From Startup Dreams to Real-World Businesses: Summer Company 2026
This summer, a remarkable group of young entrepreneurs took the leap from idea to business through the Summer Company Program, funded through the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. Over the course of the program, students gain hands-on experience to launch and operate their own business, while developing valuable skills in marketing, sales, financial management, customer service, and business planning. They are supported by Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) and a dedicated network of mentors and industry experts who generously shared their knowledge, guidance, and encouragement. From overcoming challenges to celebrating milestones, each participant demonstrated creativity, resilience, and determination, making this another inspiring year for young entrepreneurs in Durham Region.
Meet our 2026 Summer Company Students:
Alena Service, Lenvaya Enterprise
Lenvaya Lifeguarding Services provides professional private lifeguarding and aquatic safety services throughout Durham Region. The business offers certified lifeguarding for private pool parties and swimming lessons for individuals of all ages and skill levels
Email: alenaservice10@gmail.com
Andrew Filson, Black Cat Web Solutions
Black Cat Web Solutions serves entrepreneurs, startups, and small- to medium-sized businesses who are too busy building and managing their businesses to create and maintain an online presence themselves.
Web: ️andrewfilson.ca
Email: contact@andrewfilson.ca
Cameron Barich, Spotlight Drop
Spotlight Drop runs co-op postcard mailers for local Durham businesses. Each mailer goes to 5,000 households, featuring up to 16 non-competing businesses, one per industry, who split the printing and mailing cost instead of paying for a solo campaign.
Email: cam@spotlightdrop.ca
Carmen-Mae Lopes, Mae Art
Mae Art specializes in creating 100% original, handmade textiles and artwork such as tote bags, glasses pouches, kitchen scrubbies, makeup bags, bag charms, and lino-printed t-shirts.
Cole Robert, C&A Home & Driveway Services
From driveway sealing and landscaping to lawn care, window cleaning, and exterior home maintenance, C&A Home & Driveway Services is dedicated to keeping homes across Durham Region looking clean, polished, and well-maintained.
Esperanza Lipop, Ever Enchanted Princess Parties
Enchanted Princess Parties features a one-of-a-kind character, Princess Hope, created to bring magic, imagination, and wonder to every celebration. The business is dedicated to making party planning simple and stress-free for families by handling all the special details, from tablecloths and tiaras to engaging stories and craft supplies.
@ever.enchantedprincessparties
Email: everenchantedprincessparty@gmail.com
Fatima Farheen, Bleachd
Bleachd is a clothing brand dedicated to giving secondhand and thrifted clothing a new life through personalized customization. Using techniques such as bleach painting, fabric painting, and embellishments, each piece is transformed into a one-of-a-kind creation
Fazil Syed, Fazil Flix
Fazil Syed is a videographer specializing in creating high-quality, engaging video content for local businesses. He produces Instagram-ready videos and advertising campaigns that help businesses capture attention, showcase their services, and attract more customers.
FazilFlix — Cinematic Videography | Turning Moments into Visuals That Move
Gavin Hazelwood, Hazelwood Detailing
Hazelwood Detailing is a fully mobile car detailing service serving Port Perry, Uxbridge, and the surrounding communities. Gavin brings professional detailing services directly to customers’ driveways, saving them the time and inconvenience of visiting a detailing shop.
📩 info@hwdetailing.ca @hazelwood_detailing
Hirtig Balasuntheram, VVS Autocare
VVS Autocare is a premium mobile auto detailing service based in Durham Region. Founded by a young entrepreneur with a genuine passion for cars, the business was built on a commitment to delivering exceptional vehicle care and convenience.
VVSAutocare.com 📩 thevvsautocare@gmail.com
Izzy VanEsveld, IZxONE
IZxONE is a one-stop-shop for hand-printed journals, unique stickers, keychains and prints of Izzy’s original artwork, as well as made-to-order items and commissioned pieces.
Justin Horne, Fresh Start
Specializing in interior detailing, Fresh Start Mobile Detailing provides thorough cleaning services, including vacuuming, seat and carpet cleaning, stain removal, surface sanitization, and odour elimination. The business also offers waterless exterior cleaning to help keep vehicles looking their best while using less water.
