We have a benefactor. All donations will be matched doubling the value of your contribution.
Northstar Startups is a business incubator, specifically designed to encourage entrepreneurialism amongst clients of Scarborough-based food banks. We are an organization run completely by volunteers. We are looking for financial support to help launch our entrepreneurs.
THE NEED
More than half of Scarborough residents are newcomers to Canada and about 75 percent are people of colour. The challenges in our community are great. We have witnessed it firsthand and we are helping with a multi-faceted entrepreneurship program through Northstar Startups, Scarborough.
THE PROGRAM
Working with Scarborough-based food banks, we are encouraging members of our community to achieve personal economic security through small business and side hustles. Our channel to those in need are Bluffs Foodbank, SOSO World Ministries, and the Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities. We also have a partnership with Centennial College’s Centre of Entrepreneurship. Over the last eight months we have been testing our services with entrepreneurs, learning what marketing and programming works best, and modifying and expanding our services. Every week we reach more potential entrepreneurs, discuss small business and side hustles at our weekly Zoom office hours and deliver educational programming, all with the goal of helping more people become economically secure.
THE ASK
We are looking for support to provide seed funding to aspiring
entrepreneurs and to pay for startup costs associated with launching
our non-profit organization. We operate on an 80/20 model: 80% of
funds raised will be reserved for seed funding for entrepreneurs and
20% will be spent on administrative costs. All the work is being done
by volunteers - none of the funds raised will be directed to salary.
With thanks for whatever you can contribute,
Bryceson Dodge and Janice Waugh
northstarstartups.com
