future vision for the Karuta Futbol Academy is to expand and have a non-profit affiliation to hold community pick-up events, drop-in clinics and have a more affordable price point for high level training. Karuta aims to have multiple hubs (North York, York Region, Durham, downtown Toronto) as part of a franchise model by 2026\u20132027.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nolan Karuta training young players as part of his Karuta <\/a>Futbol Academy<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Karuta continues to refer to what he learned through GENIAL to grow his academy training an increasing number of players ages 10 to 16. Beyond the skill level, Karuta is looking to see if the young players are teachable. \u201cCan I develop a love of the game and help them be a better person?\u201d That is most important. The rest of it, he says he can train. In fact, he loves working with some of the more challenging kids and helping them develop, not just their footwork, but as well-rounded athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith the youngest players, it\u2019s more about developing skills, but as they get older, that changes and it becomes more about mindset and game IQ. You need the right mindset to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L\u2019initiative GENIAL de Glendon aide un dipl\u00f4m\u00e9 \u00e0 canaliser sa passion pour le sport<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Ancien joueur semi-professionnel, un dipl\u00f4m\u00e9 du campus Glendon de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 York devenu entra\u00eeneur dirige aujourd\u2019hui une acad\u00e9mie de soccer pour jeunes joueurs gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 l\u2019incubateur d\u2019entreprises GENIAL. <\/em><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nolan Karuta sait que le succ\u00e8s au soccer ne se r\u00e9sume pas aux comp\u00e9tences fondamentales, au jeu de jambes et aux passes. Il faut \u00e9galement \u00eatre dot\u00e9 du bon \u00e9tat d\u2019esprit et \u00eatre passionn\u00e9 par ce sport. Il en va de m\u00eame pour le monde des affaires.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Semi-professional soccer player Nolan Karuta<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nolan, qui a obtenu en 2023 un dipl\u00f4me bilingue en \u00e9conomie et commerce au campus Glendon de l\u2019Universit\u00e9 York, ne manque pas de passion. \u00ab\u2009J\u2019ai jou\u00e9 au soccer toute ma vie en m\u2019arr\u00eatant seulement pendant quelques ann\u00e9es, explique-t-il. Je m\u2019y suis remis lorsque je suis arriv\u00e9 \u00e0 l\u2019Universit\u00e9 York, qui avait la r\u00e9putation d\u2019avoir le meilleur programme de soccer au Canada. Je me suis entra\u00een\u00e9 et j\u2019ai jou\u00e9 en semi-professionnel pendant environ sept ans.\u2009\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sa passion pour le soccer s\u2019ajoutait \u00e0 un fort esprit d\u2019entreprise. Nolan avait en effet en t\u00eate de nombreux concepts d\u2019entreprises comme la pr\u00e9vention du vol de colis laiss\u00e9s \u00e0 la porte d\u2019entr\u00e9e ou l\u2019impression sur demande. \u00ab\u2009J\u2019ai toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 anim\u00e9 par l\u2019esprit d\u2019entreprise. J\u2019ai toujours \u00e9t\u00e9 pr\u00eat \u00e0 faire un saut dans l\u2019inconnu\u2009\u00bb, d\u00e9clare Nolan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cependant, ce n\u2019est qu\u2019apr\u00e8s l\u2019obtention de son dipl\u00f4me qu\u2019il a d\u00e9couvert quel type d\u2019entreprise correspondait le mieux \u00e0 ses comp\u00e9tences, \u00e0 ses atouts et \u00e0 son pr\u00e9cieux r\u00e9seau. Il a rejoint l\u2019incubateur entrepreneurial de l\u2019initiative Glendon ENtrepreneuriat et Innovation \u00c0 L\u2019international (GENIAL) sur la suggestion d\u2019Angelo Dossou-Yovo, professeur agr\u00e9g\u00e9 de gestion et d\u2019entrepreneuriat \u00e0 Glendon, et a pu canaliser sa passion. \u00ab\u2009Je pense que GENIAL est un excellent programme, quelque chose de vraiment unique\u2009\u00bb, affirme Nolan.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nolan Karuta training young players<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

