Kingston Newcomer Entrepreneurs Awards
To celebrate the contributions made by exceptional and visionary newcomer entrepreneurs, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation has worked with Kingston Immigration Partnership to establish the Kingston Newcomer Entrepreneurs Award.
Three awards will be distributed under the Newcomer Entrepreneurs Award:
Community Builder Award – for entrepreneurs who have demonstrated strong commitment and contribution in community service.
Start-up Award – for entrepreneurs whose businesses were established within the past five (5) years.
Inspirational Entrepreneur Award – for entrepreneurs who have demonstrated great success and vision.
You can either nominate yourself or nominate a newcomer entrepreneur through this form.
To be considered for the Award, the newcomer entrepreneur must have:
· Been born outside of Canada
· Established and operate their business in Kingston
Nominations for the 2026 Newcomer Entrepreneur Awards are open.
To nominate a newcomer entrepreneur:
1. Download and fill out the application form.
2. Send the completed application form via email to info@investkingston.ca with the subject: Newcomer Entrepreneur Nomination
Timeline for the 2026 Newcomer Entrepreneur Awards:
January 30 – March 12, 2026 – Application window open.
March 12 – 20, 2026 – Adjudication process.
March 23, 2026 – Successful entrepreneurs are notified.
April 20, 2026 – Awards ceremony.
2025 Newcomer Entrepreneur Award Winners
Patrick Egbunonu,
Informanos Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Inc.
Community Builder of the Year 2025
Patrick Egbunonu, a Nigerian-born entrepreneur and educator, is President and Chief AI Officer at Informanos Analytics & Artificial Intelligence.
With degrees in Chemical Engineering, Economics, and an Executive MBA from Queen’s and Cornell, Patrick previously managed Group Underwriting at Empire Life Insurance Company and served as Acting Dean at St. Lawrence College.
His company develops AI-driven feedback platforms to help organizations optimize decision-making and productivity. Patrick also leads EbChim Strategy and 1MT Technical and Leadership Institute, empowering African youth through vocational training.
A passionate advocate for Black entrepreneurs, Patrick serves on multiple boards while completing his doctorate in AI.
Drs. Anh Tran Ly and Tu Nguyen, CO₂ L Tech
Start-up of the Year 2025
Vietnamese scientists Drs. Anh Tran Ly and Tu Nguyen founded CO₂ L Tech in 2022 to commercialize breakthrough electrochemical CO₂ reduction technology.
Anh, with a Materials Science PhD from ETH Zurich, and Tu, an expert in CO₂ conversion chemistry, combined their expertise to transform greenhouse gases into valuable industrial chemicals. Their venture began at Queen’s University’s QICSI startup incubator, where they won the grand prize. Based in Kingston, Ontario, CO2L Tech works with local partners to scale their innovation to tonne-scale production within three years.
For Anh, witnessing the effects of climate change in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta drives their mission to make carbon reduction profitable.
Phuong MacNeil,
Handy Fairies.
Inspirational Newcomer of the Year 2025
Phuong MacNeil, a Vietnamese-Canadian entrepreneur, owns Handy Fairies Cleaning Company in Kingston, Ontario.
With a Computer Software Engineering degree from Vietnam’s University of Science, Phuong built a successful tech career as a Software Test Engineer at Pricedex and Telecom Test Engineer at Nortel Networks before pivoting to entrepreneurship in 2018. Her company provides comprehensive residential and commercial cleaning services with an eco-conscious approach, using environmentally friendly products and techniques.
Drawing inspiration from a Vietnamese fairy tale similar to Cinderella, Phuong’s mission is to create stress-free environments for busy families while maintaining high quality and reliability through her team of dedicated “fairies.”
Previous winners
Tarek Hussein, founder of Weller Pharmacy, has built his career on personalized healthcare. With a Doctor of Pharmacy and an MBA from IE Business School, he launched Weller Pharmacy in 2015 to offer community-first care. He also co-developed MedaKi, an e-commerce platform for independent pharmacies.
A Kingston resident since 2011, Tarek values the city’s welcoming spirit and gives back through leadership roles, including Past Chair of the Kingston Chamber of Commerce and VP at KEYS Job Centre.
His advice for newcomers? “Love Kingston and Canada, and they will love you back.”
Walking into SENS Café feels like stepping into France. Owners Pierre and Isabelle Tardiveau, winners of the Newcomer Entrepreneur Award, bring an authentic French touch to Kingston’s coffee scene.
Pierre trained at BBS Barista Bartender School in Aix-en-Provence before they launched their first café in Annecy. In 2018, they took a bold step, moving to Canada to introduce their specialty coffee expertise.
Now proud Kingston residents, they have built a thriving café known for expertly crafted coffee, fresh pastries, and gourmet sandwiches, all served in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Rathi Perumal, founder of Uyir Engineering, built her firm on a people-first philosophy. “Uyir,” Tamil for “life,” reflects her mission to create life-centric engineering designs that blend creativity, functionality, and energy.
A newcomer to Canada in 2010, Rathi earned her M.Eng. in Electrical Engineering before launching Uyir in 2020. Facing challenges in a male-dominated industry, she carved out a niche with resilience and vision.
Now a Top 40 Under 40 Kingston Young Professional and Startup Newcomer Entrepreneur Award winner, Rathi is growing Uyir into one of Canada’s first women-owned global engineering consulting firms.
Brian Dodo, founder of BmDodo Strategic Design, is an award-winning designer, entrepreneur, and community builder. Born in Zimbabwe, his passion for design led him to launch BmDodo in 2005, growing it into an internationally recognized firm with clients like the United Nations and European Commission.
Deeply committed to Kingston, Brian gives back through leadership roles on multiple boards, including Sustainable Kingston and the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business. He also promotes Canadian businesses in Africa through MAPP Africa Inc.
His passion for design, dedication to his clients, and community involvement continue to shape his industry and inspire others.
Hakeem Subair and Rizma Butt co-founded 1 Million Teachers (1MT) to address the global shortage of quality educators. Their mission is to attract, train, and support teachers through an innovative, reward-based development program. With partnerships spanning Canada, Africa, and Pakistan, 1MT is revolutionizing teacher education with AI-driven training, mentorship, and community impact initiatives.
Originally from Nigeria, Hakeem’s journey began when he struggled to find quality teachers for his daughter’s school. After moving to Canada in 2012, he pursued a Master’s in Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University, using his business expertise to scale 1MT globally.
Born in Pakistan, Rizma came to Canada in 2016 for her Master’s at Queen’s University. Passionate about human capacity development, she now leads 1MT as COO while also managing a Pakistani fashion brand and teaching at Queen’s & St. Lawrence College.
Together, Hakeem and Rizma are empowering teachers worldwide, creating lasting change in education.
Born in Turkey, Gökhan Cifci built his career in the restaurant industry before meeting his wife, Sarah, while working on cruise ships. After moving to Canada, he opened Tango Nuevo in 2013, transforming a closed restaurant into a thriving tapas destination.
With a strong team—including his sister, Hediye—Gökhan grew Tango Nuevo into an award-winning restaurant, later expanding with Mayla Concept in 2021. He champions Kingston’s culinary scene, collaborating with fellow restauranteurs to attract more visitors.
For Gökhan, it’s about more than food—it’s about creating an evolving, world-class dining experience in Kingston.
Starting a business
Whether starting a business with a proven model or a disruptive startup that will change the world, starting a business demands both courage and commitment. No matter your vision, the road ahead offers as many rewards as it does challenges, we’re here to help you navigate both.
What’s your starting point?
Small business
A small business is a locally owned company that usually starts with a few employees and a simple structure. It provides goods or services to a specific community and grows at a steady pace. These businesses often need less money to start and are easier to manage. Owners have control over daily decisions and can build strong relationships with their customers. Small businesses are important to the local economy and offer long-term stability.
High-growth startups
A high-growth startup is a business built to grow quickly and reach large markets. It often uses new technology or ideas to offer something unique. Scale-ups aim to expand fast, sometimes across Canada or internationally, and often need investment to support that growth. These businesses focus on building large teams, entering new markets, and growing revenue quickly. They carry more risk but also have the potential for big rewards and market leadership.
Buying a business
Buying a business means taking over a company that is already up and running. It comes with existing customers, staff, and systems, which helps you get started faster. This option removes some of the guesswork involved in launching a new business. However, it’s important to review the company’s finances and operations before making a decision. In buying a business, you can help it grow differently than it had been before, bringing new ideas to life.
Norman Musengimana
Business Development Manager, Startups & Entrepreneurship
Norman Musengimana is a seasoned expert in business development and entrepreneurship, with extensive experience working with startups and small businesses, over seven countries across three continents, Norman’s experience provides a global perspective that enriches his work with entrepreneurs.
With two master’s degrees-one in Leading Innovation and Change Management from York St. John University and another in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University-he has supported entrepreneurs through business plan development, strategic planning, feasibility studies, and funding strategies.
