From Dream to Reality: 22 Immigrant Entrepreneurs' Dreams Take Over ByWard Market

Immigrant Entrepreneur Canada is back for another year of our Summer Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian, and we couldn’t be more excited to share what’s in store for this summer! 

Ribbon-Cutting Launch Event

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony was a day to remember. With over 100 members from the community coming to celebrate the grand opening of the 2025 Pop-Up Shop, this year’s cohort of entrepreneurs felt incredibly supported, seen, and many of them even made their very first sales! 

The importance of these moments cannot be overstated for the immigrant entrepreneur community- every sale is a vote of confidence in someone’s dream, and it’s those who dare to dream big that make our country a better place. 

Special thanks to our inspiring speakers Solange Tuyshime (Elevate International), Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, Zachary Dayler (ByWard Market), Yasser Ghazi (RBC), and Gabby Assaf (Meridian Credit Union), whose partnership and support for this program help make this all possible. 

Watch this recap of the event here:

Launch event video

About the Summer Retail Incubator Program

IEC’s Summer Retail Incubator Program, presented by RBC and supported by Meridian, is designed to propel aspiring immigrant entrepreneurs to the forefront of Ottawa’s business realm. It is a fully immersive, practical experience that provides the tools, training, and hands-on support to transform ideas into successful businesses. 

After undergoing eight weeks of classes to refine their skills, each entrepreneur puts those skills into action in the heart of our city: ByWard Market! With a one-week residency, they are able to interact with customers, get feedback to polish their products, and see what it’s like to have a successful venture in one of our country’s busiest tourist destinations. 

It is an unparalleled opportunity that makes dreams into a reality- hear from last year’s cohort to know more!

What to Expect this Summer from our Immigrant Entrepreneurs

This year, we’ve got 22 unique immigrant entrepreneurs from 20 different countries. Coming from Djibouti, Madagascar, Mexico, India, Lebanon, and more, this diverse group has come together through shared dreams, passions, and the determination to cultivate something beautiful in Canada. 

After two months of intense classroom sessions, they are ready to launch businesses with products from the culinary, clothing, textile, art, self-care, and horticulture industries. There is something for everyone at the IEC Pop-Up Shop- from upcycled clothing to luxury skincare to specialty hummus dips, you’ll discover something new with every visit. 

Located in ByWard Market Square, the IEC Pop-Up Shop will be open every Wednesday to Sunday, from 10AM to 5PM until the end of October. Each week will feature a new business, so don’t forget to check out our 2025 Vendor Calendar to stay up to date on who is in the Pop-Up Shop! 

Dream big and support local immigrant entrepreneurs this summer!

This program was made possible thanks to our incredible presenting partner, RBC, with support from Meridian Credit Union and in collaboration with our community partners: ByWard Market Authority, Invest Ottawa, Lennox Innovations, Ottawa Print Services, Ottawa Board of Trade, DreamLinked, Re4M and WhiskeyJack Media.