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 this fall.
Meet Kirkland Brown and Under Dog Visions
With Kirkland Brown, Under Dog Visions combines music, art, and fashion to create a full cultural experience. Their merchandise includes one-of-a-kind, airbrushed apparel that is designed in collaboration with a local graffiti artist. Each piece is unique, ensuring customers receive high-quality wearable art that resonates with authenticity and genuine hip-hop culture. And Under Dog Visions is not just about clothing— Kirkland is a rap MC and poet, and his brand is deeply rooted in the community, also organizing events and providing a platform to local artists (find upcoming events here: Under Dog Visions). Join Under Dog Visions as they celebrate the true spirit of the “underdog”!
Kirikland Brown is On Top with Under Dog Visions
- What is your favourite part about being an entrepreneur?
I am my own boss. I am the creator of my movement, brand, path, and future.
- What inspired you to start a business?
Rebellion against the system and the battle to have occupational freedom.
- What services/ products do you offer?
Under Dog Visions offers apparel, music, and events.
These events include producing live music shows and performing as Sauga City Outcast. Follow this link to see any upcoming shows in the Barrie and Toronto area: Under Dog Visions.
- Who do you look up to for inspiration when it comes to either being an entrepreneur or your business?
Some inspirations include: The Wu Tang Clan, Dipset, Ruff Ryders, Cam’ron, Nipsey Hustle, God One, 50 Cent, and Inked Out Kicks.
- How did you come up with your business name?
The song from The Game and 50 Cent “Hate It or Love It”. The hook is “Hate it or love it, the underdog’s on top”. When choosing to become an entrepreneur, I had the understanding that every entrepreneur is an underdog with a vision. Everybody is an Underdog in their own right.
- What is unique about your business?
Under Dog Visions stands out by offering one-of-a-kind, airbrushed apparel designed in collaboration with a local graffiti artist, blending fashion with street art. Each piece is unique, ensuring customers receive wearable art that reflects authentic hip-hop culture. Our events and merchandise combine music, art, and fashion, creating a full cultural experience.
- What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about yourself through your entrepreneurial journey?
That I was born for this. I was born to be an entrepreneur.
- What’s the best piece of advice you would give to another entrepreneur?
Always stay thinking ahead and outside the box. Embrace the unknown and the fears of what you currently don’t understand.
The most common advice I get from successful entrepreneurs is to never give up. Keep being determined, persistent, and resilient in pursuing your entrepreneurial venture.
- What do you hope to achieve through the Starter Company Plus program?
I hope to achieve a phenomenal business plan, filling in any blanks I was not aware of before. I also hope to receive the funding that will ascend my business to the next level.
Explore Under Dog Visions Today
Check out upcoming Under Dog Visions events here: Under Dog Visions.
And learn more about Kirkland Brown and Under Dog Visions by following Under Dog Visions on social media. (Instagram: @underdogvisionz)
Learn More About the Starter Company Plus Program
To learn more about the Starter Company Plus program, reach out to the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County & Orillia today at smallbusiness@barrie.ca or 705-720-2445.