Delivered by Kingston Economic Development and funded by the Government of Ontario, the program equips aspiring young entrepreneurs with essential training, mentorship, and financial support to launch and manage their ventures. Established in 2001 by the Ontario government to foster youth entrepreneurship, Summer Company has been helping students, aged 15 to 29, start and run their own businesses.
Join us for the Summer Company Showcase!
Meet the 2026 Summer Company Participants
Farhaan Ali, Pinpoint
Queen’s University third-year student Farhaan Ali and Ontario Tech University student Madhav Patel are co-founders of Pinpoint, a map-first student housing platform that consolidates listings from Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji into one searchable interface. With AI-powered tools for finding homes and roommates, built-in verification, and a dedicated landlord dashboard, Pinpoint bridges the gap between student-friendly discovery and trustworthy, platform-grade reliability.
Liam Augustine, Campus Scapes
Carleton University second-year student Liam Augustine is operating Campus Scapes, a residential lawn care business offering weekly cuts, trimming, edging, and seasonal cleanups across Kingston. With his own equipment and vehicle ready to go, Liam is focused on building a loyal route of repeat clients throughout the summer.
Masa Chau, Protoino
University of Toronto first-year student Masa Chau builds Arduino engineering kits for elementary and high school students through Protoino. Rather than conventional step-by-step tutorials, each kit is built around real engineering challenges — environmental monitoring, motor control, and assistive technology — leaving intentional room for students to make meaningful design decisions of their own.
Sara Cordoba, La Colombiana
Queen’s University second-year Engineering student Sara Cordoba is bringing Colombian street food to Kingston through La Colombiana. Drawing on her family’s recipes for empanadas, arepas, and papas rellenas, Sara is building partnerships with OLAS and QSALSA to serve Kingston’s vibrant student community with an authentic culinary experience.
Stella Cribar, Marni By Stella
Queen’s University third-year student Stella Cribar designs handmade, customizable women’s tops through Marni By Stella, addressing a fit challenge that mass-market apparel routinely overlooks. Offering separate cup-size options, Stella gives clients the fit they actually want without the commitment of full custom measurements.
Chioma Egbunonu, Chylitics Solutions
Regiopolis-Notre Dame Grade 10 student Chioma Egbunonu is launching Chylitics Solutions, a B2B data service that transforms small retailers’ sales figures into daily action plans for reducing stagnant inventory. Her Inventory Velocity Framework charges clients a share of the savings she delivers — so they only pay when results follow.
Darren Fernandes, Senior Tech Support
Holy Cross Grade 11 student Darren Fernandes is bringing in-person technology tutoring to seniors across Kingston. Working in small groups within community spaces and retirement homes, Darren guides participants through their smartphones, tablets, and laptops, then provides each attendee with a printed reference guide tailored to that day’s session.
Matthew Hayes, Accendo CNC
Queen’s University third-year student Matthew Hayes fabricates Texas-style wood-fired offset smokers alongside CNC plasma-cut artwork, signage, and fireplace rings through Accendo CNC. Having already sold two smokers and shown his work at local markets, Matthew brings real customers and tangible momentum into the program.
Jeffery Hoekstra, WearYourTown
St. Lawrence College student Jeffery Hoekstra is building WearYourTown, an apparel brand celebrating civic pride — starting in Kingston and designed to expand to other Canadian cities. Jeffery collaborates with local artists on seasonal collections and uses a print-on-demand model to keep costs lean, driving discovery through TikTok, Instagram, and SEO.
Carter House, ClearCap
Frontenac Secondary School student Carter House is developing ClearCap, a medication organizer designed for seniors and people living with dementia. The device features easy-open drawers and a built-in calendar tracker that lets users and their families see at a glance whether daily doses have been taken — a practical, dignified solution to one of the most consequential routines for older adults.
Matthieu Roberge, Music With Matt
École secondaire catholique Marie-Rivier Grade 10 student Matthieu Roberge offers bilingual mobile piano lessons for children aged 5 to 12 across Kingston East through Music With Matt. Certified to RCM Level 5 and playing since age five, Matthieu brings lessons directly to families’ homes in both English and French, and also offers parent-and-tot classes and musical party activities.
Gillian Zhang, Inspirie
Kingston Secondary Grade 10 student Gillian Zhang runs Inspirie, a creative agency offering website design, brand identity, and social media management for small Kingston businesses at accessible price points. From logos and colour palettes to typography and content, Gillian helps local entrepreneurs present themselves with the polish of much larger organizations.
Mayor’s Innovation Challenge Winners – Brightsight
Alex Afrouz, Kamran Asim, and Hussain Al Moman, the founding team behind Brightsight and winners of the Mayor’s Innovation Challenge (MIC), who are joining Summer Company as part of their prize package. Brightsight, a student-run initiative that partners with local clinics and shelters to connect underserved youth aged 0 to 19 with eye care services covered by OHIP and covers the cost of prescription glasses for those who need them. Their inclusion highlights the growing interconnection between Kingston’s entrepreneurial programs and the many pathways available to young innovators across the city.
“Summer Company provided me with the resources they said they would and more. Honestly, it’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
Interested in applying for the 2027 Summer Company program?
