Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre / Media Release
WINDSOR-ESSEX, ONT. (Aug. 27, 2026) – Sixteen young entrepreneurs were recognized today for launching and successfully operating small businesses in Windsor-Essex this summer.
The 2026 Summer Company Showcase was held at Willistead Manor, bringing together student entrepreneurs, their families, program facilitators, mentors and event sponsor Motor City Community Credit Union to celebrate the program’s graduating class. Special guests included City of Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, Essex County Warden Hilda MacDonald and a representative from the office of Windsor–Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie.
Full-time students, aged 15–29, received hands-on business education, mentorship from local business leaders, and a grant of up to $3,000. Summer Company is delivered in Windsor and Essex County by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre (SBEC), a division of Invest WindsorEssex, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade.
Students received a certificate of program completion and proudly showcased their products and services. They also shared insights from their entrepreneurial journey this summer.
The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre is proud to announce the following 2026 participants and their businesses:
- Anabelle Dao – BeYouty Box
- Adam Dunlop – The Poop Troop
- Tejas Kaushik – TK Web Solutions
- Liam Brigden – StickerLab
- Dima Altuamah – Dima Print
- Ayham Genawi – Lavish Streetwear
- Mubashira Khateeb – HeritageStitch
- Conner Teasdale – Clearview Windows & Eaves
- Ali Zbib – Squeaky Duck Pressure Washing
- Armani Labrada – SpiritDayTees
- Aman Baig – CronusSystems
- Neha Chorpra – Summer Slide
- Shegofa Anwari – Bleum
- Mohammadullah Ashori – Grid & Glass Window Cleaning
- Evan Gilbert – Obsidian Web Designz
- Andy Qi – TheLlamaWay Studios
Additional information on Summer Company and the 2026 participants can be found on the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre website.
Quotes
“By the end of the summer, 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. That is what I believe Summer Company truly offers, it did not just simply fund a summer of work, it provided the structure, the mentorship, and the community needed to turn a business idea into something sustainable.”
— Mubashira Khateeb, Owner, HeritageStitch
“The Summer Company program is an investment in the next generation of entrepreneurs and in the future of our regional economy. This year’s participants have demonstrated initiative, creativity and resilience as they turned their ideas into businesses and gained valuable experience along the way. On behalf of Invest WindsorEssex, I congratulate all 16 graduates on their accomplishments and encourage them to carry the skills, confidence and entrepreneurial mindset they’ve developed as they pursue new opportunities and continue building their futures.”
— Gordon Orr, CEO, Invest WindsorEssex
“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. Summer Company gives students an opportunity to build practical skills, confidence and connections that will serve them well beyond the program. We’re proud to celebrate their accomplishments and grateful to the mentors, partners and sponsors who help make this experience possible.”
— Sabrina DeMarco, Executive Director, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, a division of Invest WindsorEssex
Media Contacts
Gina Meret-Dybenko
Senior Director, Communications and Corporate Strategy
Invest WindsorEssex
Mobile: 519-791-6223
Email: [email protected]
Natasha Marar
Manager, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Programs Small Business & Entrepreneurship Centre, Invest WindsorEssex
Mobile: 519-995-6780
Phone: 519-997-2922
Email: [email protected]