SBEC Success Stories

Blue Pine Innovations

Blue Pine Innovations - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

Blue Pine Innovations started as a project which flourished into a passionate business. David and his partner Maggie, were expecting their first child in early 2020. Like most couples they started planning their little one’s nursery months in advance. Everything was coming together nicely except one important piece. They already started a book collection for their daughter and they wanted her to have a nice set of bookshelves that she would have for years to come.

David and Maggie, searched in store and online and they couldn’t find what they had in mind. With Davids building and engineering background and Maggie’s creative flair they started designing their dream bookshelf. They wanted this piece to be made of eco-friendly and sustainable materials, so that children are not exposed to toxic materials in the nursery and bedroom. They also wanted the bookshelves to be made of premium materials, be very durable, timeless and beautiful.

When they build their first piece family and friends loved it and wanted to have bookshelves for their little ones too. This is when Blue Pine Innovations was born. Shortly after David and Maggie were introduced to an amazing consult who works for the City of Richmond Hill. Her dedication and passion in assisting entrepreneurs was profound. She gave them so much guidance and resources to set them on the path of success. They applied for the Started Company Plus Program grant and interim were given access to weekly courses lead by expert professionals. Their speakers were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about helping entrepreneurs navigate through the challenges of owning a business. Not only did they offer support and solutions to common obstacles but they also lead the classes in group setting which exposed them to other like-minded entrepreneurs. There was a great sense of community when taking part in the Starter Company Plus Program.

Blue Pine Innovations continued to grow their business in the time they went through the program. Their bookshelf business grew into the production of other custom bookshelves, book boxes, learning towers and other eco-friendly and sustainable products. Their goal was to create products that nurtured the growth and development of children.

In completing the program they gained a lot of confidence to stay true to these dreams. They were grateful that they were also given the opportunity to have two incredible mentors. These mentors took the time to share their knowledge and expertise in their field and gave real solutions and ideas on how to elevate the business.

The Starter Company Plus program helped develop critical skills that allowed Blue Pine Innovations to grow their business and taught them how to stay on top of the competitive market. Having access to these mentors was an incredible experience but also having individuals that truly care about seeing you thrive meant that much more to them.

Blue Pine Innovations were one of the lucky ones that received a grant through the Starter Company Plus Program. This allowed them to purchase equipment for the business to elevate their performance and product production. They were also able to invest in building their online presence which will be extremely beneficial. Overall, if Blue Pine Innovations could go through the Started Company Plus program they would in a heartbeat. The journey with the team over the months has been incredible and they can’t wait to see where the business goes from here.

Career Pursuit - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

Career Pursuit (www.careerpursuit.net) is on a mission to empower new graduates and young adults to achieve their full career potential.

Alex McKercher, the founder of Career Pursuit, first learned about the Starter Company Plus grant at a "How to Start a Business" seminar at the Richmond Hill public library. This grant, facilitated by Richmond Hill, provided $5,000, mentorship, and valuable connection opportunities which have been pivotal in the development of Career Pursuit.

Since receiving the grant, Career Pursuit has grown by 200%, generating $25,000 in revenue. The support from the Starter Company Plus grant has also been instrumental in Alex’s professional growth, navigating the young founder through many challenges new entrepreneurs face.

Looking ahead, Career Pursuit is set to expand its offerings by developing a SaaS (Software as a Service) product. This new direction aims to provide a scalable solution to career coaching, allowing even more individuals to benefit from the services that Career Pursuit offers. The foundation laid by the grant and the growth experienced thus far have paved the way for this exciting new venture.

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

Foodeasy

Foodeasy - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

"Our journey at Foodeasy began with a common challenge that many face: the struggle to maintain a healthy diet amidst a busy lifestyle. As co-founders, we experienced firsthand the frustrating cycle of trying to eat healthily, feeling overwhelmed by options, and frequently falling back into old habits. Determined to change this, we created Foodeasy with a clear mission: to make healthy eating simple, fun, personal, and sustainable.

The turning point for our startup came when we joined the Starter Company program. This program was a game-changer, providing us not just with financial support through a grant but also invaluable connections to mentors and a network that genuinely cared about our success. These relationships were cultivated through one-on-one sessions and workshops that introduced us to new tools and resources. This guidance was crucial in refining our business model and developing a solid market approach.

