Charmy Pet - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

Zach's passion for dogs ignited when he welcomed his first canine companion into his life at the age of 15. The adorable German Shepherd named Niong captured his heart, despite presenting behavioural challenges that came with being a first-time pet owner of a German Shepherd.

Determined to train her to become the most well-mannered dog she could be, instilled in Zach a deep love for the pet industry, leading him to establish his own pet boarding business at the young age of 16. As time went on, he seized various opportunities within the pet-related sector, including working as a dog trainer and in a veterinary hospital. In addition, he dedicated his summers to assisting his father's company in the beef-manufacturing industry.

During Zach's university years, he and his partner encountered a group of individuals starting a dog treat business named Charmy Pet. This proudly Canadian pet-nutrition company, headquartered in Toronto, has been committed to enhancing dogs' lives through natural nutrition since 2020. Charmy Pet meets the nutritional requirements of dogs by offering premium, single-ingredient treats to Canadian dog parents. Recently, Charmy Pet formed a partnership with the University of Guelph to introduce an unparalleled freeze-dried pet food that incorporates holistic traditional Chinese medicine. With a focus on promoting dogs' longevity and well-being, Charmy Pet uses ethically and sustainably sourced fresh ingredients obtained from local farmers, ensuring complete transparency in the sourcing process for pet owners.

While Charmy Pet was still participating in the Starter Company Plus program, the company garnered significant attention by appearing on the CBC's "Dragon's Den" in the fall of 2022 (Season 17, Episode 9). Displaying its exceptional qualities, Charmy Pet earned a prestigious position among the highest-rated pet products in the esteemed 'Dragon's Den Hall of Fame'.

Reflecting on his experience in the Starter Company Plus program, Zach expressed his admiration, particularly in his hometown of Richmond Hill. The program offered a wide array of seminars catering to aspiring founders, providing valuable insights into specialized areas such as retail, marketing, and business law. "I highly recommend everyone to apply to this program" stated Zach, acknowledging the immense value of his time spent in the Starter Company Plus program.

In 2022, the brand entered retail, coming such a long way from their humble beginnings in their parent’s basement, where they handpicked everything. 6 months later they saw a 328% growth in business with their products being carried in hundreds of pet specialty stores, marking a major milestone for the brand.

In 2023, Charmy Pet established a nationwide presence by securing deals with national pet chains including Bone & Biscuit, Global Pet Foods, Tail Blazers - Health Food Store for Pets, and Bark & Fitz.

To learn more about Charmy Pet, visit Charmyboxshop.com and follow them on Instagram @charmypetbox.

Dexign Matter Studio - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

"Being an interior designer is my dream job. Building your business is also about fulfilling your dreams, making daily work feel effortless. As you shape your company, you shape yourself." – says Zoe Lee, Design Director of Dexign Matter Studio.

Dexign Matter Studio is not your typical interior design firm; infusing each project with unique characteristics and achieving breakthrough designs. Their portfolio includes a wide range of projects, including residences, cottages, restaurants, bars, retails, cafes, educational centers and offices.

Dexign Matter Studio holds exceptionally high standards for project quality, standing out in the industry. They have been praised as recipients of a number of global design awards, including: Best of Canada Award 2023 for Yuan Chinese Cuisine, LIV Hospitality Design Awards 2023 for H3 Matrix Restaurant & Bar, GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN Awards Platinum Winner 2023 for Holo Tea & Café, Better Future Award for Away Cabins and A’ Design Awards for The Cube Nail Lab.

With the support of the Starter Company Plus program, Dexign Matter Studio received two IDA design awards for their projects Away Cabins and Haru Shabu Shabu, significantly increasing the exposure. Additionally, they had the opportunity to upgrade their website, providing the clients with a more engaging page experience.

Starter Company Plus offered numerous valuable resources, such as mentorship opportunities. Through this program, Zoe met her mentor Nicole Troster from YSpace, who introduced to the ELLA Ascend. After applying and interviewing, she was accepted into this program. “Starter Company Plus is not just the beginning of your success, it provides connections and support, allowing you to meet passionate entrepreneurs who face the same challenges. These individuals become your growth partners, ensuring you don't feel alone. I am grateful to be part of this program.” Zoe said.

