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NOTICE: Thank you for your interest in the Summer Company Program! Our 2026 program intake is now closed. Please click HERE to join the waitlist to be notified when our 2027 program intake opens again.
Summer Company
Program Description
Provides training, mentoring and grants up to $3,000 to Ontario students, between the ages of 15 and 29, who wish to start a full-time business over the summer.
The Program runs from:
June – August 2027
What to Expect
- Summer Company training begins end of May and will run throughout until end of August
- Weekly group training and one-on-one mentorship meetings occur up to 3 hours per week at IDEA Square One
- Participants run their business full time over the summer months
- Post-secondary students launch their business by the beginning of June and must be prepared to commit a minimum of 420 hours.
- High school students launch their business by the beginning of July and must be prepared to commit a minimum of 280 hours.
Information Session
Join the Summer Company Information Session to learn more about the program activities, eligibility requirements, how to complete an application and the program benefits for young entrepeneurs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have identified and answered the most commonly asked questions about this topic:
You could be eligible if you:
- currently go to high school, college or university
- live in Mississauga, Ontario
- are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- are between 15 – 29 years old (if under 18, a parent/guardian must sign the participation agreement)
- are not already running a business
- will be starting a new sole proprietorship or corporation (as majority shareholder) in Mississauga
- are not working at another job or going to school for more than 12 hours a week during the summer program
- are returning to school in September 2026
you cannot apply again, if you have received a Summer Company grant in the past
- Confirm your eligibility and submit an inquiry form
- Eligible inquiries will receive instructions to complete the Mississauga Summer Company application and help to create a simple business plan.
- Submit a Mississauga Summer Company application and upload your business plan by May 4th
- After May 4th, selected applicants will be invited to an interview for further consideration for the program
- What is the expected time commitment for this program?
- Just like a full-time job, approximately 35 hours per week is to be committed to running your business. Of those hours, up to 5 per week may be spent on designated Summer Company program activities.
- Can I work a part-time job?
- Yes, though because you are running your business full time, you can only work another job or attend school up to a maximum of 12 hours during the summer months.
- Does the business need to be launched?
- No, not yet! Post-secondary students need to launch their business by beginning of June; and high school students launch their business by the beginning of July.
- Do I have to be pursuing school full-time in the new year?
- Yes, students who apply must currently be in school full-time and planning to return to school full-time in the fall.
- Are not-for-profit businesses eligible for the program?
- No, unfortunately not for this program. The business can be a for-profit business making a difference in society or on the environment.
- I don’t know how to fill out a business plan, what should I do?
- Let us help you! We will provide you with a simple business plan template and resources to assist you in creating one. Plus, our Summer Company program coordinator is great at answering any questions you may have.
- What is the deadline to submit the Summer Company application for Mississauga?
- Monday, May 4th at 5:00pm.
- How much is the Summer Company Grant?
- As a Summer Company participant, you can receive:
- up to $1,500 in June to help with costs needed to get the business started
- up to $1,500 in September when you successfully complete all the program training and requirement
- As a Summer Company participant, you can receive:
Past Participants
“I truly thank you guys for this opportunity. Summer Company helped me so much in scaling my business. I thank you guys so much for believing in my idea and the dream that I had and helping me bring it to fruition. Summer Company was truly one of the best things I've done so far as a young adult in my life. I'll never forget that this summer truly marks the day that I have become my own entrepreneur and self-employed for the rest of my life.”
“Participating in Summer Company was a dream come true. I really appreciated all the sessions and opportunities. This program was truly life-changing and I will always cherish it. Through this program, the program coordinator helped give me the push and encouragement I needed to take key steps forward. Thank you so much!”
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Summer Company as I had the opportunity to learn more about business and the pathway that I want to pursue in the future. I was also able to meet new people with similar business mindsets and learn through their experiences of running a business. Everybody at the summer company was welcoming and very helpful whenever I needed assistance and I truly enjoyed my time in this program. Thank you so much to IDEA Mississauga and the program coordinator for all of your help!”
“Summer Company has been such a valuable experience for me in my journey for entrepreneurship. Not only has it sharpened my skills and horizons, but it ultimately has made me fall in love with entrepreneurship even more. The peers that had other business ideas were incredibly friendly and helpful. The mentors provided were super insightful and all wanted the best for the students involved. I hope to run my own successful business in the future and will utilize many of the aspects I was taught in Summer Company, and make my mentors efforts worth it!"
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Provider
Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC)
The Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) is your central source for small business information, resources and guidance. Whether you are starting or growing a small business, MBEC can help.
OBSAC programs and services are delivered locally by the Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre (MBEC) also known as ‘IDEA Mississauga’ and funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario.
OSBAC programs and services are delivered by IDEA Mississauga and are funded in partnership with the Government of Ontario.
