Starter Company Plus Fall 2020 Intake Announced
The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre (BAC) has selected 14 successful applicants to take part in the Fall 2020 intake of Starter Company Plus.
This program runs for 8 weeks and aims to teach new entrepreneurs the necessary skills to start and grow their business. Seven of the participating businesses will be selected and awarded a grant of $5,000 based on creativity, strength of business plan and viability.
Meet the newest entrepreneurs below:
| Name | Business Name | Description | Location |
| Debra Ragbar | Kawartha Spice Company | Kawartha Spice Company Inc., is a manufacturer of gluten-free Curry Powder, and Spice Rub Mixes for plant-based, poultry, red meat, seafood recipes and Rim Rubs for Cocktails such as Caesar. Branded as Conversation Tree, these curry powder mix and spice rub mixes are made with a number of pure natural spices selected for their superior flavour and premium quality. | City of Peterborough |
| Lyle Saunders | Saunders Tax Service c/o Peterborough Disability Tax Services | Locally owned and operated by Lyle Saunders, Peterborough Disability Tax Services (PtboDTS.ca) office is at 175 George St N – Office#9; opened in February 2019 within the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce. Specializing in the Disability Tax Credit to individuals and caregivers, to not only assist in applications and challenges but also to adjust approved tax credits beyond CRA’s automatic adjustments. | City of Peterborough |
| Ivan O’Brien | Archer Equipment Inspections Ltd. | Archer Equipment Inspections is a heavy equipment inspection company. Our primary service is inspecting equipment that is for sale for companies that are interested in purchasing equipment. | Township of Douro-Dummer |
| Janette Fluke | Florna Sweets | Florna Sweets creates 100% custom designed sugar cookies for celebrations and holidays using royal icing and other edible mediums. | Township of Asphodel-Norwood |
| Sharyn Inward | Name coming soon! | A new lifestyle and wellness startup business that offers yoga and health education to plus size women to assist them in living their best healthiest life through positive mindset and training. | City of Peterborough |
| Jocelynn Vieira | The Kawartha Craft Company | The Kawartha Craft Company produces and sells easy to follow, do it yourself, crafts kits for children of all ages. Kits are stocked with hand-picked local supplies and tested out for ease of use. The Kawartha Craft Company donates kits to local shelters and works with local charities in Peterborough and the Kawarthas to supplement fundraising initiatives. | Trent Lakes |
| Cheryl Edwards & Charmaine Magumbe | Zingha | Zingha is a social business located in Peterborough, Ontario. It offers originally created, positive Afrocentric images on t-shirts, mugs, and bags. It also offers Nigerian COVID masks and handmade Afrocentric notebooks and journals. Zingha also offers free resources to the public to enable it to become more inclusive as well as to combat anti-Black racism. | City of Peterborough |
| Alicia Doris | Living Local Box | Living Local proudly shares the very best of Peterborough and The Kawarthas through custom gift boxes and seasonal subscription boxes. At a time when living local has never been more important, we’re connecting community members with new ways to love local, shop local, and support small business. | City of Peterborough |
| Andrew Flaman | Circle Life | Circle Life is an emerging micro-enterprise being incubated at Circle Organic Community Farm, in Millbrook Ontario. The farm is situated on the edge of the Ganaraska Forest, amidst the picturesque farmland of the Oak Ridge’s Moraine. | Township of Cavan-Monaghan |
| Susan Dunkley | Suzi Home Maker | Suzi Homemaker helps with downsizing, de-cluttering, sorting, organizing, selling, donating, disposing, recycling, packing, moving, unpacking, helping people get settled in and clearing estates. | City of Peterborough |
| Dean & Amy Howley | King & Tupper | At King & Tupper, we offer our customers production and custom wood decor, art, toys, and furniture that are handcrafted in Millbrook, Ontario. We offer a constantly evolving range of products; from 2D painted wood signs to 3D backlit wood art, rocking giraffes to toddler helper stools. | Township of Cavan-Monaghan |
| Jonathan Clement | Elbuns Media | Elbuns Media helps small businesses and non-profits to tell their stories through video, written content, editing existing content (both video and written), and developing strategies specializing in recruiting and fundraising efforts. | City of Peterborough |
| Christopher Nayler | Douglas Works | Douglas Works offers residential and commercial landscaping, hardscaping and property maintenances services for Peterborough & the Kawarthas. | City of Peterborough |
| Emiline Willson | The Willson Wagon | The Willson Wagon is a recently launched small business with a focus on hand crafted playdough, curated playdough kits (Doughscovery Kits), hand dyed sensory bin fillers, accessories and other sensory activities. | City of Peterborough |
“Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development has proudly delivered the Starter Co. Plus program since 2017, and I am very excited to once again be working with such a diverse group of small businesses from Peterborough & the Kawarthas. As new startups and expansions from our region, this group is connected through their resiliency and commitment collectively experienced over the last several months,” explains Madeleine Hurrell, the Economic Development Officer who oversees the Starter Company Plus program.
“The Fall 2020 Starter Co. Plus program will include a shift in focus to more robust digital marketing strategies, crisis communications and public relations, financial acumen and long term planning to better equip these entrepreneurs as they grow and launch their businesses in late 2020 and into early 2021,” Hurrell said.
Starter Company Plus is a program offered through the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre with funding from the Government of Ontario. This program is designed to provide business training for entrepreneurs (from aspiring to experienced), aged 18 and over in the City and County of Peterborough who are launching a business or expanding an existing business (that has been operating for five years or less). To learn more about this program, visit peterboroughed.ca/starter.