The grant from the program significantly accelerated our product development. It enabled us to explore new potentials, expand our reach, and participate in more networking and pitching events. Our involvement in the Starter Company program also opened doors to other programs, enhancing our visibility and networking opportunities even further.

The support from the Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) team was phenomenal. They were always there, connecting us with mentors and networks that could assist us with any questions or concerns. By the end of the program, we were not only ready but excited to engage with early adopters and welcomed our very first users. Even after the program concluded, the team continued to offer their support generously.

Thanks to the Starter Company program, our learning curve was steep but fast. The funding expedited our ability to expand our reach, equipping us with the resources to continue building and improving Foodeasy. We're more motivated than ever to enhance the joy of eating well, affirming that food, one of life's greatest delights, should be enjoyed fully and healthily by everyone."  -Armaghan Taghvaei, Founder of Foodeasy

FlowerSelf

Flowerself - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

"Hello. My name is Tony Choi. My wife and I created a florist starter kit under the brand name FlowerSelf. When we started off in 2022, we didn’t do enough market research and weren’t sure what we were getting into. The idea was simple, create a simple florist starter kit that would help people easily and affordably create a flower bouquet or a flower basket design. When we initially started the business, our focus was our florist starter kits. However, we realized that people were showing much more interest in one specific part of our florist starter kits, which was our Korean Wrapping Paper.

As we were taking part in the Richmond Hill Starter Program, we learned more and more about what was of interest and made a pivot to focus on selling mainly our Korean Wrapping Paper. I learned from the valuable information sessions by experts chosen by the program, how best to make decisions and even had one of my mentors encourage us to focus on what works, which was our Korean Wrapping Paper.

The journey of an entrepreneur is rarely a straight line, and we went from being FlowerSelf to Korean Wrapping Paper. Our business model made a big shift and we have had much better success because of it. Before we started this program, we were solely an online company, running out of the basement of our home in Richmond Hill. Here is a quick look of what our business looked like before and after participating in this program:

Before Participating in The Program:

-Struggling to get started on Amazon (brand name = FlowerSelf) - a couple hundred dollars in sales monthly

-Less than 10 sales on ETSY

-Low sales volume on our website, koreanwrappingpaper.com

-Less than 100 followers on Instagram

After Participating in The Program:

-Exponential growth in Amazon sales (brand name = FlowerSelf) - several thousands of dollars in sales monthly

-200+ sales on ETSY

-Large sales volume on our website, koreanwrappingpaper.com

-More than 1500 followers on Instagram

-Store front opened and welcoming hobbyists and small businesses to shop in-store

It was a pleasure to be a part of this program. Priti and Alan were very helpful and were always reaching out to me. I think anyone who participates in this program will learn a lot, be well supported by the Richmond Hill staff, and can use the $5,000 grant to further grow their business. Make sure you apply to the next startup program. This program will help take your business to the next level." -Tony Choi, Founder of FlowerSelf

Futuristgraphy - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

Kian, an engineering graduate, spent over a decade working in the engineering industry. Despite his success, he always had a passion for photography and visual storytelling. The COVID-19 pandemic, which required him to work from home, gave him the chance to explore this passion further.

With extra free time, Kian bought a drone and started taking beautiful aerial photos. His hobby quickly caught the attention of friends and acquaintances who loved his work and began asking for custom photos and videos. Seeing the potential, Kian invested in a professional digital camera and started taking his side business more seriously.

In 2022, encouraged by the positive feedback and growing interest in his work, Kian made the bold decision to leave his engineering job and follow his passion full-time. He founded Futuristgraphy Inc. (www.futuristgraphy.com) specializing in high-quality photography, videography and content creation services for individuals and businesses.

Kian’s journey was greatly supported by the City of Richmond Hill’s Starter Company Plus program. This program offers grants, training, and mentorship to new entrepreneurs. With the $5,000 grant he received, Kian bought essential equipment, which helped him secure a significant $40,000 project.

“The Starter Company Plus program was a game-changer for me,” Kian says. “The financial support and mentorship gave me the confidence and resources to turn my passion into a successful business.”

Today, Futuristgraphy Inc. showcases Kian's dedication and the supportive business environment in Richmond Hill. His story is an inspiring example of how following your passion, with the right support, can lead to amazing success.

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!

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. 

Kinetic Performance Movement Education - 2018 Starter Company Plus Participant

Launching a business can be exciting. But as Adam Jongsma can attest, fine-tuning that business can be even more engrossing.