Completing this program has given Zoe more confidence in the interior design industry. Their work truly has the potential to improve communities, enhancing the quality of living for residents and increasing the revenue for entrepreneurs' physical stores. Their goals have become bigger and more ambitious.

To learn more about Dexign Matter Studio, visit http://www.dexignmatter.com and follow them on Instagram @dexign_matter_studio

Flavor Fusion Extracts - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

Chris Kingsland launched Flavor Fusion Extracts with a bold vision and a unique story rooted in personal experience and global inspiration. While traveling through Indonesia, Chris formed a friendship with a local family who owned a small vanilla farm on the island of Lombok. Fascinated by the community and labour-intensive process behind cultivating vanilla, Chris became captivated by the rich flavor this special orchid produced.

That trip left a lasting impression and sparked what would soon become a business idea: bringing the authentic, bold taste of Indonesia back to Canada. What started as a passion for vanilla evolved into Flavor Fusion Extracts, a premium extract brand focused on quality, transparency, and innovative flavors.

Chris officially launched the company as a one-flavor operation focused on producing high-quality, organic vanilla extract. However, he quickly saw an opportunity to expand the lineup based on customer interest and market demand. Today, Flavor Fusion Extracts offers a curated selection of flavors including Pineapple, Cinnamon, Peppermint, Almond, and Lavender, all made using organic ingredients and designed to elevate baking, beverages, and any creative culinary creations.

Many flavor extracts on the market lacked potency, were made with poor ingredients, and often the flavor ‘baked out’ of recipes. Flavor Fusion Extracts set out to change this with bold and aromatic flavors that are housed in amber glass bottles fitted with a dropper cap for a precise and a spill-free experience.

With a growing customer base and a product line that continues to gain traction, Chris is now preparing for the next phase of Flavor Fusion’s journey. One of his long-term goals is to deepen the company’s vanilla offering by importing beans directly from Indonesia including the same vanilla farm on Lombok that inspired the business in the first place, bringing the story full circle and creating a direct connection between Canadian customers and Indonesian growers.

Flavor Fusion Extracts continues to grow as a business built on bold flavors, personal connections, and a mission to redefine how people experience extracts. Chris hopes to inspire other entrepreneurs to turn their passions into something tangible, and he looks forward to continuing his mission to bring high-quality flavors to kitchens across Canada.

Flip Toys - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

"It all started with an idea.  Then came the plan.  Then executing on the plan.  Next came some business plan refinement and some more execution.  Fast forward a few years and now my idea is in over 50 retail locations across Canada and counting.  Our company started with one SKU, brought in another one shortly after, and now we have multiple Wooden Marble Run models in market, with another new product category being launched soon.

We started a brand called Flip Toys to help sell fun and unique products to the Canadian marketplace.  It is a difficult task to sell a product to the end customer, so we spent a lot of time ensuring that we chose a desirable product, designed attractive packaging, and developed a strong enough brand to help convert the customer at store level. 

We also had to think about all the other components of running a company.  There were operations, accounting, supply chain, marketing processes that we had to think about and we were getting quite lost in all the things we had to do.  The Starter Company Plus program provided us exposure to all the fundamentals of operating a company, access to industry experts, and numerous opportunities to network with like-minded small business owners.  This program is also administrated by a team that really cares about helping budding entrepreneurs work towards their small business goals.  We owe a lot of gratitude to the entire Richmond Hill SBEC team as they were very instrumental to the continuing growth of our company.

Along with having a solid business plan and realistic financials, our company was lucky enough to stand out from the competition and win the grant.  This grant money was very critical to scaling our company as we used the money to exhibit at our very first tradeshow which led to more wholesale customers and new product opportunities.

Flip Toys future goals include getting our Flip Toys products into more Canadian stores, bigger retail chains, and continue to expand internationally.  We plan to bring in more fun and unique products that sell well in our target markets.  As we grow, we definitely will continue to use all the things we learned from the Starter Company Plus program!" -Carl Chan, Founder of Flip Toys

Gibbly - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

Gibbly (www.gibbly.co) was founded in November 2022 by Mallory Maynard to help teachers easily create fun and engaging learning material for their students. Mallory is passionate about education and wants to help solve some of the burning challenges caused by the pandemic such as teacher shortages and burnout. When generative AI took the world by storm, Mallory realized there was an opportunity to support teachers in ways that were never possible before. She immediately added AI-powered tools to the platform to help teachers save hours of time on lesson preparation. Her goal is to save them from burnout and free up more time for them to work with their students.