1. Download and fill out the application form below.
2. Create a 2-minute video pitch explaining your business idea and why you want to participate in the program.
3. Send the completed application and link to your video via email to info@investkingston.ca with the subject: Summer Company Application.
If you’ve got a winning idea for starting a new business and are a student who is not afraid of hard work, you should consider applying to the Summer Company program – a great opportunity for enterprising young people who want to be their own BOSS! The program provides hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local community business leaders who will work with you to make your Summer Company a reality.
If your application is accepted, you will be eligible to receive up to $2,000 upfront award for start-up costs and up to $1,000 upon successful completion of the program. Successful completion requires that you:
· Implement your project substantially in accordance with the business plan;
· Participate in coaching and training;
· Meet with local business mentors as specified;
· Provide documents related to the experience and business operations as required in the guidelines, and
· Meet all program requirements for establishing and operating the business
FAQs
You’re eligible to participate if you’re:
· A student between 15 and 29 years old as of April 30, 2026 (a parent or guardian must sign the application for applicants under 18)
· Want to start or grow your business.
· Attending school and returning to school in the fall (this includes full-time, part-time, homeschooling, e-learning, distance learning, apprenticeships, trade schools, etc.)
· A resident of Ontario
· A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
· Not working at another job or attending school for more than 12 hours per week during the duration of the program
· Following the Canada Revenue Agency definition of being self-employed
· Able to work over the program period:
· A minimum of 280 hours if you’re a high school student
· A minimum of 420 hours if you’re a post-secondary student
· We may approve exceptions
· You must meet all of the above requirements
· You’re not eligible if you’ve received funding from Summer Company in the past
Almost any type of business is eligible, as long as it:
· Is a sole proprietorship or a corporation where you (the applicant) will be the majority shareholder
· Is an independent business venture
· The business is either new or less than a year since registration
· Operates at arm’s length from family business ventures
· Operates in Ontario
· Operates full-time as defined in the business plan
· Follows government rules and regulations for operating a business
· Businesses must meet all of the above requirements
These types of businesses are not eligible for funding:
· Partnerships/co-operatives
· Franchises
· Distributorships
· Incorporated businesses that are controlled directly or indirectly by a person who would not be eligible for a Summer Company award
· Business ventures that are subsidiaries or divisions of an existing business
· Business ventures that are continuations of existing commercial endeavours
· Commissioned sales
· Multi-level marketing ventures
· Single events such as a theatrical production, a DJ gig, a music concert, a dance/party event, a fundraiser, a sporting tournament, etc.
· Businesses that are strictly pay-per-click
· 1-900 businesses
The program gives students the full experience of running their own business. Note that:
· The program provider may, at its discretion, determine that a particular business is ineligible for the Summer Company program
· Online businesses are acceptable, but there must be face-to-face opportunities to market and sell your product
· App and tech businesses must be market ready and must generate sales by the end of the summer
· If you plan to run a business that requires certification, you’ll need to show proof to your program provider. If you’re unsure about certification obligations, ask your program provider. Certification examples include:
· Food handling certification for businesses that produce and/or sell food
· National Life Saving certification for businesses that offer swimming lessons
· Canada Professional Fitness Certification (CanFitPro) for businesses that offer personal fitness training
· Licences for businesses that specialize in drone photography
Once approved, you’ll be required to:
· Sign a Letter of Agreement with the program provider describing each party’s rights and responsibilities (a parent or guardian Must sign the agreement for applicants under 18)
· Sign a Release and Consent form (a parent or guardian must sign the form for participants under 18)
· Show your business name registration and any required licensing documents to your program provider for verification
· Open and operate a bank account for the business
· Spend your first payment within the first 30 days
· Operate your business over the summer program period, according to your business plan and cash flow, for:
· a minimum of 280 hours if you are a high school student
· a minimum of 420 hours if you are a post-secondary student
· Meet with your local program provider and mentors for a minimum of four meetings to review and track your progress
· Agree to one site visit by the program provider
· Maintain appropriate business records of income and expenditures including receipts
· Participate in business training with your program provider
To receive the second payment (up to $1,500), you need to:
· Meet your requirements to participate (listed above)
· Participate in an exit interview at the end of the summer
· Provide the following to your program provider for review, in a professional and business-like format:
· a cash flow record of your business operations
· copies of all your bank statements
· copies of all business receipts and invoices organized to show that you used the first payment for start-up costs
· Submit a signed confirmation that you’re returning to school
· Complete the anonymous online participant survey
If you don’t successfully complete the program, you will not receive the second payment and you may be asked to reimburse the first payment.
If you met all the requirements to complete the program but did not spend the full first payment within 30 days, the difference will be deducted from your second payment.
You may decide to start and/or continue your business while you’re in school, but for the purpose of the program’s administration, business operations can start no earlier than April 1 and must end by Labour Day.
The award is taxable under the Canada and Ontario Income Tax Acts. A T4A slip will be issued to the recipient of the award.
Contact Norman Musengimana
Business Development Manager,
Startups & Entrepreneurship
613-544-2725 x 7230
Cell: 613-217-0932
musengimana@investkingston.ca