In 2016, Jongsma launched Kinetic Performance (now Kinetic Performance Movement Education) to provide continuing education for personal trainers. He had the professional cred — he’s a kinesiologist with a master’s degree in rehabilitation science — but no business training.

“I was flying by the seat of my pants,” he says of his first 18 months in business. So when he heard about Starter Company Plus, he applied to the provincial program, and was accepted.

Starter Company Plus offers funding, training, mentoring and other assistance to Ontario residents interested in starting or expanding a business in the province. Richmond Hill residents can apply to the program at the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (RHSBEC), which administers the program through funding from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

In the program, Jongsma attended six afternoon training sessions on subjects such as marketing, accounting and the legal aspects of running a business, all of which helped him write a detailed business plan, a requirement of the program. In one of the sessions, participants discussed their USPs, or unique selling propositions. “I didn’t have a USP,” says Jongsma. “The session really got me thinking about what Kinetic Performance Movement Education provides that nobody else does.”

That “what” are courses for personal trainers that teach them how to work with clients who are recovering from injuries and getting back into activity. “Most corporations are reducing their insurance benefits for physiotherapy and chiropractic services,” says Jongsma. “As a result, more people are going to personal trainers.” But because not all personal trainers are trained in rehabilitation, there’s a gap that needs to be filled. “That’s what our courses do,” he says.

After Jongsma had completed the training sessions, he took advantage of the mentoring part of Starter Company Plus. At RHSBEC, he met with a lawyer who helped him draft terms of service and a privacy policy. “Two days later, I had those up on our website,” he says. A search engine optimization (SEO) specialist helped him understand how he could improve Kinetic Performance Movement Education’s website profile on search engines such as Google, while a marketing pro spoke with him about social media marketing. Says Jongsma: “His big thing was consistency: If you post more often, you’re seen by more people.”

In addition to training and mentoring, Jongsma received $5,000 in financial assistance in the program. He’s put these funds toward the purchase of a mirrorless camera, lavalier mics and other audiovisual equipment to help him produce marketing videos and, in time, instructional videos for online courses.

Right now, however, Jongsma is gearing up for the road. “In December, we became accredited by GoodLife Fitness for our Pain to Performance Core Concepts course,” he says. “We expect to be going all over Canada delivering the course in the next five months.”

For this energetic entrepreneur, it seems that 2019 is shaping up to be a banner year.

Ruth Plumb Portraits - 2018 Starter Company Plus Participant

A few years ago, Ruth Plumb began a new chapter in her life. She’d worked for 10 years as a dental hygienist, then was a stay-at-home mom. It was now time to see if she could channel her talent for portrait photography into her dream of running a viable business.

“I thought, if I didn’t give it a try, when would I?” says Plumb. “I didn’t want to regret not trying. It was a huge turning point for me.”

She’d been taking photos since age 12, when she got her first camera. As a mom, she’d honed her portraiture skills by taking thousands of picture of her four kids. Word got around and friends started asking her to photograph them.

So in 2014, she launched Ruth Plumb Portraits, but the transition wasn’t an easy one. She’d never run a business before, and she’d struggled over what to charge for her services. “I felt like I was spinning my wheels,” she says.

Then, a friend suggested she might benefit from Starter Company Plus, a program that offers funding, training, mentoring and other assistance to Ontario residents starting or expanding a business in the province. She applied to the program through the Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (RH-SBEC), which administers the program through funding from the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.

Plumb was accepted, and she attended a series of six weekly afternoon sessions led by seasoned entrepreneurs. The sessions helped her write a detailed business plan and project her business’s cash flow for two years — a valuable exercise she wouldn’t have done otherwise, she admits. Particularly helpful was the session on market research, which helped her define her target customers.

Plumb is experienced in photographing women, men and children, but her target customers are women who want beautiful “heirloom” portraits of themselves and their families to display at home. Ruth Plumb Portraits also specializes in professional headshots and personal branding portraits and offers styling by a professional hair and makeup artist prior to each shoot. “It’s a perk — clients feel pampered when they don’t have to worry about these details,” says Plumb.

As a successful participant in Starter Company Plus, Plumb received a $5,000 grant. She’s used these funds to purchase indoor lighting equipment and studio props, and to develop her website.

Just as valuable, if not more so, was the one-on-one mentoring she received in the program. “I specifically asked for help with networking,” says Plumb. “I’d been relying solely on referrals through friends and previous clients. I needed to get out of my comfort zone.”