The Starter Company Plus Program was the kickstart Gibbly needed in their path to success. The mentors were incredibly helpful and provided actionable insights on how to move the business forward. They helped her develop business goals and Gibbly’s digital marketing strategy, connected her with other mentors, and educated her on IP protection, trademarks, and AI safety. One of the mentors was York University’s YSpace. Thanks to the mentorship and connections made through the SCP Program, Gibbly was accepted into the YSpace Technology Accelerator in March 2024.

Gibbly was also incredibly fortunate to be awarded the Starter Company Plus grant funding. With the help of the grant funding and mentorship sessions, Gibbly had the confidence and means to experiment with marketing tactics that were outside their budget. The impact of that funding is clear. Gibbly grew from 600 teachers using the platform to 8,000 by the end of the program. Their monthly site visits increased by 500%, and the number of quizzes created on the platform increased by 1,100%! Mallory’s goal at Gibbly is to support 5 million teachers in the next 5 years, grow her team, and build a product that saves teachers hours of prep time each week. Thanks to Starter Company Plus, the future is bright for Gibbly. Special thanks to Priti and Alan for believing in Gibbly’s success!

Harmony Circuits – 2024 Starter Company Plus Grant Recipient

Harmony Circuits was founded in 2024 by Elia Neishaboori, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and community leader with over a decade of experience in software engineering and leadership. After seeing the toll that burnout, stress, and isolation take on tech professionals, Elia was inspired to create a wellness-focused community built specifically for people in the tech industry.

Harmony Circuits offers something unique: group workshops designed to support the mental, physical, and professional well-being of tech professionals and entrepreneurs. From mindfulness and movement to stress relief and emotional wellness, the company empowers people to recharge, reconnect, and maintain balance — without ever having to leave their desks.

The Starter Company Plus Program through the City of Richmond Hill was a critical turning point for Harmony Circuits. The mentorship, guidance, and grant funding allowed Elia to build a solid foundation for the business. With the support of the program, Harmony Circuits invested in marketing strategies, community wellness events, and the early development of its upcoming automated wellness platform designed to offer scalable, digital-first support to tech professionals.

Thanks to the incredible support from the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) — especially the encouragement and mentorship from Priti Ruparel — Harmony Circuits is on track to make a lasting impact in the tech industry. The company continues to grow its reach, expand its offerings, and partner with local and national organizations to bring wellness to the forefront of professional life.

“None of this would have been possible without the guidance and belief of SBEC. The Starter Company Plus Program gave us the tools and confidence to take Harmony Circuits from vision to reality — and we’re just getting started.”
— Elia Neishaboori, Founder of Harmony Circuits

Stay tuned—Harmony Circuits is currently building a fully automated solution to help tech professionals prioritize their wellness, reduce burnout, and thrive in their careers.

Inspired2Read

Inspired2Read - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

Claudia Petrescu is the founder of Inspired2Read, a Richmond Hill based literacy centre dedicated to helping children with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. Motivated by the reading experiences of one of her sons, Claudia draws from evidence-based practices and a deep passion for education that includes a PhD in child language acquisition and specialized training in structured literacy and the Orton-Gillingham approach.

Claudia has created a caring and nurturing space where struggling readers learn new strategies and techniques to improve their reading. Inspired2Read offers one-on-one sessions, small group programs, teacher training and advocates for inclusive and accessible support for children in the education system. Receiving the support of the Starter Company Plus program helped Claudia strengthen her business foundation and expand her community impact. 

Jobby - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant 

Matt is a dedicated startup founder, passionate about helping people and businesses succeed. As a member of the Starter Company Program, Matt built his latest venture, Jobby. Jobby brings jobs to life through video. He has worked with businesses of all sizes including Scotiabank, L'Oreal and the LCBO. 

Prior to enrolling in the Starter Company Program, Jobby was first getting started and had not yet earned their first paid customer. Through the Starter Company Program, Matt was assigned sales mentors that helped coach him to launch.

