Venture for Canada Announces the 2022 TD Clean Prosperity Award Winners

Sarah Mariani Updated: November 9, 2023

TORONTO, ONT./ November 9, 2023 – Venture for Canada (VFC) is excited to announce the 2022 recipients of the TD Clean Prosperity Awards.

VFC’s Fellowship Program is a 12-month-long intensive program that supports young Canadians to develop entrepreneurial skills and accelerate their careers. Venture for Canada Fellows receive access to a three-week in-person training camp, connections to startup employers, and ongoing coaching and mentorship opportunities. This year, we received over 370 applications for the 2023 cohort and accepted 42 Fellows.

Selected upon graduation in May 2023, the 2022 recipients of the TD Clean Prosperity Fellowship Award are recognized for their passion within the cleantech sector and their commitment to environmental sustainability. Those recognized by the Award will have an opportunity to connect with representatives of TD to build their skills and networks as they apply their entrepreneurial skills to this passion.

Venture for Canada CEO Scott Stirrett emphasizes the importance of using entrepreneurial skills to create a better world; “Entrepreneurial behaviour creates economic growth and innovation, which enhances our capacity to tackle challenges such as climate change.”

“Entrepreneurial behaviour creates economic growth and innovation, which enhances our capacity to tackle challenges such as climate change.” – Scott Stirrett, Venture for Canada CEO

“Congratulations to the recipients of the 2022 TD Clean Prosperity Awards,” says Joshua Cayer, Manager, Philanthropy, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group. “Through the TD Ready Commitment, we’re proud to support Venture for Canada and its efforts to help individuals prepare for jobs in the cleantech sector, while helping to take care of the planet for future generations. Together, we’re working to help elevate the quality of the environment so both people and economies can thrive.”

"Through the TD Ready Commitment, we're proud to support Venture for Canada and its efforts to help individuals prepare for jobs in the cleantech sector, while helping to take care of the planet for future generations. Together, we're working to help elevate the quality of the environment so both people and economies can thrive." – Joshua Cayer, Manager, Philanthropy, Sustainability and Corporate Citizenship, TD Bank Group.

TD supports this initiative today through a $255,000 contribution over three years. Through this collaboration, Venture for Canada will support and guide young and diverse entrepreneurial talent to the clean economy by introducing Fellows to new opportunities in the sector while developing their skills, networks, and confidence through our Fellowship program.

About Venture for Canada

Venture for Canada is a national charity that fosters entrepreneurial skills and mindsets in young Canadians. To be entrepreneurial is to act upon opportunities for others. We recruit, train, and support young people to work for innovative Canadian small businesses and startups. Through our programs, participants develop the network, knowledge, and entrepreneurial skills to have more impactful careers.

About TD Fellowship Award Winners

The following recipients are presented the TD Fellowship Award to acknowledge their commitment and passion towards a more sustainable and accessible future for all.

Evan Horvath

Business Development Executive, Ratio

Whistler, BC

Evan is a Civil Engineering and Business graduate from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a 2022 Venture for Canada Fellow. He is excited by the puzzle of finding product market fit and iterating on strategies to solve the challenges of this generation. He is motivated to develop in the space by working and investing with start-ups that impact the global community. Evan has experience in public and private capital projects and engineering consulting.

Andrew Herold

Growth Hacker at Kaitongo

Toronto, ON

Andrew strives to live his best life, with dreams of revolutionizing what it means to do business by bringing social and environmental change into its foundations through entrepreneurship. An altruistic, innovative leader with dreams of travelling the world, he is inspired by new ways to utilize business in fostering positive and impactful change. Andrew graduated from the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Global Business Management and Marketing.

Yllka Bojku

IT Analyst, Trent University & AI Machine Learning Intern, AI4Good Lab

Toronto, Ontario

Yllka is an international student and a new graduate who was born and raised in Kosovo. She is highly passionate about supporting young people from developing countries to have access to quality education and led Trent University’s Student Refugee Program for two years, where she helped six refugee students integrate into their university and community by starting their student lives in Canada. She took a social entrepreneurship course during her last year of university, which sparked her interest in entrepreneurship.

She specializes in digital marketing and web development. A long-term goal for Yllka is to start her own business and give back to the Canadian community and the community back home where she grew up.

Khalil Mulji

Settlements Analyst, Peak Power

Calgary, AB

Khalil is an entrepreneurial thinker who loves learning about new topics and ideas, meeting people, and growing as an individual and a leader. During his undergraduate degree, he refined his skills in problem-solving, interpersonal communication, and public speaking. Khalil is passionate about creating change to solve society’s biggest problems. He graduated from the University of Calgary with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and a Minor in Nanoscience.

Luke Martin

Founder at “adore.”

Toronto, ON

Luke has a strong passion for building businesses and is now the founder of “adore.” The company is focused on producing clothing and home goods, all while finding ways to collaborate and support local artists and creators. His life goal is to build a community to empower the people around him. Luke graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing.

Marina Radovanovic

Product Manager at FigBytes

Calgary, AB

Marina is a Masters of Entrepreneurship (MMIE) graduate from the Smith School of Business. VFC provided Marina the foundations to become a social intrapreneur and Product Manager at FigBytes. Marina now helps our planet by creating solutions to make the “S” in ESG purposeful and easier to report. On the side, Marina has started her own Product Design consulting agency and holds UX, UI, and product design certifications with Brainstation.

“Starting my career as an entrepreneur right out of my undergraduate degree meant that I put myself through many personal and professional sacrifices to get where I am today. Even though I failed my first Venture, HeroHub Inc., I was gifted with this mindset of grit and determination that VFC was able to push to the next level. This scholarship gave me the foundations to immerse myself in VFC and helped me communicate my value as an entrepreneurial candidate to potential employers.” – Marina Radovanovic

Jessie Saunders

Business Development Executive, Trolley

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Jessie is a fashion and lifestyle content creator on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. She has a background in Civil Engineering and is about to start a new career as the Head of Content Creation and Social Media and Influencer Marketing with a sustainable luxury cosmetics start-up, Ash & Green. The Toronto-based company aims to eliminate single-use plastic in household items and is launching its first product, a luxury shampoo bar, by the end of 2022. Jessie will be in charge of building an online community, helping launch their product, and wearing many hats as she will be the first full-time employee. She is from New Brunswick but now lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Vanessa Mathieu

Project Manager, Sequence Commerce

Kingston, Ontario

Vanessa Mathieu is a Graphic Designer and Brand Strategist who wants to make the world a better place. She is known for her transformational leadership, her contributions to sustainability, and her out-of-the-box thinking.

“The Fellowship program has given me the opportunity to network with like-minded people and explore career options outside of school while cultivating my passion for entrepreneurship. I have discovered new career paths, and your support has enabled me to continue my journey without letting financial barriers stand in the way.” – Vanessa Mathieur

Interested in being surrounded by like-minded individuals looking to make a difference? Apply for the 2024 Fellowship Cohort today!

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