Success Stories

Marissa Bapitsta – Marissa Marie Artistry

Located in Georgetown, Marissa Marie Artistry is owned and operated by Marissa, a certified Makeup Artist, Medical Aesthetician and Eyelash Technician. Her company focuses on providing high-quality, personal-care services such as event makeup, eyebrow lamination and waxing, as well as eyelash lifts, tints and extensions

“Without being a part of the Halton Small Business Centre’s Starter Company Plus program, I wouldn't have had such a clear direction of where I wanted to take my business or how to get there."

Erik Mauke – Janina Soup Company

Located in Burlington, Janina Soup Company is an artisanal soup company that produces and distributes small batches of handmade soups using only real, high-quality ingredients, free from fillers or artificial additives.

“The Halton Small Business Center is amazing! There are real mentors that will answer any question you may have about business. They are over the top knowledgeable, supportive and helpful.”

Madeline MacNeil and Emily Baker – The OlFactory Lab

The OlFactory Lab is a sustainable and eco-friendly candle company located in Oakville. They focus on providing customers with handmade, high-quality candles made from coconut-soy wax, crackling wooden wicks and premium fragrance oils.

“Having access to experts and mentors through the Halton Small Business Centre has been the ultimate blessing. As new entrepreneurs, having accessible and trustworthy guidance has been a game changer for our business and the way we are able to operate.”

Amy Stockwell – BrightSparkz Tutoring

Based in Oakville, BrightSparkz Tutoring provides a variety of learning support services for children aged three and above, university students and adults. Their offerings include one-on-one tutoring, study skills coaching, language courses, kindergarten and workplace readiness programs, as well as a wide range of courses designed to enhance professionalism.

“Being part of the Halton Small Business Centre’s Starter Company Plus program, which was so well organized and provided access to such valuable advice, made the process of laying strong business foundations so much easier.”

Rosana Fernandez and Maria Virginia Anzola – The Flipside

The Flipside is a health coaching service located in Oakville. Through various online and in-person session formats, they provide individuals and teams with the skills and guidance they need to facilitate healthy habits and make lasting behavioral changes to improve wellness.

“Our Halton Small Business Centre Consultant, Navjot Chhinzer, has been a great help in identifying areas where we need to focus and strengthen, and has always provided constructive feedback and opportunities for growth.”

Robin Read Griffin and Cheryl Rak – Active Results Collaborative

Based in Milton, Active Results Collaborative is a marketing agency and service delivery partner in Milton’s Digital Main Street program. They focus on helping small business owners and operators improve the marketing and branding elements of their business or organization.

“The Halton Small Business Centre was a key factor in helping us get grant funding.  Through the Starter Company Plus program, we were provided with the equipment and tools we needed to get our company off on the right foot.”

Anthony Pereira – A+ Smoodees

A+ Smoodees, based in Mississauga, is a health-oriented smoothie company dedicated to promoting greater nutritional awareness and well-being by providing delicious smoothie beverages with real, whole-food ingredients.  

“The Halton Small Business Centre has definitely helped us most by providing lots of support and attention that included meetings, follow-up calls, useful research and information and, most importantly, an actual human connection with their staff.”

Ryan and Russell Mascarenhas – Goldwyn & Sons

Goldwyn & Sons is a fully licensed, luxury barbershop located in Oakville. They offer upscale services such as haircuts, beard trims, waxing and hair colouring, allowing individuals to leave their establishment feeling confident and looking sharp.

“The Halton Small Business Centre’s Consultants provided us with mentoring and marketing information and helped us avoid potential start-up mistakes. They also helped us navigate COVID-19 funding programs to access government grants that carried us through the pandemic.”

Samina Sial – HR Enable Inc.

Run out of Oakville, HR Enable Inc. specializes in providing legal services that offer tailored, law-based HR solutions to employment-related issues. They provide HR consulting services that effectively address and manage problems, and prioritize sharing knowledge about employment laws and regulations to help ensure their clients are well-informed. 

“The Halton Small Business Center has been extremely helpful. They provided great advice, resources and assistance with marketing and business development opportunities.”

Malak Khudairs – Sleepy Snuggles Early Learning & Childcare Centre

Sleepy Snuggles Early Learning & Childcare Centre is a family business located in Milton, focused on fostering development for children under 6 years old. The program's early learning and childcare philosophy is rooted in play, exploration, building relationships and developing a sense of belonging and community. 

“The Halton Small Business Centre offered an immense amount of help with getting our business started. From referrals, access to accountants, meeting other small business owners, and even connecting us to the right people to help find us our location, the resources we were able to access were infinite.”

Primal Cravings Burlington

Rachel Baker met with the Halton Region Small Business Centre and successfully applied for and received a loan through the Futurpreneur Canada program. She opened Primal Cravings Burlington in April 2015 and offers a full range of unprocessed (paleo) and gluten, sugar and sodium-free takeout meals and baked goods.