Entrepreneurship
Explore entrepreneurship news published on this site over the last two years:
Becky Kurtz’s Passion Grows Into a Company
Blog Post | August 27, 2025
Becky Kurtz completed the Starter Company Plus program five years ago. Since then, she has continued to advance her business, Aspire Services, after learning key principles and building a strong business network during her time in the program. Becky created Aspire Services to support neurodiverse youth, adolescents, and adults develop key life skills and celebrate the important wins in life! Recently, we sat down with Becky to learn more about her experiences participating in the Starter Company Plus Program and why she chose to pursue her business in the City of Barrie.
Meet our Small Business Centre's 2025 Summer Companies!
Blog Post | July 24, 2025
Our Small Business Centre Team is excited to introduce this year’s students and their Summer Companies! Each year, the Summer Company program empowers young entrepreneurs age 15 to 29 by providing them with the resources and support they need to start and run their own summer businesses...
20 Years of SuiteWorks: Building Community Through Coworking in Barrie
Blog Post | June 25, 2025
With a dream of encouraging flexibility, networking, and collaboration for entrepreneurs, SuiteWorks has become a pivotal resource for businesses in Barrie. This year, they are celebrating their 20th anniversary–an exciting and momentous accomplishment for their team. To honour this remarkable milestone, we sat down with Kerri Diggle, president of SuiteWorks, to explore their humble beginnings, dedication to business development, and longstanding endeavors in supporting Barrie’s economic community.
40 Years of Innovation: Busch Systems in Barrie
Blog Post | June 27, 2025
This year marks a major milestone for Busch Systems—40 years of innovation, sustainability, and driving change in the waste and recycling industry. What began as one student’s idea to improve a local recycling program has now grown into an international company in sustainable container solutions. We had the honour to speak with Craig Busch, President and CEO of Busch Systems, to discuss the company’s inspirational journey of growth, giving back, and thinking big.
Photo credit to Nat Caron Photography.
From Ink to Impact: Celebrating 85 Years of Barrie Press
Blog Post | June 3, 2025
Eighty-five years ago, a small local newspaper print shop opened its doors in Barrie with a simple mission: to deliver quality craftsmanship and reliable service to its community. Today, that same company stands as a cornerstone of Barrie’s business landscape, having grown and evolved alongside the very industry it helped shape. In celebration of this remarkable milestone, we sat down with one of the company’s longest-serving team members, CEO Peter Madden, to explore the rich history behind the presses, the changes in the print industry over the decades, and the enduring legacy of Barrie Press.
Celebrating Economic Development Week - A Month in The Life
Blog Post | May 14, 2025
As a Senior Business Innovation & Strategic Partnerships Officer, I see Economic Development Week as a moment to reflect on the why behind what I do here at Invest Barrie and the how our department helps build thriving communities through innovation and entrepreneurship. Learn more about what I do in my role, as I take you through a month in my professional life.
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Uche Onyekpe
Blog Post | April 15, 2025
The Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, access to valuable training and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grants.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with last fall. Meet Uche Onyekpe and Techeccentric!
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Tristan Rodriguez
Blog Post | April 15, 2025
The Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, access to valuable training and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grants.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with last fall. Meet Tristan Rodriguez and Stormwood Productions!
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Thomas Parker
Blog Post | April 15, 2025
The Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, access to valuable training and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grants.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with last fall. Meet Thomas Parker and the Barrie Archery Tag League!
Starter Company Plus Spotlight: Susanna MacMillan
Blog Post | April 15, 2025
The Starter Company Plus program is funded by the Government of Ontario and delivered by the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia. The program is designed to help entrepreneurs start, grow or buy a business. Participants receive mentorship from experienced business professionals, access to valuable training and networking opportunities, as well as the opportunity to pitch for up to $5,000 in micro-grants.
The Small Business Centre team is excited to share the companies they had the chance to work with last fall. Meet Susanna MacMillan and Closet Crush!