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Divine Health and Fitness: Holistic Health with a Community Focus |
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In 2017, Chelsea Smith worked a full-time job at a a gym as a personal trainer while she offered clients holistic health services that were delivered through a separate business.
To Chelsea, delivering these aspects of health services in such a divided format wasn’t only inconvenient for her – it felt unnatural and contrary to the way she feels health and fitness services should be delivered – in a cohesive single approach incorporating three key pillars: physical activity, holistic nutrition and mental health.
“This maze sent clients through tedious loops to receive well rounded health support and only made my ultimate goal grow stronger – to glue those important pillars back together,” she explained.
Powered by a strong resolve to make her vision a reality, she left her full-time position at the gym to establish Divine Health and Fitness in 2020 to merge all her services into one. However, as the business was founded as a “COVID-born business” it meant for the first three years, she needed to operate her business on a virtual-only basis.
Chelea explained that despite the challenges of operating virtually, the business gained momentum and was able to develop a strong social media following. But despite the growth of the business’ virtual clientele, she still had her sights set on moving beyond the virtual environment to establish a physical location for the business.
“I decided to expand into an in-person location, a private fitness studio,” she confirmed. “This was such a dream of mine. I never let fear win and I definitely had a mind full of optimism in my capabilities. But I would be lying to you if I said I wasn’t completely lost.”
A dream realized – thanks to Invest Ottawa and the Starter Company Plus program
Seeking a way to make her dream a reality, Chelsea participated in the 2023 cohort of Starter Company Plus – an Ontario government funded program facilitated in the Ottawa area by Invest Ottawa.
Along with a grant to help boost her marketing efforts, the program gave Chelsea access to an invaluable community of peers from the entrepreneurial community which she feels helped her find her way.
“This was such a new ball game for me and the Starter Company Plus program really helped me turn that ‘lost’ feeling into a newfound confidence in this world I was entering,” she said.
When asked what she would tell fellow entrepreneurs about the Starter Company Plus program, Chelsea said she would tell them it, “may just be the answer to all your prayers.”
“One thing we could all use more of as a society is a sense of community, and Starter Company Plus supplies that and then some,” she explained. “The grant (if awarded) is just a huge bonus, but there is nothing I think more helpful along the path of success, especially in the beginning stages of business, than to have access to people who are already in the position you want to be in, and have already asked themselves the same questions, fixed the same problems, gone through trial and error and can now save you time and energy.”
“You need a strong foundation and Starter Company Plus makes sure you’re set up for success.”
