GLENN LOWSON FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Cake & Loaf Bakery Ltd.
Cake and Loaf Bakery in Hamilton, Ont., has become a destination for people looking for creatively-made baked goods produced from scratch using local ingredients. Founders Josie Rudderham and Nicole Miller started the business six years ago because they were both "really jaded about bakeries, which were using a lot of frozen products and turning bakeries into factories." Today they have two locations but would like to create a public space for baking classes and community events.
Kevin Van Paassen FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Autom River Inc.
After being grossed out by the organic waste bin in their home, brothers Morgan and Jackson Wyatt developed Greenlid, a composting bin made from the same type of cardboard used in most egg cartons. They appeared on Dragons' Den and secured enough money to kickstart their business, Toronto-based Autom River Inc., and Greenlid is now available in big Canadian retailers such as Sobeys and Canadian Tire. But now the brothers want to make a larger, family-size bin that would expand their market.
CHRIS BOLIN FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Charmed Playhouses Inc.
When Tyson Leavitt built a playhouse two years ago as a present for his daughter, he had no idea the fantastical structure would lead to a business venture. Mr. Leavitt and his wife started Lethbridge, Alta.-based Charmed Playhouses Inc. in 2015, and within months sold their landscaping business. The custom-made playhouses start at $7,500, with some high-profile future projects expected to generate a flood of business that Mr. Leavitt will need to prepare for.
KEVIN VAN PAASSEN FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL
Brutus Beverages Inc.
Zack Silverman and Aaron Harowitz know cocktails. When they decided to start a business, it made sense to develop a much-needed enhancement to a highly popular, made-in-Canada cocktail: the Caesar. "Everybody was using the same mix," Mr. Silverman said. They came up with a recipe using all-natural ingredients, and Vancouver-based Brutus Beverages and its star product, Walter Craft Caesar Mix, was launched in 2013. Now the founders' goal is to put Walter in major grocery stores across Canada.
JENNIFER ROBERTS FOR THE GLOBE AND MAIL
DateNight Babysitting Inc.
Need someone to watch the kids for a few hours? If you live in Toronto or Ottawa, Elize Shirdel can connect you to a couple hundred potential babysitters in the city. She launched DateNight, an online platform that matches parents with babysitters, two years ago. The concept is simple: Families who register with DateNight get access to babysitters who have been interviewed via Skype and approved for listing by the company. Now she wants to expand into Vancouver, improve her online platform and hire a manager.