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Launch Me 2021 Competition Winners Announced

The Launch Me Competition provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the opportunity to develop and pitch their business ideas to potentially win a portion of $25,000 in funding and resources to support their startup.

This year, the competition included an additional prize of $5,000 sponsored by IGNITE. The Launch Me IGNITE prize of $5,000 was awarded to a student whose business exemplifies advocacy in line with IGNITE’s mission:

"You are a force to be reckoned with. Destined for greatness. And IGNITE exists solely as the catalyst to unleash your potential on the world. Helping you create and shape the life you aspire to. IGNITE creates room for ideas, conversations and connections."

Hosted by the Longo Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE), the competition attracted many applicants who submitted their business plans to be judged by an external panel. Out of seven finalists, four winners were announced on March 24th.

The Launch Me 2021 winners included:

Launch Me 2021 competition finalists over Zoom

Xana Mills

Xana Mills

  • Glowvine
  • Awarded $10,000
  • Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design

Glowvine’s mission is to offer an innovative twist on the traditional candle that allows people to express their personal style while also practicing sustainability. This is done by creating vessels that are already equipped with a drainage hole (plugged until removed) and a saucer. When the user is finished burning the candle it is ready to be turned into a planter for their favourite houseplant. In addition, the customer has the option of purchasing candle refills that they can place in their vessels if they wish to continue using the vessel as a candle.

Shanakay Hall

Shanakay Hall

  • Kaylo Digital
  • Awarded $5,000
  • Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design

Kaylo Digital is a web design studio based out of Toronto, Ontario. We build WordPress websites for girl-powered brands – focusing on website redesign projects. Web design services are offered within the Greater Toronto Area and to international clients remotely.

Madeline Currie

Madeline Currie

Swiss Army Musician is an online platform that offers a complete, comprehensive education for musicians who want to learn the craft of songwriting. The long-term goal for this business is to offer a subscription-based model that includes access to video courses, song feedback, live Q&A sessions with professionals, networking opportunities, and discounts at partner businesses for only $360 USD per year. The business’s competitive advantage is that it will offer a non-genre-specific approach and will be one of the most in-depth courses on the topic of songwriting available.

Alice Wang, Isabel Bowman,Nikki Chawla, Maya L.

Alice Wang, Isabel Bowman, Nikki Chawla, Maya L.

  • Indy Design
  • Awarded $5,000 (IGNITE prize recipient)
  • Faculty of Media, Creative Arts, and Design

Indy Design will provide digital design and marketing services to businesses, focusing on immigrant and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) owned e-commerce businesses to try and expand their online presence.

The CfE will continue to work alongside the Launch Me winners in order to provide resources and guidance tohelp grow their business venture.

A special thank all of the judges including Stephen Eiler, Elizabeth Hibbert, Silvio Memme, Noreen Javed, Sarah White, Julia Ciampa, Sanjay Pinnock and Mellissa Khuai.

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