We’re excited to welcome the newest Rise cohort—18 founders tackling critical challenges across diverse industroes. From supporting reproductive mental health to designing fashion and home decor rooted in culture, these social entrepreneurs bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions to some of today’s biggest chalenges.
Over the next eight months, they’ll receive one-one-coaching, participate in peer circles and access funding resources to refine and scale their ventures. Meet the founders and read about how they’re shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Anisha Hines | Mindfull Mommies
Anisha Hines founded Mindfull Mommies to support women in balancing motherhood, business, and self-care. Through expert-led resources, wellness strategies, and peer connection, the platform helps women prioritize their well-being while pursuing personal and professional goals. Anisha has also launched community events, and developed self-care tools, including wellness planners, to support and guide women on their journey.
Arushi Chopra | Studio Dialectica
Arushi Chopra is the founder of Studio Dialectica, a unisex apparel brand that combines Indian cultural heritage with contemporary design. The brand advocates for sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity, using pre-owned traditional garments, natural fibres, and locally sourced materials. The handcraft pieces minimize environmental impact while preserving artisanal heritage and honouring traditional methods. Studio Dialectica also serves as an educational platform, promoting sustainable fashion for all cultures, gender identities, and body types.
Chithra Priya | The Design Wolf
Chithra Priya is the founder of The Design Wolf, a creative agency specializing in branding, animation, and graphic design. Her agency helps businesses connect with their audiences by delivering engaging and unique visual experiences. The Design Wolf integrates sustainable design practices, creating both economic and environmental benefits while empowering brands to achieve their marketing goals through innovative and collaborative solutions.
Domonique Morris | Perfect Keys Academy
Domonique is the founder of Perfect Keys Academy, a Toronto-based music education venture offering personalized, in-home and online piano lessons for students aged 5 and up. Rooted in the belief that music fosters more than just technical skills, the academy encourages emotional development, time management, and self-discipline. Lessons are tailored to each student’s unique learning style, helping them build a strong musical foundation while nurturing creativity and confidence.
Hui Huang Hoe | elerGreen
Ifeanyi Okocha | DGCI Design Limited
Imani Monetta James | Organic Soul Healing Arts
Imani is the founder of Organic Soul Healing Arts, a wellness practice that empowers women of colour through coaching, energy work, and empowerment workshops rooted in African spiritual traditions. She is a certified coach practitioner, a Reiki practitioner, and an award-winning poet and performance artist. Her work combines cultural knowledge, spiritual practices, and holistic healing to help clients reclaim their voice and foster self-awareness, spiritual growth and emotional well-being.
Kareem Mitchell | KDJM Studio
Kareem is the founder of KDJM Studio, a multidisciplinary creative studio and streetwear brand blending art, fashion, and architecture to produce bold, expressive design. With a mission to elevate everyday fashion into wearable art, Kareem has showcased his collections at major fashion events, including Fashion Art Toronto and RunwayTO. Through his work, Kareem aims to celebrate Black creativity, foster community collaboration, and promote cultural expression.
Korede Adegboye | Culinary Compass
Korede Adegboye helps businesses, professionals, and organizations in the hospitality industry streamline operations and achieve sustainable growth through strategic business analysis and data-driven solutions. With expertise in project management, CRM, and workflow optimization, Korede specializes in improving efficiency and decision-making for clients looking to scale their impact. Through process improvement, he aims to provide tailored solutions that drive long-term success.
Nikesh Amit | Resilient Mind Leadership Lab
Nikesh is the founder of Resilient Mind Leadership Lab, which provides coaching and training to navigate change with clarity, confidence, and resilience. Grounded in evidence-based mindfulness practices and proven leadership frameworks, the Lab offers resources for both immediate impact and long-term transformation. With over 20 years of experience leading complex programs across government and non-profit sectors, Nikesh brings expertise in facilitating growth, collaboration, and adaptive leadership.
Preeti Kapoor | HealinWithin
Preeti Kapoor is the founder of HealinWithin, a holistic wellness venture helping businesses build healthier, more balanced, and productive teams. As an energy alignment and mindset rewiring coach with over 15 years of experience in holistic healing, mindfulness, and emotional well-being, Preeti works across diverse industries. Through HealinWithin, she offers customized wellness programs, corporate workshops, team retreats, and one-on-one healing sessions to support resilience and long-term well-being.
Rachel Dolynsky | Birkdale Partners
Rachel is the co-founder of Birkdale Partners, a digital marketing agency that helps small businesses build a strong online presence. Drawing on her background in marketing and business development, Rachel specializes in web design, lead generation, managing targeted ad campaigns, and implementing SEO strategies that help local service providers attract and retain customers. She works closely with clients to deliver practical, results-oriented marketing solutions tailored to their specific business needs.
Rajbir Achoriwala | BiteWise Canada Inc.
Rajbir founded BiteWise Canada Inc. to create clean, wholesome snacks without preservatives, artificial colours, and hidden sugars. Motivated by the lack of trustworthy snack options for her children, she began developing her recipes. Bitwise is now available in four community stores across Mississauga and Brampton and is expanding to offer healthier snack choices to families across the region.
Shantea Murray | Handcuff Status Inc.
Shantea co-founded Handcuff Status Inc. and the Handcuff Status Foundation to address systemic injustices and support marginalized communities. The foundation offers trauma-informed, culturally responsive services focused on advocacy, mental health, and youth programs. Through mental health support, education, and community empowerment programs, the organization helps individuals impacted by the criminal justice system. By creating pathways for reintegration, Handcuff Status works toward long-term community change.
Sherley Joseph | The Chonilla Network
Sherley is the founder of The Chonilla Network, a creative collective and new media company supporting Black Canadian content creators. Through the network, she provides digital strategy, podcast production and management, and influencer marketing. Rooted in equity and impact, its platform highlights shows that explore identity, comedy, and culture, helping creators, entrepreneurs, and brands grow their platforms and reach audiences often underrepresented in traditional media.
Tanika Riley | Tanika iNsight Circles
Tanika Riley is the founder of Tanika iNsight Circles, a social enterprise focused on youth development, community wellness, and education through ancient wisdom and hip-hop culture education. As a speaker, artist, host, and facilitator, she has engaged over 40,000 students, educators, parents, and community members through workshops, programs and events. In 2021, she was recognized as one of the 100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women for her two decades of global impact in youth development, education, and cultural empowerment.
Yvonne Brown | The Faithful Steward
Yvonne Brown is the founder of The Faithful Steward, a financial education platform offering coaching, corporate training, workshops, and financial products to help individuals and businesses achieve financial independence. As a Life Licence Qualification Program certified insurance agent with over 25 years of experience in the finance industry, she focuses on breaking cycles of poverty and building generational wealth through practical, community-focused solutions.
Zenyshia Farmer | Sakhu Creations
Zenyshia is the founder of Sakhu Creations, a platform that produces literature and facilitates workshops to support racialized communities, with a focus on Afro-Canadian and Afro-American populations. She creates intentional spaces where Black voices, stories, and healing journeys are centered and celebrated. Zenyshia has also facilitated writing workshops for survivors of sexual violence, in partnership with organizations like the Women’s Support Network of York Region. These workshops aim to create safe, affirming environments for healing and self-expression.
Rise is a program for social entrepreneurs ready to scale their impact enterprises at an accelerated pace. This project is funded by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). For more information, visit the program page or email us at edge@sheridancollege.ca.