And she has done just that. The RHSBEC connected her with a couple of networking professionals who boosted her confidence and helped her understand that networking is not about selling, but about building relationships.

“It was an amazing experience,” says Plumb, of the mentoring help. “I’ve since joined two networking groups and I attend networking events about every two weeks.” 

StoryBee

StoryBee - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

"At StoryBee, our mission has always been to enrich the educational landscape by making learning materials universally accessible and engaging. We aim to achieve this goal by offering an open-access digital library with abundant resources. With the grant and invaluable mentorship from the Starter Company Plus Program, we've significantly expanded our digital picture book catalog2ue and community reach.

One of our proudest achievements has been the launch of a series of French learning classes at the Central branch of the Richmond Hill Public Library. Recognizing the diverse linguistic backdrop of our community, these classes were designed to provide accessible and high-quality language learning opportunities for the local children. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it's heartwarming to see children and their families embrace the chance to enhance one of our official language together in a fun learning environment.

Moreover, the funding and guidance from the program allowed us to enhance our digital platform StoryBee.space which now hosts an extensive collection of educational and entertaining books for children. This initiative has not only supported local Richmond Hill families but has also reached a global audience, enabling children from various backgrounds to explore and learn at no cost. Our platform has become a crucial educational resource.

The success of StoryBee is a testament to the effectiveness of the Starter Company Plus Program. The training sessions helped us refine our business plan and understand our target market better, while the mentorship provided us with the expertise to navigate challenges and seize opportunities effectively."

-Jia (Mario) Xu (He/Him)

Owner/Founder of StoryBee

TOGI Wellness

TOGI Wellness - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

TOGI Wellness is led by a woman and dedicated mom who is revolutionizing the wellness industry with her in-person or virtual boutique yoga business.  Her passion for yoga and her desire to make a positive impact on her community led her to create a unique program that combines Yoga and Financial Literacy, catering to children and teens.

Tam’s journey began when she received a prestigious grant from the City of Richmond Hill Starter Company Plus 2022 program, recognizing her innovative approach to holistic wellness. This grant provided the opportunity for Tam to establish TOGI Wellness as a hub of mindful living in her community. With a vision to promote lifelong learning and well-being, Tam set out to offer two distinct services that meet the diverse needs of her clientele.

TOGI Kids is a groundbreaking program that fills the gap left by traditional school curriculum by integrating Yoga and Financial Literacy. Through movement, breath, storytelling, play, creation, and exploration, TOGI Kids nurtures children's mental and physical health while imparting valuable financial knowledge. Tam believes that introducing concepts like financial literacy at an early age sets a solid foundation for future success and well-being.

TOGI Professional, the second service offered by TOGI Wellness, is a specialized program tailored for executives, professionals, and corporate groups. This program utilizes yoga to cultivate concentration, focus, physical strength, and resilience, enabling participants to excel in high-demand environments. Whether through one-on-one sessions or corporate group sessions, TOGI Professional equips individuals with the tools needed to perform at their best.

Throughout her journey, Tam has received unwavering support and guidance from the remarkable individuals leading the Starter Company Plus program. Recognizing Tam’s potential, they have provided her with invaluable opportunities for growth. Tam had the privilege of participating in group sessions led by industry experts, learning from the best in the field. The program also offered one-on-one mentorship, helping Tam refine her business strategies and propel TOGI Wellness to new heights.

Tam expresses immense gratitude to the Starter Company Plus team for believing in her vision and providing a platform to showcase her work. After the program, TOGI Wellness successfully formed a partnership with the City of Richmond Hill, allowing Tam to tailor a program specifically for their valued employees.  In December 2022, Tam received the Richmond Hill Community Recognition award from the Mayor David West.  This further solidified her confidence in the transformative impact TOGI Wellness will have on countless individuals in the future. 

With unwavering dedication and the support she has received, Tam envisions TOGI Wellness as a catalyst for positive change in the community.  Shaping a future where wellness and wealth go hand in hand, allowing individuals to thrive in all aspects of life.

VIVRE

VIVRE - 2022 Starter Company Plus Participant

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" - Walt Disney

VIVRE' was born through inspiring and transforming, looking to generate an experience that balances fashion and the environment, creating sustainable products through organic, natural and recycled raw materials and plastic bottles. 