The mentorship as well as the initial funding allowed Matt and his team to focus their attention on the right sales strategies for their business. After graduating from the program, Jobby now works with leading brands in Canada and continues to get new clients. 

Jozi Media

Jozi Media- 2025 Starter Company Plus Participant 

 Marvin is the founder of Jozi Media, a creative services company specializing in end-to-end video production and professional photography. His entrepreneurial journey began after several years in the film industry, where he discovered a desire for greater flexibility, creative freedom, and control over his schedule. This led him to launch Jozi Media, a business built around high-quality storytelling and visual impact.

Driven by a passion for helping brands tell compelling stories, Marvin joined the Starter Company Plus program to take his business to the next level and strengthen its foundation for growth.

Marvin describes his experience with the Starter Company Plus program as extremely positive and impactful. The program provided practical guidance on business areas such as business planning, financial forecasting, pricing, and marketing strategy.

Marvin found the mentorship component provided value in his company’s growth. Through personalized guidance, Marvin was able to clarify his business goals, refine his value proposition, and better define his target market. His mentor also helped identify operational gaps and challenged assumptions, leading to more efficient workflows and stronger decision-making.

The mentorship provided both accountability and practical problem-solving support, giving Marvin a clearer roadmap for sustainable growth.

While participating in Starter Company Plus, Marvin achieved significant milestones. Jozi Media secured production deals with major companies such as Netflix and HarperCollins Canada, and has worked with globally recognized brands including Disney, Coca-Cola, Adidas, and Microsoft.

These achievements strengthened Jozi Media’s industry presence and positioned the company as a trusted partner for high-quality creative production.

Marvin’s future goals focus on sustainable growth, expanding his client base across both the private and public sectors, and continuing to elevate the quality and impact of his work. As the business grows, he also hopes to hire additional staff to support increasing demand.

With a solid strategy and renewed confidence, Marvin is well-positioned to continue growing Jozi Media and helping brands tell powerful, meaningful stories.

Kidztales

Kidztales - 2025 Starter Company Plus Participant 

With many years of experience as a speech-language pathologist, Hannah Im saw firsthand the challenges families faced in accessing therapy that was both effective and engaging for children. She envisioned a clinic that went beyond traditional approaches, one where therapy felt practical, supportive, and with meaningful carryover for kids and their families. Inspired by this vision, Hannah set out to build her own business.

In 2025, Hannah launched Kidztales, a children’s therapy and learning clinic dedicated to breaking down barriers and making therapy a fun, confidence-building experience. From the earliest stages of development, Hannah visited with the Small Business Enterprise Centre, where she received guidance on the regulatory requirements needed to open and operate her centre. This support gave her a clear understanding of compliance and helped her move forward with confidence.

Later that same year, Hannah applied to and was accepted into the Starter Company Plus program. Through the program, she received a five-thousand-dollar grant, along with business plan training and mentorship. Hannah describes her experience as overwhelmingly positive, noting that the individualized coaching allowed her to tailor the strategies learned in training directly to the needs of Kidztales.

The mentorship component proved to be very helpful as well. Her mentor took the time to fully understand her business model and provided practical, realistic advice that could be applied immediately. These sessions helped Hannah structure her operations so the clinic could run smoothly without her acting as the sole therapist. They also supported her in identifying speech therapy as the main value driver of the business, while creating a clear plan to gradually introduce additional service streams over time. “The one-on-one coaching and mentoring helped me turn my clinical experience into a sustainable business model and gave me confidence in how to grow the clinic strategically.” - Hannah Im

Since 2025, Kidztales has hired ten employees, enabling the clinic to scale its impact while maintaining high-quality care. Services have expanded to include art therapy, caregiver coaching, occupational therapy and language learning programs, all designed to help children apply functional skills in real worldlike settings through year-round group therapy programs and day camps. Beyond the clinic walls, the Kidztales staff also provide outreach services, such as providing therapy in daycares and schools, while collaborating with educators on-site.

In recognition of its excellence and community impact, Kidztales was named the Canadian Choice Award Winner for Speech Therapy in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the company’s growth.

