Be your own boss this summer
Want to run your own business?
We teach youth the practical skills for starting up a successful business during the summer break. We then coach and fund them to run it.
If you are between the ages of 15 and 29 and you have a business idea, you may be eligible for this program. If accepted, you will receive up to $3,000, hands-on coaching and interactive workshops for starting and running your own business this summer.
Applications are now open until May 27th. Spaces are limited and will go quickly. Apply now!
Program participants receive
Interactive workshops
Hands-on mentorship
A grant of up to $3,000
A digital community of entrepreneurial peers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
The Frosted Scribe is a home bakery specializing in meringue-based desserts, macarons, dacquoise cakes, pavlovas and other meringue-based desserts.
Coco’s provides premium quality soft-serve and coffee-based treats such as mix-ins, affogatos and iced coffee.
Receiver Teacher is an educational social media platform, educating the youth on the technical aspects of playing the wide receiver position in American football. These can either be in the form of sending in videos and getting feedback or in-person sessions.
Zombiecraft is a game about surviving waves of zombies in a post-apocalyptic era. The players need to keep their base safe and gather better weapons throughout the match due to increasing difficulty over time.
Our Journey creates jewelry made out of recycled plastic while reducing the amount of plastic waste going into landfills. Social media and blog posts will further raise awareness of the need to recycle and discuss environmental issues.
ANTI composes innovative and exciting incidental music to other creatives in mediums such as film, TV, fashion and visual art.
AlterLithium sells merchandise art on pin buttons, acrylic charms, all made of own drawings.
Tee’s of many colors by KS designs Tie dyed garments such as tee shirts, masks, tote bags. Perfect for that extra splash of color in your wardrobe.
QED offers math and public speaking tutoring to middle and high school students. To maximize students’ engagement they collaborate on a live whiteboard during each session.
Orion Studio is an indie game development studio dedicated to bringing the most enjoyable and highest quality game experiences to players around the world.
One of the best summer jobs you can have
Build your business
- Propose a new business idea separate from any current family businesses.
- Prepare a business plan that shows the business can successfully launch and operate this summer.
- Learn what it takes to run a successful business through interactive workshops and hands-on coaching by experienced entrepreneurs.
- Develop skills in sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management and online sales.
- Run your business; be prepared to invest 35 hours a week to operate it during the summer.
Build your business
- Propose a new business idea separate from any current family businesses.
- Prepare a business plan that shows the business can successfully launch and operate this summer.
- Learn what it takes to run a successful business through interactive workshops and hands-on coaching by experienced entrepreneurs.
- Develop skills in sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management and online sales.
- Run your business; be prepared to invest 35 hours a week to operate it during the summer.
Leverage the start-up money
A grant of up to $3,000 will be awarded to successful applicants in two instalments:
- The first instalment of up to $1,500 will be provided to cover startup costs at the beginning of the program.
- The second instalment of up to $1,500 will be provided upon successful completion of the program.
Find your community
- Meet like-minded young entrepreneurs like yourself.
- Share your passions.
- Make friends along the way.
Find your community
- Meet like-minded young entrepreneurs like yourself.
- Share your passions.
- Make friends along the way.
Apply now and be your own boss this summer
Meet Ottawa student entrepreneurs
Join our waitlist to receive program updates.
Is the Summer Company Program for you?
- Be between 15 and 29 years old.
- Currently a student and returning to school in the fall (proof of enrollment required).
- Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant residing in Ontario.
- Are not already running a business.
- Are not working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the program.
Applications for 2021 program are open until May 23. Here is how to apply:
- Check to see if you’re eligible for the program.
- Complete the online application inquiry.
- Select your local program provider.
- Assign yourself a password.
- Submit your application inquiry.
- If your application meets the program requirements, you will be instructed to complete the Summer Company business plan template and start up budget calculator.
- Once your business plan and startup budget calculator are complete and submitted, your program coordinator will invite you for an interview.
- After the interview, your program coordinator will let you know if you’ve been approved to participate in the program.
Proud Premier Sponsor of Invest Ottawa
Shoebox enables hearing care around the world. It creates, sells, and supports products that help clinicians identify hearing loss. The maker of Shoebox, Clearwater Clinical, hit a huge milestone in 2018 when they entered a strategic partnership with international hearing device company 
Transforming our data-driven world takes talent, and MindBridge is where it’s happening. This is where you’ll take artificial intelligence to enable and inspire humans to do more and be better. Our people, our customers, and our investors agree: No one else is accomplishing what we’re doing with data-driven AI right now. 
Tehama is enabling the digital workplace of the future. 150 companies are using Tehama. 600,000+ hours of IT services delivered. Zero breaches. The company’s head office is in the heart of the highly desirable Westboro neighborhood of Ottawa where you have your pick of the best of Ottawa’s cafes, restaurants and shops. Prefer to work from home? Tehama offers remote working options and flexible core hours. Join a team of the best and brightest and enjoy competitive salaries, benefits and a commitment to YOUR long-term success. 
Spartan Bioscience aspires to unleash the power of DNA testing for everyone. Like the Spartan warriors of Ancient Greece, our smart, hard-working, and honorable team members get things done. Learn