"The Starer Company Plus program motivated me to pursue my dreams because of the grant, the business training, and mentorship with expert people in the areas where I needed to work more. This experience helped me grow both as an entrepreneur and a human being, learning from my mistakes, not taking no for an answer and that there is always much to learn and improve. It also taught me that Richmond Hill is a community in which I feel very grateful to belong and to be able to impact positively fills me with satisfaction and happiness." - Paula Contreras, Founder of VIVRE

Verlee Atelier

Verlee Atelier - 2023 Starter Company Plus Participant

In a fragrance industry that often has scents that are overwhelming and difficult to wear around people without causing discomfort, Verlee Atelier aims to provide clean and mindful fragrances. At Verlee Atelier, the focus is on clean fragrances, inclusivity, sustainability & mindfulness. The fragrances are lab-developed by experts in South Korea, and made with carefully chosen and tested ingredients. Each perfume oil is blended, hand-poured, and packaged in the studio in Richmond Hill. The gender-neutral perfume oils and solid perfumes encompass the skin in a gentle embrace, creating a unique fragrance reserved for the user and those closest to them.

“Verlee Atelier was founded with the belief that beauty is more than skin deep. We believe that beauty is not just something we see, but something we feel. Our motto “Beauty in Expression”, reflects this belief. We believe that when we feel confident and beautiful, we can live our lives to the fullest and make a positive impact on the world around us.” -Amanda Verar (Ev) & Julia Ji Young Lee, Verlee Atelier founders.

The idea of this company began when Amanda was working in marketing and  Julia was working at a perfume company in Korea. Amanda recognized an opening in the North American market for unique, clean, inclusive scents that meld seamlessly into the skin and shared the idea with Julia. Given their diverse professional backgrounds, coupled with a seamless personal synergy, they both held a strong conviction that their collaborative efforts would yield something truly extraordinary. The two started developing the business in June of 2022 when they reached out to the Richmond Hill SBEC office with many questions about how to start a business. Through this, they met Priti who became an amazing mentor for the founders. She generously shared her support, knowledge, and resources which propelled the company forward. Verlee Atelier became an incorporated company in November 2022 attended its first market in March 2023 and made its first sale.

The founders of Verlee Atelier knew that the company could benefit from more support and applied for the Started Company Plus Grant program in August 2023. The Starter Company Plus program had many informative training sessions from making a business plan to accounting, marketing, and more. It helped to structure and refine the business structure and workflow.

“We highly recommend this program to anyone that can apply. It will help you work on things you didn’t even know you needed to be working on. You will also receive the best support! Alan and Priti are very communicative and supportive. The grant also helped boost our confidence knowing that the mentors saw potential in us. The training sessions and mentorship empowered us to take our business to the next level.” -Amanda Verar (Ev) & Julia Ji Young Lee, Verlee Atelier founders.

A year later, Verlee Atelier doubled its projected sales for the first year, selling over 1000 perfumes and signed contracts with three retail partners.  Verlee Atelier participated in the 2023 CLIC Grant and will be partnering with OCAD to design an upcoming product. Verlee Atelier will be participating in the 2024 ELLA Ascend Program.

Adagio Lettering - 2020 Summer Company Participant

Vanessa Yu decided to start her business, Adagio Lettering, in the summer of 2020. Adagio lettering is a company specializing in hand-lettering and modern calligraphy, offering services such as customized goods, live calligraphy and event signage. Adagio is an Italian musical term meaning slow; the term is often associated with lyricism, grace and elegance. With her business, Vanessa strived to create the same ‘adagio’ effect: the slow, breath-taking magic of written grace; the smooth flowing of ink; the therapeutic loops of charm. Vanessa felt that there was a gap in today’s world for a calligraphy service.

Vanessa believes that, “In our modern, technologically-advanced age, there is something particularly endearing about elegant penmanship and customized gifts that shines through the monotony of the impersonal, digital haze. Adagio Lettering seeks to capture these precious moments and immortalize them through elegant calligraphy.”

Vanessa was able to grow her business in multiple ways. Her Instagram page has over 120,000 followers and features content on bullet journaling, art and lettering. Vanessa also held workshops, giving her the opportunity to teach over 300 students and collaborate with companies such as MUJI, Coursera, Arteza and Pentel.

Vanessa found Summer Company mentorship opportunities to be extremely helpful for learning to sell and market her products and services to clients. From cold-calling/cold-emailing strategies to social media outreach and email wording, Vanessa learned how to attract reader attention and convert leads to sales. Summer Company also taught her about the importance of making connections and maintaining relationships. This guidance was especially useful while she was creating custom menus and signage for local restaurants.

