Home » Summer Company Program (Young Entrepreneur Program)
NOTICE: Applications for the intake of Summer Company in Mississauga are now closed for 2024. Applications will open again in February 2025, please subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about IDEA Mississauga’s additional supports for entrepreneurs.
Summer Company Program for Young Entrepreneurs
Are you a Mississauga student 15 to 29 years and have a business idea you’re excited about? Have you always wanted to experience what it would be like to be your own boss? Now is your chance to become an Entrepreneur!
Summer Company can help you launch and operate your very own business this summer. The program provides:
- Free business training on a variety of business topics to help you get your business up and running. Topics include: bookkeeping, sales, marketing, and so much more…
- Free mentorship and guidance from local business leaders and professionals to help support your new business venture and goals.
- Opportunity to receive a grant up to $3,000 to help kickstart your new summer business.
Don’t miss out on the chance to apply to be a part of Summer Company if you are interested in starting a business in Mississauga this summer. Apply soon as space is limited!
Program Details
- Summer Company training begins early June and will run throughout until end of August
- Weekly group training and one-on-one mentorship meetings occur up to 3 hours per week
- Monthly mandatory in-person workshops are held 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
For access to the recording of the Summer Company 2024 Information Session and to gain comprehensive insights into Summer Company, including details on the application process and the program benefits for young entrepreneurs, please click here.
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)
- 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 2024
- Confirm your eligibility and submit an inquiry form below
- 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 1st
- After May 1st, 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?
- Wednesday, May 1st 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
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.
In partnership with: Province of Ontario
The Summer Company program is delivered by the Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre for the Mississauga area and is funded by the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Services offered by the Mississauga Business Entrepreneur Centre are available in French upon request for programs funded by the Province of Ontario (Les services Le Centre d’encadrement des entrepreneurs de Mississauga sont disponible en Français sur demande pour les programmes financés par la province de l’Ontario. Démarrer une entreprise d’été : étudiants; L’information est disponible en français ICI).