M. Dossou-Yovo, qui a d\u00e9velopp\u00e9 l\u2019initiative en 2017, rench\u00e9rit : \u00ab\u2009\u00e0 ma connaissance, c\u2019est le seul incubateur d\u2019entreprises en Ontario ax\u00e9 sur le processus de d\u00e9couverte de possibilit\u00e9s commerciales. De plus, nous nous d\u00e9marquons en offrant un programme bilingue, fran\u00e7ais et anglais. Les participant\u00b7e\u00b7s ne doivent pas se contenter d\u2019\u00e9laborer un mod\u00e8le d\u2019entreprise. D\u00e8s le d\u00e9but, il faut s\u2019assurer de se lancer dans la bonne activit\u00e9, car c\u2019est inutile d\u2019\u00e9laborer un mod\u00e8le commercial pour une jeune entreprise qui ne parviendrait pas \u00e0 s\u2019imposer sur le march\u00e9 ou qui finirait par dispara\u00eetre en un \u00e0 trois ans.\u2009\u00bb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Durant ce processus, Nolan s\u2019est vite rendu compte qu\u2019il avait tout avantage \u00e0 lancer une entreprise fond\u00e9e sur ses connaissances pouss\u00e9es, son exp\u00e9rience et ses comp\u00e9tences en mati\u00e8re de pratique, d\u2019enseignement et d\u2019entra\u00eenement du soccer. L\u2019id\u00e9e de la Karuta Futbol Academy<\/a> a donc germ\u00e9 : elle forme de jeunes en anglais et en fran\u00e7ais tout en mettant l\u2019accent sur les fondements techniques et l\u2019intelligence d\u00e9fensive, un ensemble de comp\u00e9tences qui, selon lui, est souvent n\u00e9glig\u00e9 dans le soccer canadien de base.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Associate Professor Angelo Dossou-Yovo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u00ab\u2009Cela semble naturel avec le recul, mais il m\u2019a fallu du temps pour m\u2019en rendre compte. J\u2019avais un r\u00e9seau solide dans le domaine du soccer. J\u2019avais \u00e9t\u00e9 joueur et entra\u00eeneur et vers la fin de ma carri\u00e8re semi-professionnelle, j\u2019avais c\u00f4toy\u00e9 un ancien joueur d\u2019Arsenal. Je me suis dit que j\u2019en \u00e9tais capable. Sans l\u2019initiative GENIAL, je ne crois pas que j\u2019aurais eu autant d\u2019assurance. GENIAL renforce la r\u00e9silience et fournit un syst\u00e8me de soutien\u2009\u00bb, ajoute Nolan. Avec plus d\u2019une d\u00e9cennie \u00e0 son actif en tant qu\u2019entra\u00eeneur, il continue d\u2019\u00eatre sollicit\u00e9 par des joueurs professionnels, notamment lors des camps d\u2019\u00e9t\u00e9 du FC Bayern de Munich. Il a voyag\u00e9 avec les joueurs pendant quatre semaines et a suivi leur philosophie sous la houlette de Christopher Loch, l\u2019entra\u00eeneur de l\u2019\u00e9quipe mondiale du Bayern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angelo Dossou-Yovo confirme que Nolan avait plusieurs id\u00e9es initiales, mais que cette derni\u00e8re \u00ab\u2009correspondait vraiment \u00e0 sa passion et qu\u2019elle t\u00e9moigne de l\u2019utilit\u00e9 de l\u2019initiative GENIAL. Nous essayons de cr\u00e9er un \u00e9tat d\u2019esprit entrepreneurial en nous concentrant sur les premi\u00e8res \u00e9tapes du cycle de vie d\u2019une entreprise. Nous examinons les moyens de d\u00e9finir et de d\u00e9velopper des possibilit\u00e9s commerciales\u2009\u00bb. Cela commence par la r\u00e9solution de probl\u00e8mes et l\u2019apprentissage de la mani\u00e8re de d\u00e9couvrir et de cerner les plus viables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Par ailleurs, un concours annuel de l\u2019entrepreneuriat \u00e9tudiant<\/a> donne la chance aux \u00e9tudiantes et \u00e9tudiants de pr\u00e9senter leurs concepts, d\u2019apprendre \u00e0 communiquer la valeur de leur entreprise \u00e0 des partenaires potentiels et, avec un peu de chance, d\u2019obtenir un financement de d\u00e9part pour lancer et d\u00e9velopper leur entreprise. L\u2019ann\u00e9e derni\u00e8re, Nolan a remport\u00e9 la deuxi\u00e8me place du concours et le prix du choix du public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le concours de cette ann\u00e9e, qui a eu lieu le 2\u00a0octobre, \u00e9tait pr\u00e9sent\u00e9 par GENIAL et le Groupe