Her advice for other aspiring business owners?

“Go for it! It’s daunting, confusing, and sometimes frustrating, but you learn so much – not only about finance or operations, but about yourself, the world, and relationships with others. You start seeing things through different lenses as a creator, owner, and do-everything-worker. Wearing so many hats teaches you more than most entry jobs – it’s not so much about how much you make at the beginning, but the lessons you learn.”

“Summer Company was the push I needed to take a step into the business world, as opposed to simply exploring a hobby and earning a little on the side. The program has helped me pursue my goal of turning this into a business I can build in university and beyond. While I had always wanted to do this, this program gave me the experience and motivation needed.”

Alan Mak Photography - 2020 Summer Company Participant

Alan Mak always had a passion for food and photography. He saw the need for restaurants to go digital due to the pandemic, and decided to use his skills as a photographer to help them take photos for their websites and social media. He named his company “Alan Mak Photography” and chose to provide photography services for local food businesses.

Through Summer Company, Alan received $3,000 and mentorship to open a business. The program gave Alan an opportunity to dive into his interests, earn a living and gain business experience. While running his business, Alan learned how to reach out to new clients, negotiate and network with like-minded people. He also had an opportunity to learn the operations aspect of running a new company, and bounce many ideas off his mentors.

Alan believes the program helped him work on his passions and, looking back, his only regret is not doing it sooner.

“Just the experience of starting a business makes this venture worth it. This does not even consider the skills, connections and profit resulting from the summer.”

View Alan’s portfolio on his food blog.

Apex Affinity - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Roger had entered the Summer Company program having had some prior experience working for non-profit start-up and participating in hackathons. He had the idea for Apex Affinity after talking with landlords, where Roger had learned that common a pain point among landlords was managing communications with multiple tenants. To solve this, he created Apex Affinity, a mobile application designed to streamline tenant communications.

Through Summer Company, Roger connected with mentors that helped him with project management, app development planning, and coming up with tactics to connect with landlords. He also was able to leverage the funding to speed up his product development, launch his website, and fund his business development ideas.

 Roger saw Summer Company as an opportunity to develop key skills for running a start-up – from management skills, to learning to how to effectively allocate resources and capital. He’s happy to say he got a dose of experience in all of these fields, with the added bonus of having heard the stories and business paths of many individuals that he would not have been able to connect to if not part of Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program.

Roger is inspired by the agency and opportunity that comes from running a company, and definitely sees more entrepreneurship ventures in his future. 

Charmy Box Shop - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Zach entered into the Summer Company program with a deep entrepreneurial background, having opened his first business at 16. As a happy pet owner himself, he knew how important pets are in their owner’s lives and decided to launch businesses that catered towards them. In the past, he launched a board game business for pet owners and, in his latest venture, Charmy Pet Foods, Zach opened a business that focused on pet food and nutrition.

Despite there being many existing pet food companies, Zach saw a gap for food products that were tailored for each individual pet. To address this need, he opened Charmy’s Box Shop, where he sourced healthy pet food products and designed an algorithm that could help match pets to a diet that maximizes their health. Zach believes that each pet breed requires an unique nutrition plan to help avoid common health conditions associated with them.

Zach was looking for funding to catapult the growth of his idea and decided to apply for Summer Company. While in Summer Company, Zach saw an opportunity to expand his products into retail storefronts and was matched with a Business-to-Business sales mentor that helped guide him through the business development process. Zach was also connected with another pet food company for mentorship through YSpace – a local partner that specializes in serving the food sector.

Since launching, Zach continues to grow his company and has plans to expand the reach of his business into the United States.

DMS Creative Labs - 2019 Summer Company Participant

Ask Jordan Hilkowitz about his company’s name and the 17-year-old will tell you that DMS stands for “Doctor Mad Science.” That’s the name of Hilkowitz’s popular YouTube channel. From age 11 to 14, Hilkowitz starred in dozens of YouTube videos, enthusiastically demonstrating kid-friendly science experiments. Doctor Mad Science has attracted about 34,000 subscribers and $15,000 in ad revenue, but it also helped Hilkowitz, who is on the autism spectrum, to develop his communication skills.

