From custom nails and baked goods to creative media, Mississauga’s young business owners have something for everyone.
Business and innovation | July 31, 2026
On August 12, the IDEA Connect Summer Market will present an event at IDEA Square One that features 13 student-run businesses. Visitors can shop for unique products and services, meet the young business owners behind them and support local talent. The event is a chance to connect, discover something new and celebrate the next generation of entrepreneurs.
The young business owners are part of Summer Company, a program funded by the Government of Ontario. People ages 15 to 29 start and run their own businesses during the summer months. High school students commit to 280 or more hours while post-secondary students commit to 420 or more hours between May and Labour Day. Through training, guidance from IDEA and hands-on experience, they build skills and turn their ideas into real businesses.
The IDEA Connect Summer Market takes place at the end of the IDEA Mississauga Summer Company program. Students get to meet customers and get sales experience before heading back to school.
What
The IDEA Connect Summer Market features 13 student-run businesses that are part of the Summer Company program in Mississauga.
Visitors can shop for goods and services at the market. They’ll get a passport and collect a stamp as they visit each business. They can enter their stamped passports into a raffle to win an IDEA gift bag.
Who
Meet the talented student business owners behind the 2026 IDEA Mississauga Summer Company program. Discover a variety of creative, youth-led businesses, including:
- Hyprboost Tech
- Clevoir
- EPIC Car Detailing
- KDOT
- Helios Growth Systems
- Glu Nails
- Gig Tax Books
- Sauga Task Crew
- Six Blade Studios
- Jobbli
- Knot my Hook
- Luo Media
- Brown Butter Bakehouse
When
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
5 to 7 p.m.
Where
IDEA Square One
Square One Shopping Centre
100 City Centre Drive
Second floor, beside The Rec Room
Registration
Admission is free. Register online to attend the IDEA Connect Summer Market.
Why it matters
The IDEA Connect Summer Market gives young business owners a chance to showcase their businesses, connect with customers, bring in sales and use what they’ve learned in a marketplace setting.
The summer market offers the community a chance to shop from local student-run businesses. It highlights how programs like IDEA Mississauga Summer Company can help young people succeed in business.
About IDEA Mississauga
IDEA Mississauga is the City’s hub for entrepreneurship and innovation. It connects local and global founders and helps businesses grow. Its home base, the IDEA Square One Entrepreneurship Hub, is a 4,300-square-foot innovation space located inside Square One Shopping Centre. It brings start-ups, scale-ups, corporate partners and investors together.
Quote
“The IDEA Connect Summer Market showcases the creativity, dedication and entrepreneurial spirit of students who have spent the summer turning their ideas into businesses. These young entrepreneurs represent the next generation of innovators, and their success highlights the strength of Mississauga’s entrepreneurial community. I encourage residents to visit the market, connect with these talented young business owners and support their growing ventures.”
– Christina Kakaflikas, Director, Invest Mississauga