Summer Company provides coaching, mentoring and funding for students to explore entrepreneurship.
Kingston, Ontario – July 11, 2024 – Kingston Economic Development is pleased to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of 12 dedicated students selected for this year’s Summer Company program. Funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by Kingston Economic Development, the program was established to empower young entrepreneurs aged 15 to 29. Summer Company provides the participants with critical business training and financial assistance, fostering their ability to launch and manage their businesses.
Norman Musengimana, Kingston Economic Development’s Manager for Start-ups & Entrepreneurship, noted, “Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs through the Summer Company program is incredibly fulfilling. This three-month program helps participants explore the world of entrepreneurship by offering great resources to transform their ideas into businesses. It’s inspiring to see these young entrepreneurs develop their ideas and skills, and it’s what drives us daily to provide the necessary guidance and support.”
The Summer Company program offers successful participants personalized training through a business boot camp led by business coach Claire Bouvier. After their training, they are paired with a mentor for personalized coaching throughout the summer to address their unique challenges in starting and running their business. The participants receive $3,000 as a start-up grant from Kingston Economic Development to jump-start their business.
“The Summer Company Program consistently showcases Kingston’s young exceptional talent and creativity. From high school to post-secondary students, our city is rich with impressive young individuals and their innovative ideas. This cohort exemplifies the passion and determination that drive entrepreneurial success. These 12 young entrepreneurs have demonstrated the commitment and ambition necessary to build successful careers as business owners,” shares Simon Denford, Business Programs & Community Outreach Coordinator.
Successful Summer Company participant Blake Aylesworth of A+ Lawn Services mentions, “The Summer Company program profoundly impacted my entrepreneurial journey, equipping me with essential business fundamentals and invaluable life skills. The support from Simon, Claire, and the Kingston Economic Development Corporation team has been instrumental in navigating my business startup and expanding my network within the entrepreneurial community. A key aspect that has been beneficial for me is how the team keeps us accountable, ensuring we are moving towards our goals. They want to see us succeed as much as we do.”
Please visit www.investkingston.ca/summercompany to learn more about the Summer Company program and its 2024 participants and to register for the Summer Company Showcase, which will take place on August 15 at Fractal Workspace.
Meet the 2024 Summer Company participants:
Blake Aylesworth, A+ Lawn Services
A+ Lawn Services, founded by Queen’s University kinesiology student Blake Aylesworth, offers professional lawn care and gardening services to the South Frontenac and Kingston areas. Services include lawn cutting, trimming, yard clean-ups, leaf blowing, weeding, planting, and mulching. Blake maintains high standards while providing opportunities to local students, blending professional development with quality work.
Kaie Bain, Backyard Swimming Lessons with Kaie
Backyard Swimming Lessons with Kaie, created by LCVI student Kaie Bain, offers one-on-one swimming lessons for children in the Kingston community. Kaie, an experienced lifeguard and swim instructor, helps kids learn crucial water safety skills in a supportive environment, ensuring both safety and fun.
Corben Enright, Corben’s Rooster Ranch
Corben’s Rooster Ranch focuses on raising pasture-raised, free-range white rock chickens, which are sold directly to local families and restaurants. The chickens are raised on-site in movable chicken tractors, ensuring ample grass feeding. Corben aims to provide his community with locally raised organic meat products.
Elli Parsons, EGL Graphics
EGL Graphics, founded by St. Lawrence College student Elli Parsons, offers affordable, customizable sports apparel live at events. EGL Graphics’ goal is to create an inclusive environment for athletes by allowing them to design apparel on demand. It solves the common issue of overordering event apparel and provides a hands-on experience for tournament participants.
Caiden Chase, Gear Glow Details
Gear Glow Details takes a different approach to the car detailing industry. Seeing heavy competition in the automotive sector, Caiden targeted a niche market: heavy machinery. Seeing the need for washings, Gear Glow began targeting heavy machinery on construction sites, farms, and marinas.
Ben Renwick. NoSplat Painters
NoSplat Painters, founded by Benjamin Renwick, a St. Lawrence College student with over three years of industry experience, offers high-quality commercial and residential painting services in Kingston and surrounding areas. Ben emphasizes direct client interaction, aiming to provide top-tier service by leveraging his leadership development and business education.
Matthew Kong, Portal Wear
Portal Wear, founded by Matthew Kong and Jonathan Li, offers dynamic clothing embedded with smart tags. By tapping or scanning the tag with a smartphone, users access the wearer’s personalized online profile. This innovative approach enhances interpersonal connection and self-expression, merging graphic design and technology.
Ian Sheppard, Scrub N’ Shine
Scrub N’ Shine is a premier window washing service that delivers exceptional quality and outstanding customer service. Founded on the principles of meticulous care and customer satisfaction, their mission is to help homeowners rediscover the beauty of their homes through sparkling clean windows.
Sterling Seunarine, Silver Candles
Silver Candles is a candle company that offers affordable candles that care about your health. The candles are made from essential oils, soy wax, and cotton wick. The targeted market is males or individuals who appreciate masculine scents. To give back to the community, a portion of the company sales goes towards Men’s Mental Health Initiatives.
Nathan Kashira, SkyShot Kingston
SkyShot Kingston is taking to the skies with aerial photography and videography using a drone. Nathan, the founder, owner, and pilot, brings creativity and expertise to his shots. He makes sure to capture an interesting angle and then touches it up using editing and cutting techniques to make a remarkable end product.
Griffin Wicke, TimeSavers
TimeSavers is a local business that focuses on tidying and cleaning services so their clients can focus on what they love in life. Griffin, a local high school student, created the business when his neighbor noticed junk piling up in his neighborhood and Griffin turned his need to unclutter into a thriving business.
Yamen Abuelyazed, Urban Greens
Urban Greens, founded by Yamen Abuelyazed, offers an innovative automated planting system designed to facilitate indoor, all-season gardening. Yamen, a student at Frontenac Secondary School, aims to revive the spirit of gardening in Ontario homes and urban environments. Urban Greens empowers consumers to grow their produce at home, promoting sustainability and reconnecting city dwellers with greenery.
Media Contact:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
