The Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough has announced that 23 local businesses have been selected to participate in the fall 2026 Starter Company Plus program, marking the largest cohort ever in the Peterborough region for the provincially funded entrepreneurial training program.
The participating businesses range from a New Zealand pie company and a ballroom dance studio to an organic skincare company, pet care providers, and a women-owned plumbing business.
Community Futures Peterborough made the announcement Wednesday morning (September 16) at its offices at the Venture North building in downtown Peterborough, with Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal, and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark joining the successful applicants.
Administered locally by the Business Advisory Centre, Starter Company Plus provides entrepreneurs with training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and access to up to $5,000 each in grant funding upon successful completion of the program.
Community Futures Peterborough began delivering the program in 2024, taking over responsibility from Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development ahead of that organization’s dissolution at the end of that year. Its first intake included 21 businesses, followed by 20 businesses selected from 70 applications for the 2025 program.
This year’s program saw nearly 90 applications from local businesses.
“The quality of applications this year was exceptional,” said Rosalea Terry, manager of the Business Advisory Centre and corporate communications, in a media release. “There were so many strong businesses, great ideas, and an incredible drive to grow.”
“What really stood out was the diversity of businesses and the passion behind them. We are so proud to be part of their journey and help them take those ideas to the next level.”
Of the 23 businesses selected for the fall cohort, 12 are based in the City of Peterborough, 10 are based in Peterborough County, and one is based in Curve Lake First Nation. The entrepreneurs and their businesses are listed below.
City of Peterborough participants
- Lauren Cameron of Kia Ora Pie Co.
- Courtney Carter of PTBO Ballroom
- Jason Christopher Rose of Pneuma Systems Inc.
- Madhu Gahalot of Melange Organics
- Rick Johnston of Fungo Rocker
- Bee Pratt of Owl Fix It Plumbing
- Melinda Szilagyi of My Time Studio
- Daniel Taro of PuzPuz Media
- Bethany Telford of Lavender Moon
- Angie White of B&B Craft Supplies
- Holly Wilkinson of Begin with Baby
- Brittany Zarobiak of Birch + Bloom Consignment Boutique
Peterborough County participants
- Lisa Cantelon of Studio Eighteen (18) (Selwyn)
- Carolyn Carr of Serenity Lane Café (Asphodel-Norwood)
- Dan Ellis of Ferm Farm Brewing & Blending Ltd. (Otonabee-South Monaghan)
- Riley Gillespie-Friesen of Millbrook Pet Care (Cavan Monaghan)
- Cullen Groome of Rescue Sector Innovations (Douro-Dummer)
- David Manning of Cozy Days Travel Mug, Inc. (Trent Lakes)
- Lois O’Neill Jackson of The Pantry Cupboard (Trent Lakes)
- Karen Parker of Parker Frames (Otonabee-South Monaghan)
- Jeannine Thumiah of Quantum Understanding (Otonabee-South Monaghan)
- Amanda Willett of The Ritual Cart (Cavan Monaghan)
Curve Lake First Nation participant
- Melissa Gray of Reliable Home Cleaners
Community Futures Peterborough executive director Devon Girard said the organization continues to be impressed by the quality of applications in its third year of delivering the program.
“These businesses represent the entrepreneurial spirit that make our region so vibrant,” Girard noted.
One of the successful applicants is Bee Pratt, founder of Owl Fix It Plumbing in Peterborough.
“I’m proud to be building a women-owned plumbing business focused on quality workmanship, honest service, and giving back to the community that has supported us from the start,” Pratt said. “We are still growing, and excited about what’s ahead.”
“Across Peterborough and Peterborough County, entrepreneurs drive our communities forward, and the energy behind this year’s Starter Company Plus cohort is proof of that,” MPP Smith said. “This provincial investment gives 23 local business owners the hands-on guidance and direct grant funding needed to turn hard work into lasting success.”
“I want to congratulate every participant and thank Community Futures Peterborough for their leadership in strengthening our local economy and creating jobs right here at home.”
City of Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal and Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark also welcomed the announcement.
“Entrepreneurs build our local economy, one job or investment at a time,” Leal said. “Thank you to Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre for supporting our local entrepreneurs through the Starter Company Plus program.”
“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our rural communities, bringing innovation, investment, and opportunity to every corner of Peterborough County,” Clark said. “Programs like Starter Company Plus play a vital role in helping local business owners turn great ideas into successful ventures by providing the training, mentorship, and resources they need to grow.”
This fall, the Starter Company participants will complete a six-week in-person program combining group workshops with in-depth one-on-one advisory sessions. The training will help them refine their business strategies, enhance their marketing, and develop skills to support sustainable growth.
Community Futures Peterborough delivers the Ontario government’s Small Business Enterprise Centre program through the Business Advisory Centre, bringing advisory and lending services together under one organization. In addition to provincial funding, the Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the city and county of Peterborough.
For more information about the Starter Company Plus program and the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough, visit cfpeterborough.ca.
