Hamilton Business Centre

05/01/2026

04/24/2026

⚠️ Attention students! Get $3k to start a summer ☀️ business and work for the best boss ever. You!

👉 Are you between the ages of 15-29 and searching for a summer job? Have you ever wanted to start your own business around a passion or a skill but were unsure of where to start?⁣

The Summer Company program is a program that helps Ontario students launch and operate their very own dream businesses.

You also get:
⁣
✅ Hands-on training
✅ Mentorship
✅ Awards up to $3,000 (to help launch the biz) 💰.⁣
⁣
Sound interesting?

⏰ Applications for the Summer Company 2026 cohort are now OPEN and CLOSE May 1, 2026.

➡️ Learn more and apply today by visiting the link below or by clicking on the link in our BIO.

https://investinhamilton.ca/hamilton-business-centre/summer-company/

Turn your dream into reality!

03/23/2026

Go from aspiring chef to thriving entrepreneur 👩‍🍳

Showcase your culinary creations at Common House Café.

Starting a food business isn’t easy - but you don’t have to do it alone. Common House Café offers the space, support, and exposure you need to launch and grow with confidence.

We’re currently seeking Hamilton-based food entrepreneurs to join our café as vendors.

This opportunity allows you to:

✔️ Sell in a high-traffic, prime location
✔️ Access professional kitchen equipment
✔️ Gain exposure and grow your customer base
✔️ Connect with a supportive foodpreneur community

We’re looking for vendors who can offer breakfast, lunch, coffee, catering services, or prepackaged goods.

This is more than just a space - it’s a platform to build, test, and scale your food business.

👉 Apply today - limited vendor opportunities available.
https://investinhamilton.ca/hamilton-business-centre/common-house-cafe/

03/23/2026

Preparing new entrepreneurs for market entry with the Community Market Accelerator program 🚀

We’re excited to share a unique opportunity for young entrepreneurs aged 15-29!

The Community Market Accelerator from the Hamilton Business Centre helps early-stage founders turn ideas into real sales - through hands-on training, expert mentorship, and live market experience.

Participants will:

✔️Sell their products (handmade) at the Hamilton Farmers’ Market (4 days/week)
✔️Get 1:1 coaching on pricing, compliance, and sales
✔️Test and refine their products with real customer feedback
✔️Build connections with fellow entrepreneurs and local business networks

It’s the perfect blend of learning and doing - giving youth the confidence to launch, grow, and succeed.

👉 Learn more & apply today! https://investinhamilton.ca/hamilton-business-centre/community-market-accelerator/

And feel free to share this opportunity with someone who could benefit - it’s a powerful way to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

10/07/2025

🔥🌶️ It’s heating up in Waterdown this weekend! 🔥🌶️

Join local businesses this weekend for Chili Fest in Waterdown — a cozy fall tradition filled with flavour, fun, and community spirit. Sample mouthwatering chili creations from local chefs at the , at participating restaurants and soak up the festive vibes including a vendor market, fan tasting and voting 5 chili vendors and pizza at

Bundle up, bring your appetite, and let’s spice up the season and support the Flamborough Women’s Resource Centre! 🌶️🍂🙌

09/30/2025

🚨 Are you one of the 76% of small business owners planning to exit in the next decade without a formal succession plan?

💡Join Succession Success, our free 6-week program with weekly expert-led virtual seminars designed to educate and equip SMB’s with the knowledge, tools, and resources to properly plan, develop, and implement basic succession plans.

Walk away confident and equipped: Protect your business’s value, ensure smooth ownership transfers, minimize taxes, and secure continuity for your team and community.

📅 Program starts: January 14, 2026.

🏆Register now and turn uncertainty into a strategic exit.

https://investinhamilton.ca/hamilton-business-centre/succession-success/

09/16/2025

🚀 Grit & Growth: Networking Event for Hamilton Entrepreneurs 🚀

In a world of economic ups and downs, what keeps small business owners like you pushing forward? Join us during Small Business Week for an inspiring evening on Staying Motivated in Business During Uncertain Times! 🌟

Our featured speaker, Dan Guest, founder and president of Guest Plumbing & HVAC, started his biz straight out of Mohawk College and turned it into an award-winning powerhouse serving Hamilton and beyond. As a community leader, host of the "Guest Life" podcast, and recognized entrepreneur, he'll drop actionable strategies to reignite your passion, build resilience, and thrive - no matter the market chaos. 🔥

Network with fellow small business owners, swap ideas, and sip on crisp craft lagers in the relaxing atmosphere of Shawn & Ed Brewing Company - a historic spot in the heart of Dundas specializing in premium beers. 🍻

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, October 21st
Time: 5-8 PM
Location: Shawn & Ed Brewing Co., 65 Hatt Street, Dundas, ON L9H 0C1
Cost: Free to attend, complimentary wood-fired pizzas and fresh salads (cash bar).

This is your shot to connect, learn, and leave fired up! Spots are limited - register today at 👉 https://21145108.hs-sites.com/shawn-ed-networking-event-2025

We can't wait to see you there. Let's grow together! 💼🤝

08/29/2025

Congratulations to our 2025 Summer Company Graduates! 🎉🎓

This summer, 18 incredible young entrepreneurs turned their business ideas into reality through the Summer Company program! From creativity to resilience, they showed us what the future of entrepreneurship in Hamilton looks like- and it’s bright! ✨

We’re so proud of all your hard work and can’t wait to see where your entrepreneurial journey takes you next. 💡💼

👏 Join us in celebrating the Class of 2025!

07/24/2025

📢 Attention Ontario Small Businesses!

Applications are now open for the Retail Modernization Project Grant. The Ontario government is providing a matching grant of up to $5,000 to help small retailers:

✅ Adopt digital technologies
✅ Boost productivity
✅ Stay competitive in today’s market

This is your chance to modernize your business with the right funding support.

Eligibility:

✅ Ontario-based retailer that is open to the public
✅ Must operate from a physical location
(not home-based)
✅ Employ 1–50 full-time staff
✅ Have been operating for at least 1 year
✅ Make at least $100,000+ in annual revenue

➡️ Applications open on a first-come-first-serve basis, to cover eligible hardware and software costs, for example:

✅ Modern Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems
✅ Inventory Management
✅ Accounting Software
✅ CRM Tools to Track Customer Loyalty
✅ Self-Checkout Kiosks
✅ RFID Scanners & Electronic Shelf Labels
✅ AI customer interaction systems
✅ Loss prevention – Video
✅ Scheduling & Labour Management

➡️ Learn more and apply by visiting: https://www.oc-innovation.ca/programs/digitalization-competence-centre/

07/22/2025

Heres what’s going on this week through SBC Ontario ⤵️

🔹 Smart Start: Use AI To Find Your Market, Shape Your Offer, Build Your Brand

🔸 Navio Spark: Legal Basics for Starting & Growing Companies

🔹 Financials 101

🔸 Competition Bureau 101 For Businesses

Register for these events and more at www.sbcontario.ca