Deadline Date: April 27, 2026
The Summer Company program is a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in entrepreneurship while receiving funding and mentorship.
The program focuses on providing start-up funding, mentorship from local business leaders, practical training in running a business, and the development of skills such as sales, marketing, bookkeeping, customer relationship management, and networking.
Through the Summer Company program, students aged 15 to 29 can receive up to $3,000 in funding to start and run a business over the summer. The program not only provides financial support but also offers guidance and mentoring from experienced business leaders to help launch and grow a summer business successfully. Participants learn what it takes to manage a business independently, gaining invaluable experience as their own boss.
Eligibility requirements ensure that students are ready and committed to running their own enterprise. Applicants must be enrolled in high school, college, or university, live in Markham, Ontario, be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and be between 15 and 29 years old. High school students must complete at least 280 hours of work, while post-secondary students are expected to complete a minimum of 420 hours over the summer period. Applicants cannot be currently running another business or exceed 12 hours per week at a separate job or school.
The program welcomes almost any type of business as long as it is a sole proprietorship or a corporation where the student is the majority shareholder, is independent and newly established, operates at arm’s length from any family business, functions within Ontario, follows government regulations, and operates full-time as defined in the business plan. Previous recipients of the Summer Company grant are not eligible to apply again.
Participating in the Summer Company program offers students one of the most valuable summer experiences available: the chance to develop real-world business skills, manage their own company, and gain mentorship from established entrepreneurs, all while earning funding to make their ideas a reality.
For more information, visit Markham Business.
