23 Ambitious Businesses Selected from Nearly 90 Starter Company Plus Applications for Fall 2026

Peterborough, ON – September 16, 2026 – Community Futures Peterborough’s Business Advisory Centre is thrilled to announce the 23 businesses selected for the highly competitive 2026 Starter Company Plus program. With almost 90 applications received, this year’s cohort reflects an inspiring cross-section of creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.

“This is truly a life-changing program,” says Rosalea Terry, manager of the Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications. “The quality of applications this year was exceptional. 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.”

From a New Zealand pie company to a ballroom dance studio, an innovative patented baseball product, organic skincare company, pet care providers and a women-owned plumbing company, these businesses are ready to accelerate their growth with the mentorship, training, and funding provided by Starter Company Plus. This provincial government-funded program offers entrepreneurs access to expert guidance, networking opportunities, and, upon successful program completion, up to $5,000 in grant funding to start or grow their business,

“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,” says Bee Pratt, founder of Owl Fix It Plumbing. “We are still growing, and excited about what’s ahead!”

“This our third year running the Starter Company Plus program, and each year, we are amazed with the quality of applications,” says Devon Girard, executive director of Community Futures Peterborough. “These businesses represent the entrepreneurial spirit that make our region so vibrant.”

The 2026 Starter Company Plus Cohort includes:

City of Peterborough Participants:

• Lauren Cameron, Kia Ora Pie Co.
• Courtney Carter, PTBO Ballroom
• Jason Christopher Rose, Pneuma Systems Inc.
• Madhu Gahalot, Melange Organics
• Rick Johnston, Fungo Rocker
• Bee Pratt, Owl Fix It Plumbing
• Melinda Szilagyi, My Time Studio
• Daniel Taro, PuzPuz Media
• Bethany Telford, Lavender Moon
• Angie White, B&B Craft Supplies
• Holly Wilkinson, Begin with Baby

Brittany Zarobiak, Birch + Bloom Consignment Boutique

Peterborough County Participants:

• Lisa Cantelon, Studio Eighteen (18) – Selwyn
• Carolyn Carr, Serenity Lane Café – Asphodel-Norwood
• Dan Ellis, Ferm Farm Brewing & Blending Ltd. – Otonabee-South Monaghan
• Riley Gillespie-Friesen, Millbrook Pet Care – Cavan Monaghan
• Jennifer and Cullen Groome, Rescue Sector Innovations – Douro-Dummer
• David Manning, Cozy Days Travel Mug, Inc. – Trent Lakes
• Lois O’Neill Jackson, The Pantry Cupboard – Trent Lakes
• Karen Parker, Parker Frames – Otonabee-South Monaghan
• Jeannine Thumiah, Quantum Understanding – Otonabee-South Monaghan
• Amanda Willett, The Ritual Cart – Cavan Monaghan

Curve Lake First Nation

• Melissa Gray – Reliable Home Cleaners

This fall, participants will take part in a 6 week in-person cohort program to refine their business strategies, enhance their marketing, and gain vital skills for sustainable growth. The program includes a blend of group workshops and one-on-one in-depth advisory sessions.

The Starter Company Plus Program is a province-wide initiative funded by the Government of Ontario and provides access of up to $5,000 in grant dollars for each graduate of the program to start and grow their business.

“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,” says Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha. “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.”

The program’s participants now join a growing network of alumni who continue grow and create more jobs in the region.

“Entrepreneurs build our local economy, one job or investment at a time,” says Jeff Leal, Mayor for the City of Peterborough. “Thank you to Community Futures Peterborough and the Business Advisory Centre for supporting our local entrepreneurs through the Starter Company Plus program. Congratulations to those selected – with the training, mentorship and funding provided through this program, we look forward to seeing the impact you have on our community for years to come!”.

“Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our rural communities, bringing innovation, investment, and opportunity to every corner of Peterborough County. 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,” says Bonnie Clark, Warden of Peterborough County. “We thank Community Futures Peterborough for these initiatives that strengthen our local economy, create jobs, and empower entrepreneurs to build thriving businesses right here in our communities.”

For more information about the Starter Company Plus Program or the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough, please visit www.cfpeterborough.ca

About Community Futures Peterborough

Community Futures Peterborough (CFP) has a mission to support small businesses with flexible financing in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. It has invested more than $44 million in 1,900+ small businesses since 1985, creating or maintaining more than 4,900 jobs in the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County. CFP is a not-for-profit organization funded by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Community Futures Program. The Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program is delivered locally by Community Futures Peterborough and funded in partnership with the Province of Ontario. The Business Advisory Centre also receives operational funding from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.

Media Contact:

Devon Girard, Executive Director
devon@cfpeterborough.ca

Cell: 705-957-3641