He flexed his communication skills — and his entrepreneurial spirit — as he developed DMS Creative Labs. DMS is a marketing and media firm that provides website design and maintenance, logo creation, videography and other services for the blockchain and digital industries (blockchains contain data used by cryptocurrencies).

To help him launch DMS, Hilkowitz applied to Summer Company — a “big process,” he says. Summer Company is an Ontario government program that helps young people, aged 15 to 29, to start and run full-time summer businesses by providing training, coaching and funding of up to $3,000. The Richmond Hill Small Business Enterprise Centre (RHSBEC) administers the program.

When Hilkowitz was accepted into the program, the timing couldn’t have been better. Tracy Leparulo, CEO of Untraceable, an event management and marketing agency, had contracted him to provide graphic design, PowerPoint and web services for the large Toronto blockchain conference she was planning for August. “Jordan was an invaluable contributor to the event,” says Leparulo, who had partnered with him on the Doctor Mad Science videos years ago. “We couldn’t have done it without him.”

While he had Untraceable as his biggest client, Hilkowitz took in all that Summer Company has to offer. “A key part the program were the workshops,” he says. “I learned all about Google Ads and reaching my audience through Facebook and Instagram.” Another workshop, which encouraged participants to identify their value proposition, helped Hilkowitz price his services.

He also took advantage of Summer Company’s mentoring services, meeting with two established small business owners. “The mentors gave me ideas on how to reach my target audience,” he says. “One of them suggested I add a mailing list to my website and follow potential clients on social media.”

To help the young entrepreneurs promote their businesses, RHSBEC typically hosts two meet-and-greet trade shows each summer. Hilkowitz showcased his services at both events, one at a local Staples store and the other at the City of Richmond Hill’s main office, where he was photographed with Mayor David Barrow.

These opportunities added up to some awesome exposure for this active Grade 12 student who’s clearly finding his way in today’s digital world.

Floato - 2022 Summer Company Participant 

Ian Korovinsky is flying high with his company Floato. Last year, the 18-year-old took part in the Summer Company program and launched his own business doing drone photography and videography for the real estate market. He hopes to build Floato into a reputable drone media company in the near future. 

Frostack Games - 2021 Summer Company Participant

Alexandria has long been passionate about working in the video game industry and saw Summer Company as a great opportunity to gain experience in the industry. With the help of Richmond Hill’s Summer Company program, Alexandria launched ‘Frostack Games’ – a woman-led gaming company whose goal is to create games that are accessible and affordable to customers.

For starting the business, Alexandria had the technical experience she needed to create video games. She had won multiple gaming hackathons in the past, but was still new when it came to operations and marketing aspects of running a company. While in the Summer Company program, Alexandria gained experience on how to manage employees, market her product, connect with influencers and create an online community that invites gamers.

Overall, the experience was positive for Alexandria. She was excited to have collaborated with multiple gaming influencers, host a hackathon and gaming tournament, and partner with two local charities.

Despite Summer Company being over, Alexandria is still working on projects and has games planned for future launch. Frosthack already has fans that are looking for the sequel of Alexandria’s first horror themed game, “They’re Coming”, and she hopes to deliver! 

Larry's Lawnmowing - 2022 Summer Company Participant 

Larry Li applied to Summer Company hoping to gain valuable entrepreneurial experience while servicing his community. He decided to launch a cost-effective and customer-focused lawn mowing company for homeowners. Over the summer, he managed to grow and hire 11 student service agents. Together, they performed 30 lawn-mowing jobs in Richmond Hill and other parts of the GTA. 

Lashes By Em - 2020 Summer Company Participant

Emily was excited by the prospect of opening a company and developing herself into a long-term entrepreneur. When applying for Summer Company in January 2020, she initially wanted to start a company that would provide clientele with eyelash extension services. However, due to the pandemic, she transitioned her idea into an online business offering premium lashes to millennial women. That’s how “Lashes by Em” was created.

Summer Company accelerated the launch of Emily’s business by providing her with a $3,000 grant and business training. Additionally, her meetings with the program’s mentors helped her improve on her product offering and marketing strategies. Emily enjoyed being able to go over ideas with them and connect on a personal level.

Emily joined the program with the intention of starting a new business she could build over the future, creating her own income. She accomplished both of these goals, and wants to continue to invest in Lashes By Em with the long-term goal of integrating her eyelash technician services into the business.

Emily believes that if someone has the opportunity to start a business, they should definitely act on it. “Although it may be challenging, the experience is extremely rewarding and fulfilling.” 

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