Looking ahead, Hannah remains deeply committed to supporting local children and families. She hopes to continue expanding Kidztales’ reach and is exploring the possibility of opening an additional location in the coming years.

Knot Bakery - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

Knot Bakery began as a shared vision between Nami, a seasoned pastry chef turned bread maker, and Paul, a software developer with a passion for culinary innovation. Their mission is to bring a piece of Japanese food culture to multicultural Toronto by combining artisan French and Japanese sourdough baking techniques, wholesome ingredients, and modern IoT technology. Nami, a graduate at the top of her class from the prestigious Tsuji Culinary Institute in Osaka, brings over 15 years of experience working in patisseries in both Japan and Toronto. Her expertise and artistic sensibility are reflected in the bakery’s signature dessert sourdough products, known for their vibrant colours and thoughtful presentation. Paul, with over a decade of experience in software development, brings a complementary perspective to the business—focused on integrating eCommerce, IoT automation, and machine learning to streamline bakery operations. Their shared belief is simple: when technology takes care of routine tasks, chefs can focus on creating the next best product for sourdough lovers.

In 2024, Nami and Paul joined the Starter Company Plus Program to turn their idea into a viable business. As first-time entrepreneurs, the program offered critical guidance in business planning, identifying market opportunities, and connecting with mentors and a network of like-minded peers. The grant they received was instrumental in bringing their early marketing efforts to life, allowing them to launch a website, run Instagram campaigns, and test their products through pop-ups at local markets during the holiday season. Through this process, they were able to validate their concept and gather feedback from real customers, strengthening their confidence and refining their offerings. The experience was transformative, equipping them with the skills and support needed to tackle the challenges of launching a physical bakery. As they prepare to open their first storefront, Nami and Paul credit the Starter Company Plus Program as a foundational part of their journey.

Lavender and Water - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

"My name is Josie I am the founder of Lavender And Water Co.  I make handmade all-natural bath and body products.  My journey started in 2022, four months after opening my business my product was featured in the 2023 Grammys Swag Bag. This gave my company credibility and people were noticing. Being a small business, where funds were limited, I applied for the Starter Company Plus Program and I’m so glad I did. This program is absolutely amazing. The mentors are extremely knowledgeable and helpful. 

The grant helped me make my product look retail-ready from barcodes, to quality management and purchasing equipment all of which helped me scale my business. My products are now in three retail locations, Revolution Her Vaughan Mills and Mapleview Mall and at Dibs Scratch Bakery. Priti was an amazing mentor and role model, her suggestions have always paid off.  The opportunities you get with this program are so valuable.

Thank You Richmond Hill Stater Company Plus program along with Priti and Alan for all your expertise and knowledge. I would not have been able to grow my company without your help.  Future Entrepreneurs should take this opportunity and apply for the grant." Josie, Lavender and Water Founder. 

TechBlazers - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

June Jiao founded TechBlazers Richmond Hill Inc. to equip students aged 4 to 18 with essential STEM skills in robotics, programming, and 3D design. Passionate about innovation, June’s mission is to prepare young minds for a tech-driven future.

With the support of the Starter Company Plus program, June refined her business plan and invested in state-of-the-art facilities, enabling TechBlazers to expand to North York and Oakville. The program’s mentorship also helped her introduce services like private school application support and AP course coaching.

In 2025, TechBlazers’ Team 13697H (Stakehouse) achieved a milestone by winning the Excellence Award at the CREATE U.S. Open Robotics Championship. Competing against 158 teams worldwide, the victory showcased the success of June’s forward-thinking STEM education approach.

By offering courses two years ahead of the standard curriculum, June ensures her students excel academically while developing teamwork and problem-solving skills. She also prepares them for prestigious competitions like the First Lego League and Canadian Computing Contest, providing global opportunities to excel.

Under June’s leadership, TechBlazers continues to inspire a love for STEM, shaping the next generation of innovators.

Why Nut!

Why Nut! - 2024 Starter Company Plus Participant

Founded by Marianna Agadzhanyan, Why Nut! is a Richmond Hill-based company born from a personal mission to make healthy snacking both accessible and indulgent. After struggling with severe acne as a teen and managing gestational diabetes during pregnancy, Marianna became deeply committed to nutrition and clean ingredients. Frustrated by the lack of sugar-free, natural snack options on the market, she went back to her kitchen and created something that didn’t exist — candied nuts that were both delicious and truly healthy.

