What's Happening in the Park ??
From Summit Success to Small Biz Spotlight!
October has been an action-packed month for the Venturepark community! From the success of our first-ever Venturepark Summit to Small Business Month with incredible alumni wins, there's so much to celebrate!
We’re excited to reflect on these milestones and share what’s next as we continue supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.
Venturepark Summit: From Shelf to Success - Event Recap
Venturepark Summit: From Shelf to Success - Event Recap
We are thrilled to share that the first-ever Venturepark Summit: From Shelf to Success was a tremendous success! With over 350 registrations, the event brought together an incredible community of entrepreneurs, and innovators from the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry.
A Day of Learning and Connection
A special thank you goes to our keynote speaker, Arlene Dickinson, whose insights captivated the audience, as well as the Venturepark alumni and CPG founders and esteemed industry experts who generously shared their stories and expertise on stage.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This event wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors. A big thank you to Sobeys and BMO, for empowering the next generation of CPG entrepreneurs. ?Along with?Tree of Life Canada and Prairies Economic Development Canada, these partners are champions for food, beverage, and CPG founders across Canada.
Shout Out to the Networking Hall
The 25 Networking Hall companies brought a high-powered element of personalized connections to the afternoon. Check out the list here: Networking Hall Companies
Thank you to everyone who made this Summit possible!
October is Small Business Month
It’s time to celebrate the backbone of our economy – the small but mighty businesses! Every October, Canada celebrates the incredible contributions small businesses make to our communities. We’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of Canadian small businesses and brands across all of our programs and this is the month for them!
Here are a few WINS from our alumni this October!
Canada Post Tales and Triumph Rising Stars Category Winner ??
Congratulations to Viet Anh , the force behind Rude Mama Hot Sauce , for being crowned the Canada Post Tales of Triumph Rising Star Winner! ???
Viet Anh is not only an incredible Kitchen Incubator alumni but also a graduate of our Concept to Market Sprint program, where she took her bold, flavourful ideas and turned them into the thriving Rude Mama Hot Sauce brand that's loved all around. Her journey from concept to award-winning product is truly inspiring, and we couldn’t be more proud!
Riley’s Kitchen hitting Healthy Planet Shelves! ??
Cohort 17 alumni,?Riley’s Kitchen has officially launched their nutritious, clean products at?Healthy Planet. Their incredible lineup is now available to more health-conscious shoppers, including at Healthy Planet’s new London, Ontario location! We’re beyond proud of their journey and can’t wait to see what’s next!
Saltwinds Coffee awarded Food and Beverage Atlantic Rising Star Award! ??
Congratulations to Saltwinds Coffee , and Laura Richard from Cohort 17, who received the Food and Beverage Atlantic Rising Star Award! ??
Laura, a chemist and the inventor behind Saltwinds’ iconic process, has recreated the unique taste of coffee beans from when coffee was first transported to Canada on sailing ships. The result? Premium, ocean air-infused coffee that captures the true essence of the Maritimes. ??
We’re thrilled to celebrate your win and can’t wait to see what’s next!
领英推荐
City of Toronto’s Small Business Forum ??
The Small Business Forum 2024: Taste of Success: Navigating the World of Food Business is on October 30th! Our very own?Stella Antonio , Venturepark Incubator Kitchen Manager, will be joining the panel to drop some serious food biz knowledge and will be part of the Speed Mentorship sessions where you can get personalized insights into the Food & Beverage Innovation Space!
This is a free full-day event (8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in support of small businesses in the food and beverage industry. This year’s focus on the food and beverage industry features main stage program highlighting: Strategies in scaling and expanding, The latest R&D and emerging industry trends, Beyond brick and mortar, Diverse funding options, and more!
?Introducing Cohort 18 of our Accelerator Program—our biggest cohort yet! ??
With 18 incredible Canadian CPG founders, these innovators are poised to take their brands to the next level. ??
Check out the full lineup below and follow along as they make their mark in the industry! ??
Bramblehill Farm , Fireflames Inc . Reign Wellness , Maritime Madness Hot Sauce . Bulwark Cider , The Halifax Honey Company , Cabbage Patch Kimchi , Thirus Gourmet , Tea Horse Teas , Mitsoh , Gravity Calgary , Yoneda . Fete Ice Cream , Bannock Express , Vinker Foods . Tactical Snacks , Hope Harvest , Crafted Corn Inc.
Spring Accelerator Program ??
Applications for our Spring 2025 Accelerator cohort are now open! This is your opportunity to join a vibrant community of CPG entrepreneurs, gain valuable mentorship, and access the tools you need to elevate your brand. Apply today!
?? Meet October’s Park Person of the Month: Lauren Burrows (Bensadoun ),
Co-founder of?BUZZD Nutrition ! ??
Lauren was recently awarded Entrepreneur of the Year, becoming a significant voice for other entrepreneurs including those in our community. Now, we’re thrilled to announce that BUZZD Nutrition has officially been ?acquired? by The Sarjesa Group! Having been BUZZD’s manufacturing partner for the past year, The Sarjesa Group knows the product inside and out and shares the same passion for its success. We’re excited for this new chapter and know BUZZD is in great hands to reach new heights.
Launched in November 2021, BUZZD Nutrition is dedicated to making superfoods accessible through organic, non-GMO superfood creamers. As a Venturepark Alum, Lauren has generously shared her journey with our community, and we’re grateful for her continued support with our Accelerator program.
Congrats, Lauren! Your passion continues to inspire us all. ????
Tea Horse Tea on DAVIDsTEA Steeping Together
Denise Atkinson, founder of Tea Horse Tea (Cohort 18 Member) sits down with DAVIDsTEA to talk about their wild rice tea collaboration and this unique and delicate ingredients history within the Indigenous cultures in North America.