📩 freshstart@gmail.com
Lukas Simpson, Top Tier Mobile Detailing
Top Tier Mobile Detailing is a mobile detailing business that serves people within the Durham Region. Top Tier Mobile Detailing performs things such as Interior Details, Exterior Details and Full Details. There are also additional services that can be performed like salt stain removal, spray wax, stain removal, carpet shampoo, leather conditioning etc.
📩 ttmsdurham@gmail.com TopTierMobileDetailing
Mustafa Amin, Apex Coat Auto Detailing
Apex Coat Auto Detailing is a professional mobile and appointment-based automotive detailing business serving Oshawa, Durham Region, and surrounding communities. With six years of experience and hundreds of vehicles restored and protected, Mustafa provides interior and exterior detailing, protective coatings, and headlight restoration services designed to help every vehicle look cleaner, feel fresher, and stay protected.
📩 apexcoatdetailing@gmail.com @apexcoat
Neil Patel, LnJ Home Services
LnJ Home Services is a locally owned handyman company serving homeowners throughout Durham Region. Committed to quality workmanship and dependable service, the business helps clients maintain, repair, and enhance their properties with confidence.
📩 lnjhomeservices1@gmail.com @lnjhomeservices
Rhys Broderick, Tsukumo! Inc
Tsukumo! is an independent creative studio and production company focused on building original intellectual property across film, fashion, graphic design, publishing, and advertising. Tsukumo! is built around cultivating original voices, supporting emerging creatives, and producing work with a distinct artistic identity.
@tsukumooooooo
Saffiya Mehraban, Fitwith Saff Personal Training
FitWithSaff Personal Training provides supportive, women-focused personal training designed for beginners and women who want to become stronger, more confident, and more consistent with exercise.
📩 saffiya.meh.sam@gmail.com @fitwsaff
Yousuf Arab, JunkJaguar
JunkJaguar provides reliable and accessible junk removal services for individuals, families, businesses, property managers, and clients from all walks of life. With a focus on convenience, professionalism, and customer service, the business helps clients clear unwanted items efficiently and responsibly.
📩junkjaguardurham@gmail.com @junkjaguar
Photo Credits: A special thank you to Kassandra Dzikewicz for capturing professional headshots of our Summer Company students and helping showcase the incredible young entrepreneurs behind each business. @kassandradphoto www.kassandra-ann.com
Mentorship and Support:
We do our best to provide a strong mentoring and support system for our young entrepreneurs. This year our students were fortunate to be mentored by six business mentors who shared their time, experience, and encouragement.
Thank you mentors!
- Maggie Perotin – Stairway to Leadership
- Daisy Raudales – DRPR
- Radhika Kapoor – Moon Rabbit Strategy
- Jay Fisher – Durham College Professor
- Tinnelle Hosten – Silvertree Educational Consuting,
- Awele Obiago – SIL Consult
Thank you Industry Experts!
- Mike Libbey from YBL, who guided students through the essentials of small business taxes and financial best practices
- Daisy Raudales, from DRPR who shared valuable strategies for marketing, websites and content creation
- Maggie Perotin, Stairway to Leadership who provided expert advice on sales and client acquisition
- Stephanie Herrera, Hub International who helped students better understand the importance of business insurance and risk management
The Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) is passionate about nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in our community, and the Summer Company Program is a cornerstone of this mission. Throughout the program, we provided training in key areas such as business planning, insurance, marketing, financial management, and customer service. Our goal was to equip these young entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the challenges of starting and running a business.
The young entrepreneurs participated in workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions and received a grant of $3,000 each. They learned how to refine their business ideas, develop effective strategies, and execute their plans. The program also emphasized the importance of networking, encouraging students to build connections that could support their businesses in the future.
Congratulations to all the students we had the pleasure of working with this year! We are eager to see what the future holds for each of you and want to remind you that BACD is here to support you every step of the way on your entrepreneurial journey.
The Summer Company Program is funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. We are grateful for their continued support in fostering a strong, innovative economy that provides jobs and prosperity for all Ontarians, with a particular focus on small business development. Here’s to the future of entrepreneurship in Durham Region!
Thank you to the Regional Municipality of Durham Region for your continued funding and support.
