WEB IMPACT

For Kaleem Ahmad, owner of consulting and software company Web Impact Inc., the advisory resources and office space available at TBDC, were a springboard for his business development plans.

Web Impact was a resident business in the Centre between 2001 and 2004. The company is now located, near TBDC, on Atlantic Avenue in the city’s reinvented Liberty Village district. Web Impact serves Fortune 500 companies such Honeywell and Fujitsu and has seen sales grow tremendously over the past several years.

Web Impact employs programmers, application developers, technical writers and marketing staff thereby making a valuable contribution to the local economy.

www.web-impact.com

ONIGO IMPORTS

Another former client who similarly graduated from the Business Incubation Program, according to plan, is Daniel Merizen, owner of Onigo Imports, a designer and wholesaler of home décor fabrics and fashion accessories. Several years ago, Daniel found himself out of work but eligible to enroll in what is now known as the Ontario Self-Employment Benefit (OSEB) Program, delivered by Toronto Business Development Centre.

Once he finished the program, he became a participant in Business Incubation Program to move his business to the next level. “The business incubator was really great. They helped me to get a line of credit and set up a business plan with proper cash flow projections,” says Merizen.

Onigo Imports has now grown to point where it operates from a 5,000 sq. foot warehouse near Dupont and Lansdowne, where Daniel now employs four people.

www.onigo.com

THE DOWNTOWN KIDS ACADEMY

A few years ago, Libby Lund-Petersen recognized the opportunity to establish a daycare centre in one Toronto’s up and coming neighbourhoods, King West Village. With the assistance of OSEB Program offered at TBDC, she developed her business model and began operation.

Lund-Petersen’s new venture, The Downtown Kids Academy, is now bustling with active toddlers. With a current staff of six, the daycare has already recognition as on “T.O.’s best daycares” by the National Post.

www.downtownkids.com

SUPER KICK KARATE

Vic Granic, founder of Super Kick Karate, has been a Black Belt in traditional GoJu-Ryu Karate since 1995.

Throughout his career in karate, Vic Granic has successfully competed on both a national and an international scale in such events as Regional

Karate Championships, Canadian Karate Championships and the American Open. He also has led the Canadian Karate team as Captain and Coach.

With the support of TBDC’s Business Incubation Program, Granic fulfilled a life-time ambition of opening his own martial arts school. Super Kick Karate first started operation within the Centre where his business quickly developed a strong customer base, which was attracted to Granic’s passion and enthusiasm.

In 2007, Super Kick Karate graduated from the Business Incubation Program and opened its doors on Atlantic Avenue. With its new storefront location and broad range of training programs, Super Kick Karate is poised for continued growth and success.

www.superkickkarate.com

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