Today, Why Nut! offers a line of vegan, sugar-free, and no added sugar glazed nuts crafted in small batches and packed with flavour. Their three signature products — Coconut Cinnamon Walnuts, Sweet Vanilla Pecans, and Maple Chia Almonds — are proudly sold in top specialty grocers across the GTA, including Summerhill Market, Pusateri’s, The Big Carrot, Bruno’s Fine Foods, and McEwan Fine Foods.

The support from the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre grant played a vital role in helping Why Nut! scale-up production and refine its retail strategy. What started as a passion project from a home kitchen has evolved into a fast-growing snack brand, thanks to programs that empower local entrepreneurs.

At its core, Why Nut! is more than just a snack — it’s a celebration of wellness, resilience, and the power of starting something meaningful from scratch.

Echo Eye Technologies Inc. 

Echo Eye Technologies Inc. - 2025 Summer Company Participant

Through the Summer Company program, Forest Li transformed an ambitious technology concept into a functioning business idea and gained valuable hands-on entrepreneurial experience in deep-tech product development, customer validation, and commercialization planning. Over the summer, Echo Eye advanced from concept to an early-stage minimum viable product (MVP), while navigating software and hardware development challenges and refining its path toward commercialization.

The Summer Company program provided mentorship, business guidance, and practical support that strengthened entrepreneurial confidence and encouraged more strategic thinking around product development, prototyping, commercialization, and crowdfunding opportunities. Mentorship and training helped validate the business concept and provided practical insights into launching a business in a highly technical and competitive market. Funding through the program supported early prototyping and hardware development, enabling continued product development and preparation for a crowdfunding launch.

Although Echo Eye ultimately faced commercialization challenges due to rising hardware and component costs, the Summer Company experience proved highly impactful and helped shape a strong entrepreneurial foundation. The experience provided valuable lessons in product development, customer validation, and launching a technology venture, while helping clarify a long-term entrepreneurial vision and approach to business growth.

Building on these lessons and mentorship received through the program, Forest launched his new venture, Velox Systems, in April 2026, offering Velox Admin Suite, field-built software for small businesses powered by AI. The business helps small business teams automate repetitive administrative work through customized tools designed around how each client’s operations actually run.

Since launching, Velox Systems has begun servicing clients and generated approximately $10,000 in revenue in its first month, demonstrating how the entrepreneurial experience, mentorship, and business foundations developed through Summer Company contributed to the successful growth of a new technology venture.

Local Student - 2019 Summer Company Participant

It was the summer of 2014, and Alex was 15 years old.  Like many other high school students, he was unable to find a job - let alone one that he wanted to have. So he decided to mow lawns in his neighbourhood. He was mowing a lawn one day, and suddenly realized how good his job was.  Alex was able to earn well above minimum wage, be his own boss, and choose his own working hours.  Alex soon discovered a huge opportunity – to connect homeowners who want services done, with a student who lives nearby. This would give students work that meets their needs, while giving homeowners an opportunity to support students in their community.

Flash forward five years to 2019, when Alex decided to turn his idea into a reality. He knew it would be a challenge, and he would have to leave his other job to work on it, but he decided to take the risk and start the business.  He found out about Summer Company Program in the spring and learned that it could help to kickstart his business.  He called his business LocalStudent. 

Alex launched the business in mid-May. Although he knew it would be a challenge, he didn’t realize just how hard it would be. He had to recruit and manage students, find homeowners who wanted services done, constantly connect students to homeowners, deal with finances and insurance, build a website, and much more.  Although his sales goal for the summer was $5000, he finished with just $53 in sales by the end of May.  By mid-summer, at the end of June, he had a total of just over $850 in sales, way off his initial goal of $5000. At this point, he was making almost no profit, and had invested hundreds of hours of time into his business.

Alex had two options: keep pushing towards his goal (which seemed unattainable), or quit and find another job.  So, believing in his vision for LocalStudent, he decided to keep going and work extra hard. He spoke with his program advisor and mentors from Summer Company who suggested a few changes. The next month, Alex did over $4500 in sales, hitting his total goal for the summer, and nearly 100 times the sales he did in May. He comfortably finished with five figures in sales by the end of the summer – over 90% of that coming within the last two months.

