Sarah Croft

Announcing the Graduates of 2024-25 and Welcoming the New 2025-26 Cohort

The Centre for Social Enterprise (CSE) is thrilled to announce the graduation of the 2024-25 cohort of social ventures and to welcome a new group of changemakers into our incubator.

Looking Back

This year marks a major milestone for CSE, as we celebrate five years of supporting entrepreneurs who are shaping our community through social innovation.

In 2020, we launched the province’s very first incubator for social ventures. We set out to help students develop financially sustainable businesses driven by strong social purpose—and we’re proud to see how our graduates have taken that mission even further than we ever imagined.

From fighting climate change to enhancing the viability of the province’s small-scale fisheries, to developing open-source data software and making weddings more financially accessible, our students have created enterprises that have made a real and lasting difference to our local communities—and beyond.

Graduating Cohort

The graduating ventures of the 2024-25 cohort have worked tirelessly over the past year, participating in specialized training, business advising, and building impactful projects that address critical social issues in our community. These ventures are led by passionate and innovative social entrepreneurs and we’re excited to see where their journeys will take them next.

Congratulations to the 2024-25 Graduates:

1. Blessing Adedokun-Awojodu with Bimpegold
   Bimpegold is a sustainable fashion brand that focuses on upcycling pre-loved clothing to create high-quality bespoke apparel. The venture also provides fashion training to local communities, promoting responsible fashion practices and encouraging active consumer involvement in the design and production of garments.
2. Roxana Fazli and Morteza Amiri with ExpertiseHub
   ExpertiseHub offers skilled immigrants tailored support to help them succeed in the Canadian job market, providing training, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Their work builds a stronger, more inclusive workforce by connecting newcomers with employers and industry professionals.
3. Erin Snow with Labrador Consulting Services
   Labrador Consulting Services specializes in cultural competency training for workplace professionals, fostering understanding and collaboration in diverse work environments to promote positive socio-economic outcomes.
4. Mathew Emshey with Networking Labs NL
   Networking Labs is focused on stimulating economic development through fun and engaging community events that promote innovation and empower local communities.
5. Tisia Stemp and Jamie Berfield with STREAMS Education
   STREAMS Education offers a gamified learning experience that integrates society, technology, research, arts, mathematics, and sciences, creating a dynamic environment for social-emotional learning while fostering inclusive and peaceful education spaces.

These ventures have demonstrated incredible resilience, creativity, and dedication to building social good in their respective fields. We’re incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to their continued success.

Welcoming the 2025-26 Cohort

As we celebrate the achievements of the 2024-25 cohort, we are equally excited to introduce the new ventures joining the incubator for the 2025-26 cohort. These ventures are poised to bring fresh ideas and impactful solutions to the community, and we can’t wait to see how they evolve over the next year.

Meet the new cohort:

• Faith Kinyua with African and Asian Chef Venture
  A culinary venture focused on authentic African and Asian cuisines, with a special emphasis on a youth culinary training program.
• Neha Kumari and Rama Nunna with AssuredHubs
  Simplifying rental accommodations for international students and newcomers, AssuredHubs aims to bridge the gap in accessible housing for these growing communities.
• Mike Taylor with Frontline Peer
  Addressing the mental health crisis among first responders, Frontline Peer provides mental health resources, peer support, and training tailored to the needs of public safety professionals.
• Pablo Baldiviezo and Yasaman Alidadi with FutureSprout
  A social venture dedicated to combating food insecurity through vertical farming, ensuring a sustainable food supply in the province.
• Oluwatoyin Awosanya, Lydia, Lina and Rosemary Makaga with MK Sisters Productions
  MK Sisters Productions creates paid opportunities for African and marginalized artists in the music, theatre, and film industries, helping amplify diverse voices in the arts.
• Sandra Hewitt-Parsons with Sandra Maud’s Closet
  A clothing and accessories venture focused on the disability community, providing work opportunities to designers with disabilities and promoting inclusive fashion.
• Hasan Ahunov and Begim Akhunova with Sustainably
  An impact-driven accounting platform designed to support non-profits, NGOs, and social enterprises, enabling better financial management and reporting for the social good sector.

These ventures are tackling important social challenges and we are looking forward to seeing their growth over the next year.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Social Innovation

As we celebrate the past five years of changemakers, we are also always looking ahead. We remain deeply committed to supporting the next generation of social entrepreneurs.

Throughout the coming year, the CSE will continue to provide these new ventures with the resources, training, and guidance they need to scale their impact. From strategic planning, human centred design workshops and impact measurement workshops, we are here to help them create lasting change.

Applications for the next cohort will open in January 2026. Stay tuned to our website for more details and updates about how to apply.

For more information about the CSE, our programs, and how we support social entrepreneurs, visit www.mun.ca/social-enterprise/ or email socialenterprise@mun.ca