financier Desjardins, qui a fait un don \u00e0 cette initiative et \u00e0 une autre initiative pour les femmes entrepreneures, ELLA de\u00a0YSpace<\/a>, en vue de leur expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ce don a permis non seulement de r\u00e9pondre aux besoins en infrastructure de l\u2019incubateur GENIAL et de son programme Passeport Comp\u00e9tences Entrepreneuriales (PCE), mais aussi de fournir des ressources pour la composante d\u2019\u00e9ducation exp\u00e9rientielle des cours, notamment pour la cr\u00e9ation d\u2019entreprises \u00e0 vocation sociale, ainsi que pour le cours sur les projets d\u2019entrepreneuriat. Par ailleurs, il a permis d\u2019ajouter d\u2019autres modules au programme PCE et de fournir un financement de d\u00e9part aux \u00e9tudiant\u2e31e\u2e31s entrepreneur\u2e31e\u2e31s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

La vision d\u2019avenir de la Karuta Futbol Academy est de s\u2019agrandir et d\u2019avoir une affiliation \u00e0 but non lucratif afin d\u2019organiser des parties communautaires improvis\u00e9es, des cliniques sans inscription pr\u00e9alable et de proposer des formations de haut niveau \u00e0 des prix plus abordables. Nolan aimerait avoir plusieurs centres d\u2019activit\u00e9s (North York, r\u00e9gion de York, Durham, centre-ville de Toronto) dans le cadre d\u2019un mod\u00e8le de franchise d\u2019ici 2026-2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nolan Karuta training young players as part of his Karuta Futbol Academy <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Il continue de se r\u00e9f\u00e9rer \u00e0 ce qu\u2019il a appris gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 GENIAL pour d\u00e9velopper son acad\u00e9mie en formant un nombre croissant de joueurs \u00e2g\u00e9s de 10 \u00e0 16 ans. Au-del\u00e0 du niveau de comp\u00e9tence, Nolan Karuta cherche \u00e0 savoir si les jeunes de l\u2019acad\u00e9mie sont capables d\u2019apprendre. \u00ab\u2009Puis-je leur faire aimer le jeu et les aider \u00e0 devenir de meilleures personnes?\u2009\u00bb C\u2019est le plus important. Pour le reste, il peut les entra\u00eener. En fait, il adore travailler avec certains des enfants en difficult\u00e9 et les aider \u00e0 d\u00e9velopper, non seulement leur jeu de jambes, mais aussi leur personnalit\u00e9 d\u2019athl\u00e8te.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00ab\u2009Avec les plus jeunes, l\u2019accent est davantage mis sur l\u2019\u00e9laboration des comp\u00e9tences, mais \u00e0 mesure qu\u2019ils grandissent, cela \u00e9volue et l\u2019accent est davantage mis sur l\u2019\u00e9tat d\u2019esprit et l\u2019intelligence de jeu. Il est essentiel d\u2019avoir le bon \u00e9tat d\u2019esprit pour r\u00e9ussir.\u2009\u00bb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

La version fran\u00e7aise suit la version anglaise.<\/p>\n

Semi-pro player, trainer, coach and York University, Glendon Campus alumnus now runs his own soccer academy for young players thanks to the GENIAL entrepreneurial incubator<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":389,"featured_media":22808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,339,401],"tags":[2159,1099,1789,113,2158,2160,107],"qualifier":[1853],"news-author":[1896],"class_list":["post-22770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-featured","category-media-releases","category-news","tag-desjardins","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-genial","tag-glendon-campus","tag-incubator","tag-innovators","tag-soccer","qualifier-by","news-author-sandra-mclean"],"yoast_head":"\nGlendon\u2019s GENIAL Initiative helps former student focus his passion for the game - News@York<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yorku.ca\/news\/2025\/09\/08\/glendons-genial-initiative-helps-former-student-focus-his-passion-for-the-game\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Glendon\u2019s GENIAL Initiative helps former student focus his passion for the game - News@York\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"La version fran\u00e7aise suit la version anglaise. 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