Looking back at his time in Summer Company, the funding wasn’t the most important part. Alex has received valuable mentorship, met with various business owners, and connected with great people from the Summer Company network. He also developed many hard and soft skills – which include website creation, sales, problem solving, leadership and more.  Alex connected and partnered with various companies, including LawnSavers, College Pro, and Clear Water Detailing.

Over the summer, LocalStudent has gained over 100 clients, and these homeowners love being able to connect with and support students in their community.  LocalStudent has received over 300 applications from students who want to sign up, of which they were only able to accept 25 students. Alex has hired a general manager, a web developer, and a franchisee to start working during the fall, and he has received funding to do so.

Alex’s primary goal when starting LocalStudent was to help students find work that meets their needs, and he can say that he was able to meet that goal this summer. Moving forward, LocalStudent aims to redefine student jobs.  Their mission is to help students find work that meets their needs, and their vision is to become the new way for students to find work.  Thanks to Summer Company, LocalStudent is one step in the right direction.

Recall.ai

Learn VR now Recall.ai - 2017 Summer Company Participant

David Gu decided to launch a Virtual Reality Course as a 16-year-old. His purpose in starting his company was to let others tap into a passion for Virtual Reality by helping them plan, design, and create their own unique VR experience.

David has had a huge passion for Virtual reality ever since he was young and was inspired to educate others and share his passion for creating Virtual Reality projects. He even invented different models of the Oculys Ryft headsets! David sees virtual reality as the next big disruptor. David himself says it best, “The industry itself is growing at an exponential rate. Companies such as Facebook, Google, and Samsung have released devices for these technologies, and the investment in VR technology is constantly growing. Virtual reality is the best technology to learn to prepare you for the future of computing.”

The Summer Company program was valuable to David because of all the real-life experience he gained in such a short amount of time. As David said, “What I learned in school was great, but it’s theoretical. In theory, everything works according to plan. Real life isn’t like that at all”. Talking with experienced mentors and taking entrepreneur- specific training helped him understand to focus on his customers, learn how to market in the community, and learn life skills.

Since launching his course with Summer Company, David has helped countless people create their own virtual applications and products. He has also formed partnerships with 3 organizations where he holds his classes: STEM Minds, Newmakeit and the Markham Public Library.

David won the William F Bell award in 2017. 

Recall.ai is now in the U.S. as they went through the YCombinator program and have raised their series B valuing them at 250M. 

Northshine Property Services

Northshine Property Services - 2025 Summer Company Participant

Through the Summer Company program, student entrepreneur Roberto Sanabria grew Northshine Property Services from a small door-to-door operation into a more structured and growth-oriented business. The program provided funding, mentorship, and practical business support that helped Roberto invest in commercial equipment, improve scheduling and day-to-day operations, and strengthen efforts to attract and serve customers more effectively.

With support from the program, Roberto explored additional ways to promote the business and attract customers, including effective Facebook and Instagram advertising that helped increase visibility, generate new leads, and attract customers beyond traditional word-of-mouth and neighbourhood outreach. Mentorship through a sales mentor connection strengthened Roberto’s understanding of customer acquisition, sales strategy, and long-term business growth. Participation in a community business showcase also created opportunities to promote the business, connect with potential customers, and increase local awareness of Northshine Property Services.

The Summer Company experience strengthened Roberto’s skills in sales, customer service, and business operations while helping establish more efficient systems for service delivery and customer management. During the summer, Northshine Property Services completed approximately 130 customer jobs and generated approximately $26,500 in sales, demonstrating strong customer demand, business growth, and the value of high-quality service, referrals, and repeat business. As demand increased, Roberto also began onboarding and training contract staff to help expand service capacity and better meet customer needs.

One of the most valuable lessons gained through the program was the importance of customer service in building a successful and sustainable business. By focusing on professionalism, reliability, and customer satisfaction, Roberto strengthened long-term customer relationships and created a strong foundation for continued growth. Following a successful summer, he plans to continue growing Northshine Property Services through referrals, repeat customers, and the systems established during the program.