Sixteen young entrepreneurs who successfully launched their own businesses this summer are being honoured.
The 2026 Summer Company Showcase honoured the group on Thursday at an event at Willistead Manor, featuring special guests, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens and Essex County Warden and Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald.
All of this year's participants are full-time students who received hands-on business education, mentorship from local business leaders, and a grant of up to $3,000 to launch their businesses.
"I came out of the program with more than a business plan. I came out with a real handle on my numbers, a clear sense of who my customer base is, and a network of Windsor-Essex business owners and fellow entrepreneurs I now share this experience with," said Mubashira Khateeb, owner of Heritage Stitch.
Summer Company is a program delivered by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of Invest WindsorEssex in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade.
"It's incredibly rewarding to see how much these young entrepreneurs have grown over the course of the summer. They've taken ideas, put them into action, and learned firsthand what it takes to start and operate a business," said Executive Director of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Centre, Sabrina DeMarco. "Summer Company gives students an opportunity to build practical skills, confidence, and connections that will serve them well beyond the program."
The businesses range from web design to clothing to window washing.
