WEtech Alliance is thrilled to announce that Surria Fadel, co-founder of Windsor-based Cedar Valley, has been accepted into Communitech’s Fierce Founders Intensive Track program.

Surria, who launched the successful Canadian food manufacturer of authentic style pita chips and pita products with her son Ameen, is one of only 10 founders selected for this year’s cohort, which began on July 31, 2024. As part of this transformative initiative, she will receive $50,000 in matching funds to accelerate Cedar Valley’s growth.

The Fierce Founders Intensive Track program, led by Communitech, offers women and non-binary founders personalized growth coaching and access to a network of industry experts. Each founder is paired with a dedicated growth coach, meeting weekly to implement tailored growth strategies. Additionally, participants engage in monthly group coaching sessions, creating a collaborative environment where founders share insights, tackle challenges, and build valuable connections.

Thanks to a partnership with WEtech Alliance, this annual program is now accessible to women and non-binary founders across Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.

Surria follows in the footsteps of other Windsor-based women and non-binary entrepreneurs, like Resimate Founder & CEO Sarah Cipkar, who participated in last year’s program.

Reflecting on her journey, Sarah said, “Being a part of the Fierce Founders Intensive Track program has been an amazing experience for myself and my team! All of the growth coaches have provided immeasurable value and accountability to help us solve key problems and move forward in our business. The support I’ve received has propelled my thinking and growth  beyond the funding, as our team has grown in confidence about how to deploy it in a marketing and sales context. Very grateful to be a part of this program!”

Communitech’s Fierce Founders program is funded by the Federal Economic Development Agency of Southern Ontario, the City of Kitchener, Google, and the Province of Ontario. It empowers women and non-binary founders to scale their businesses and grow as leaders.

For more information about upcoming Fierce Founders programming including Uplift and Bootcamp, please contact Susy Kustra, Manager of Programs and Client Experience.