Entrepreneurs

Micheline Khan is shown in a handout photo. Khan, a Black entrepreneur from Hamilton, Ont., has won the nationwide Black Pitch Contest.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Micheline Khan

Ontario entrepreneur wins nationwide Black Pitch Contest, $25,000 grand prize

Micheline Khan’s company aims to improve mental health for underserved communities

 

A customer swipes a MasterCard debit card through a machine while checking-out at a shop in Seattle, Monday, Nov. 2, 2009. In September 2020, the federal government announced the program aimed at helping Black entrepreneurs overcome barriers they face navigating financial institutions and entrepreneurship in general. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Elaine Thompson

Federal funding for Black entrepreneurs a ‘beacon of hope,’ though barriers persist

Academics and advocates have pointed out the barriers Black people face navigating financial institutions

 

Karina Gomez and Nok Hutawatthana present The Women of the World (W.O.W.) Soup to DIVERSEcity. (Courtesy of Camosun College Facebook)

Students from Victoria’s Camosun College win $1,500 for new business pitch

Camosun students Women of the World Soup takes second place in DIVERSEcity competition

Karina Gomez and Nok Hutawatthana present The Women of the World (W.O.W.) Soup to DIVERSEcity. (Courtesy of Camosun College Facebook)
The co-founders of Makeship, Pablo Eder (left) Rakan Al-Shawaf (right), pictured with Makeship plushies (photo provided by Rachael D’Amore).

‘Kidult’ Consumers: Syrian-Canadian entrepreneur designs plushies for kids-at-heart

Makeship has worked with over 1000 online creators to develop plushies for their fans- mainly adults

The co-founders of Makeship, Pablo Eder (left) Rakan Al-Shawaf (right), pictured with Makeship plushies (photo provided by Rachael D’Amore).
Gustavson School of Business professor Brent Mainprize (left), co-founder of the Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship program with Frank Parnell (right), then-CEO of the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation, helped celebrate the program’s 50th cohort recently at the University of Victoria. (Brent Mainprize/Twitter)

50th cohort graduates from Indigenous/UVic co-designed entrepreneurship program

714 grads, more than 230 businesses launched in 9 years of I-ACE existence

Gustavson School of Business professor Brent Mainprize (left), co-founder of the Indigenous Advancement of Cultural Entrepreneurship program with Frank Parnell (right), then-CEO of the Tribal Resources Investment Corporation, helped celebrate the program’s 50th cohort recently at the University of Victoria. (Brent Mainprize/Twitter)
Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)

Project Zero Incubator program aims to support green startups in B.C.

Applications to the 2022 Project Zero Incubator is open to early-stage business ideas across B.C.

Part of the 2019 Incubator cohort, Tofino residents Louise Rodgers and Georgina Valk saw a need for composting in their community so they founded Tofino Urban Farm Co. (Westerly File photo)
Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Venture fund aims to unleash the power of female capital in the agri-tech space

Focus in on agriculture and food was made because of an ‘unprecedented economic opportunity’ in the space

Venture capital firm “The51” founders Judy Fairburn, left, co-CEO and fund managing partner, and Shelley Kuipers co-CEO, general partner and growth officer, are shown in Calgary, Alta., Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Mayor Fred Haynes meets with several members of the Vancouver Island Life Sciences group. Haynes hopes to ensure innovation in science continues in the district and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Fred Haynes)
Mayor Fred Haynes meets with several members of the Vancouver Island Life Sciences group. Haynes hopes to ensure innovation in science continues in the district and beyond. (Photo courtesy of Fred Haynes)
Amy Jones and her uncle, Phil Dagger, take a break outside an RV at Galaxy Motors. Dagger, who built the company from a single dirt lot on Island Highway to a multi-store entity on Vancouver Island, passed away earlier this week. (Black Press Media file photo)

Island auto entrepreneur remembered for humble spirit, perseverance in business

Galaxy Motors owner Phil Dagger passes away in North Saanich home at age 69

Amy Jones and her uncle, Phil Dagger, take a break outside an RV at Galaxy Motors. Dagger, who built the company from a single dirt lot on Island Highway to a multi-store entity on Vancouver Island, passed away earlier this week. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has established a Business Hall of Fame to honour individuals’ contributions to the region’s economy. (Black Press Media file photo)

Business Hall of Fame established to honour contributions to Greater Victoria economy

Selected individuals will be inducted this fall, with a ceremony set for February 2022

The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce has established a Business Hall of Fame to honour individuals’ contributions to the region’s economy. (Black Press Media file photo)
A new survey finds growing confidence among Canadian businesses for the next three months, but also concerns about rising costs. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

New survey finds rising confidence among Canadian businesses

But concerns remain, including fears of higher costs

A new survey finds growing confidence among Canadian businesses for the next three months, but also concerns about rising costs. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Children enjoy ginger snaps at Creative Little Learners Childcare in Langford. (Facebook/Creative Little Learners Childcare)

BUZZ ON BUSINESS: Start and end-of-life care in focus

Darcy Nybo features West Shore entrepreneurs and their passion for service

  • May 22, 2021
Children enjoy ginger snaps at Creative Little Learners Childcare in Langford. (Facebook/Creative Little Learners Childcare)
Bakery owners Mike Livingstone and Annie Hoare, shown in this March 2021 handout image, opened the first COBS Bread bakery in Georgetown, Ont., in December. “I didn’t have as much to lose,” Livingston says of launching a business in the midst of a pandemic after he was laid off as a transportation executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

Side hustle, necessity or too late to turn back: Meet Canada’s newest business owners

While some startups will stick around, others will fade away with the novel coronavirus

Bakery owners Mike Livingstone and Annie Hoare, shown in this March 2021 handout image, opened the first COBS Bread bakery in Georgetown, Ont., in December. “I didn’t have as much to lose,” Livingston says of launching a business in the midst of a pandemic after he was laid off as a transportation executive. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits alongside HXOUSE co-founder Ahmed Ismail, as he meets with Black entrepreneurs at HXOUSE in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Trudeau announces cash for loans, support to Black Canadian entrepreneurs

The new program will include $53 million for Black business organization to help entrepreneurs access funding

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sits alongside HXOUSE co-founder Ahmed Ismail, as he meets with Black entrepreneurs at HXOUSE in Toronto, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston