Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) is November 18th to 24th. This annual celebration of entrepreneurship is observed in over 180 countries worldwide and is a time to celebrate the innovation, resilience, and hard work of entrepreneurs making waves in their industries and communities.
This year, WEtech Alliance is shining a spotlight on ten incredible founders that exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship right here in our region. From sustainable solutions to transformative health tech, these ventures are not only shaping the future but also inspiring others to pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams.
Join us as we celebrate these dynamic founders who are blazing their own trails and creating positive impact.
Cedar Valley began in 2015 as a high school project after Ameen Fadel received a $3,000 grant from his school board in partnership with the Canadian government. Ameen partnered with his mother, Surria Fadel, to bring her family’s recipes for fattoush salad dressing and pita chips to market.
Since then, the mother/son duo have grown their family-run business exponentially; partnering with some of North America’s largest retailers to bring their products over 1800 locations across North America and receiving a $1,000,000 Dragon’s Den offer from Canadian businesswoman Arlene Dickinson.
In November 2023, Ameen was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Food and Drink. Not to be outdone, Surria was recently selected as one of only 10 founders accepted to participate in Communitech’s Fierce Founders Intensive Track program, where she will receive personalized growth coaching, access to a network of industry experts, and $50,000 in matching funds to accelerate Cedar Valley’s growth.
Learn more HERE.
Mayank Balakrishnan is the founder and operations head of Fetherstill Inc., a company that develops electric technologies for mobility.
With a background in sustainable transportation and expertise in battery technology, Mayank initially aimed to develop electric vehicles but soon recognized a broader potential in energy storage, drones, robotics, and other electric applications. Drawn by Windsor’s supportive ecosystem, he expanded Fetherstill’s focus and found a solid foundation for growth despite the challenges of working in advanced manufacturing.
Mayank envisions Fetherstill as a technology hub, uniting designers and engineers within Windsor’s region and eventually expanding to the U.S. By building connections with local talent and suppliers, Fetherstill aims to create scalable solutions, establish a logistics supply chain, and contribute to industries ranging from battery tech to robotics. Mayank’s vision underscores Windsor’s potential as a center for cutting-edge energy and electric technologies.
Learn more HERE.
Dhwani Shah’s transition from academia to entrepreneurship highlights the challenges and rewards of pursuing innovation beyond research. With over a decade of experience in transportation engineering and planning, Shah moved to Windsor in 2016, where her passion for teaching and research evolved into a vision for real-world impact.
Shah’s company, Aadhya Navik Inc., addresses a pressing issue in autonomous vehicle technology: passenger motion sickness. Its innovative vehicle control system incorporates comfort and motion thresholds, ensuring smoother rides without sacrificing traffic efficiency. The company’s recognition as a Top 100 quarter finalist in the Global Automotive & Mobility Innovation Challenge (GAMIC) underscores its potential to revolutionize autonomous driving.
Despite navigating a steep learning curve and juggling roles like marketing and finance, Shah embraced these challenges as opportunities for growth. Looking ahead, she aims to scale Aadhya Navik Inc. globally while inspiring the next generation as an academic. Her journey showcases the power of ambition, mentorship, and perseverance in turning research into innovation.
Learn more HERE.
Founder and CEO Scott M. Fairley began his entrepreneurial journey nearly a decade ago, building robots in a garage with his friends before formally launching Optimotive in 2022.
The robotics company is dedicated to introducing automation into the outdoor environments of the construction, mining, and oil and gas sectors. With a background rooted in a passion for both technology and practical solutions, Fairley has guided Optimotive with a philosophy that values innovation, efficiency, and safety. His work focuses on the thoughtful integration of robotics to address real-world challenges, aiming to enhance operational effectiveness while fostering a sustainable future.
His work hasn’t gone unnoticed. This year, Fairley was named one of 26 winners nationally of a C100 Fellowship, and Optimotive appears on BuiltWorlds’ 2024 list of Top 50 companies in the world operating in the construction robotics sector.
This past September, the company secured US$2 million dollars in new investor funding to expand operations and help complete development of two new robots: MULE and SCRUBBLES.
Learn more HERE.
Since October 2021, local founder Maddie Simone has been changing lives with Lymphology Skincare, Canada’s only skincare line focused on lymphatic care.
Maddie was inspired to establish the company after losing two of her brothers to cancer caused by a rare hereditary condition; Familial Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm and Dissection Disorder, a genetic mutation she herself also carries.
Maddie transformed her grief into purpose, first by becoming certified as a lymphedema therapist, then by developing her product line, which was born from a need she discovered for affordable, at-home care solution for patients. The skincare products combine natural, anti-inflammatory ingredients to aid lymphatic health.
Her efforts have earned widespread praise, including the 2022 Biz X Award for “Outstanding New Business.” She has expanded her reach to four countries and continues to innovate with plans for new products and supports for patients suffering from lymphedema.
Maddie’s entrepreneurial journey exemplifies resilience and purpose, as she balances innovation with advocacy to make skincare more inclusive for those facing unique health challenges.
Learn more HERE.
Dr. Kyle Bassett’s entrepreneurial journey is a testament to how passion and ingenuity can tackle pressing global issues like climate change. As the founder of Windsor-based cleantech company Climate Neutral, Dr. Bassett has developed a groundbreaking software platform, CERCA, to help municipalities track and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dr. Bassett’s path began with his undergraduate and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering at the University of Windsor. His time building wind turbines in Nicaragua deepened his interest in sustainable energy, which he carried into his Ph.D. in civil engineering. After working as the City of Windsor’s Community Energy Planner, he identified a significant gap: municipalities lacked accessible tools to measure and manage emissions effectively.
Despite having no formal background in computer science, Dr. Bassett immersed himself in learning to code, spending six months in a remote cabin to build the foundation for what would become CERCA.
Launched in February 2023, CERCA is already in use by dozens of municipalities across Ontario and beyond. The platform simplifies GHG inventory management, making data-driven climate action accessible to communities of all sizes.
Learn more HERE.
Picsume was founded in 2021 by brothers Jordan & Joshua Goure with close friend Nick Mastromattei.
Having spent nearly their entire careers as entrepreneurs, the group saw the need for change within the hiring landscape, starting 10+ companies that all had one issue in common: hiring inefficiencies. It was then the vision to transform the traditional resume was born, providing a more efficient, streamlined, unbiased hiring process.
Recognizing the limitations of traditional resumes, the founders developed an AI-driven platform that allowed professionals to showcase their skills, projects, and achievements in a visually dynamic and interactive format.
In just a single year since product launch, Picsume has gained significant traction and is fast becoming a go-to tool for professionals across industries, empowering users to stand out in competitive markets.
This past month, the award-winning tech company successfully closed its seed round funding, securing $1 million from a lead Canadian investor, with additional funds being contributed by both SRED and IRAP.
Learn more HERE.
