Kingston Economic Development launches annual Summer Company program

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KINGSTON — A baker’s dozen of young entrepreneurs were selected for this year’s annual Summer Company program from the Kingston Economic Development.

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The program, funded by the Ontario government, is to provide the 13 youths between 15 and 29 with access to up to $3,000 in funding, mentorship and training, including market research, financial management, marketing strategies and business planning, to start their own summer business.

“I’m so excited to join this program and learn from real entrepreneurs,” said Olivia Samis, founder of TrendAll and one of this year’s program participants. “Having a mentor and training will help me turn my business ideas into something real. I can’t wait to build my skills, meet other young creators, and take the next step toward being my own boss!”

Among those joining Samis in this year’s program are Zain Al Sudani, Yafet Beyene, Ethan Stassen, and Walelign Sumoro, the founders of Lawtonica and winners of the Public Sector Innovation Prize at the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge.

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Along with the Lawtonica founders, this year’s program is to include Rachel Neumann of ActualCare, Kerelos Gayed of AeroMaps, Jermyl Allen Acuzar of Alpha AI, Afham Awsaf of Amongoose BS, Shivansh Rathod of AstroBnB, Laurence Miller of CircuitSpark Crates, Bryson McCormick of Clearview Window and Exterior Cleaning, Sofia Nicolescu of Creative Covers, Jialin Luo of Linko, Owen Maclennan of Protoform Designs and Amir Bagherian of WelliTales.

“The program showed me what I can do with a business, what a path this kind of work can be and where it can take me,” said Caiden Chase, founder of GearGlow Details and a Summer Company participant last year. “I learned a lot on the business side too, with marketing and figuring out who to target. I did so much more than I expected to.”

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“Supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs through the Summer Company program continues to be incredibly rewarding,” said Norman Musengimana, business development manager for start-ups and entrepreneurship at Kingston Economic Development.

“This intensive program helps these young innovators explore entrepreneurship by providing them with the resources, mentorship, and funding needed to transform their creative ideas into viable businesses,” Musengimana said. “Seeing their enthusiasm and watching them develop both personally and professionally as they build their ventures is what drives our commitment to fostering entrepreneurial talent in Kingston.”

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