Summer Company 2025 provides young entrepreneurs with tools and resources to turn their ideas into summer businesses
Kingston, Ontario – January 23, 2025 – The Summer Company program, funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by Kingston Economic Development, is now accepting applications for its 2025 cohort, calling on ambitious students aged 15 to 29 to turn their business ideas into reality. Following the success of last year’s cohort, which launched 12 new businesses, this Ontario government-funded initiative provides aspiring young entrepreneurs with the training, mentorship, and funding needed to start and run their own summer business.
“What makes Summer Company truly special is that it goes beyond just launching summer businesses,” says Norman Musengimana, Business Development Manager, Start-ups & Entrepreneurship, at Kingston Economic Development. “While the immediate success of our participants is impressive, the real impact comes from planting that entrepreneurial seed in young minds. We’re not just helping students start businesses today – we’re nurturing the innovative thinking, problem-solving skills, and entrepreneurial mindset they’ll carry throughout their careers, whether they continue their Summer Company business or pursue other ventures.”
The program was established by the province in 2001 to foster youth entrepreneurship. In the last ten years alone, the Summer Company program has helped launch 150 new businesses in Kingston and provided $450,000 in startup funding. It combines essential business training through an intensive business boot camp, personalized mentorship from local business leaders, and up to $3,000 to help participants transform their innovative ideas into thriving summer businesses.
“In Summer Company, I learned that being your own boss is more than just having an idea – it’s about taking action,” says Ben Renwick, St. Lawrence College Student, founder of NoSplat Painters and 2024 Summer Company participant. “Each door I knocked on improved my confidence and my sales pitch. While the funding helped launch my painting business, the real value came from the mentorship and connections. I encourage any student considering entrepreneurship to take this opportunity – it’s an investment in your future.”
Applications for Summer Company 2025 are now open, with an application deadline of April 15, 2025. Students interested in exploring entrepreneurship and starting their own businesses are encouraged to apply.
For more information about the program, requirements, and how to apply, visit investkingston.ca/summercompany
Media Contacts:
Daniel Solorio
Marketing & Communications Manager
Kingston Economic Development Corporation
613-329-9270
solorio@investkingston.ca
