Starter Company Plus
Turning Your Business
Ideas Into Success
With Starter Company Plus, you are not just getting support, you are stepping into a world of opportunities:
- Get personalized one-on-one guidance from a seasoned business advisor who is ready to supercharge your business journey
- Immerse yourself in dynamic workshops and networking events that cover everything from building a strong business plan to mastering budget strategies and launching impactful marketing campaigns
- Connect with a mentor who brings real world experience in starting, expanding, or buying a small business
And that is not all. You could also receive a grant of up to $5,000 to fuel your entrepreneurial dreams.
Meet Starter Company Plus Graduate Susan Tung, Founder of Electric City Catering
When Susan decided to start Electric City Catering, in late 2024 Tung applied to the Starter Company Plus program, a provincially funded entrepreneurial training delivered by the Business Advisory Centre at Community Futures Peterborough. She graduated from the six-week program along with 20 other entrepreneurs, who each received up to $5,000 in a micro-grant, which Tung used to purchase a trailer for her new business.
Starter Company Plus includes
• In-class training with experts in their fields to help you plan your business and strategize for future growth
• Training and assistance in writing a business plan that may help you obtain more traditional financing in the future if you require it
• One-on-one consultations with the program facilitator
• An opportunity to build your network with other local small business owners and startups
• Participants in the program will have access to a 6-month trial membership with the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce
• A conditional pre-approved microloan from Community Futures Peterborough
• Upon completing the program, participants will submit their final business plan and pitch for a chance to receive a grant of up to $5,000
Who Should Apply?
• Anyone aged 18 and over who is out of school and interested in pursuing a career in entrepreneurship
• Anyone interested in starting a new business, expanding, or purchasing an existing business that has been operating for five years or less within the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
Eligible Starter Company Plus Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- be proposing a new company, expansion of an existing company, or buying a business in the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County that is less than five years old
- not be currently enrolled, attending school nor returning to school within the next 12 months
- be a resident of Ontario
- be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- be living in and/or operating their business within the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County
- not have previously received a Starter Company Plus grant for the same business and must not have received a Starter Company Plus grant for any other business within the City of Peterborough or Peterborough County.
- be less than 5 operational years old
- be legally compliant, following all government regulations and applicable municipal by laws
For full eligibility criteria, please see the Eligibility Requirements for Starter Company Plus below.
Watch The Recorded Information Session
Did you miss our Virtual Information Session? Watch this video for more detailed information about the Starter Company Plus 2026 Program and application.
For full eligibility criteria, please see the Eligibility Requirements for Starter Company Plus 2026.
Eligibility Requirements for Starter Company Plus 2026Program Dates
The Starter Company Plus program represents a pivotal turning point for the selected applicants, offering far more than just a standard seminar series. The hands-on workshop series serves as an intensive entrepreneurial launchpad. This mandatory training is where your potential is activated. Over these focused two-hour sessions, participants transition from working in their business to working on their business, gaining direct access to expert mentorship, rigorous financial modeling tools, and crucial business strategies. Attendance is required to unlock the full scope of the program’s resources, networking opportunities, and subsequent grant funding.
All accepted applicants must complete mandatory training sessions each of the following dates:
Introduction & Business Planning: September 10, 2026 – 9am-11am
Finances & Cash Flow: September 16, 2026 – 9am-11am
Marketing & Branding: September 23, 2026 – 9am-12noon
Pitching & Public Relations: October 7, 2026 – 9am-12noon
Final Pitch: October 19, 2026 – 9am-12noon
Location:
Venture North Building, Everest Boardroom (Basement)
270 George St. N, Peterborough, ON
Meet 2025 Starter Company Plus Cohort Graduates, Vanessa and Kristen of Lark & Lemon
As working moms, entrepreneurs, and passionate creators, these two have poured countless hours into perfecting an eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning line that is changing the game for homes everywhere.
We are so proud to have been a part of their entrepreneurial evolution. Here is what they had to say about their experience with the program:
“Community Futures has been such a huge part of our journey at Lark & Lemon. As two moms who started a business from the ground up, having access to their support, knowledge, and encouragement gave us the confidence and tools to take our business to the next level. We’ve been able to apply so much of what we learned directly to our growth, and today we’re watching our online sales climb and welcoming new retailers every month. We’re incredibly grateful to the Community Futures team for believing in us and helping us turn a big dream into something bigger than we ever imagined.”
Applications for the Starter Company Plus 2026 Program close on August 5, 2026.
Apply Now!Have questions?
Reach out to Rose Terry, Manager, Business Advisory Centre and Corporate Communications
rosalea@cfpeterborough.ca
