The 2025 Winners!
Celebrating Entrepreneurship in Parry Sound District
The Parry Sound Area Founders Circle is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Founders Choice Awards. Cash prizes of $10,000 for first place and $5,000 for second place were presented to entrepreneurs in the Parry Sound District. New to the competition this year, all the other finalists received $1000 to use for professional business services to help enhance and grow their businesses.
The winner of the Parry Sound Area Founders Circle Choice $10,000 Award is: Sound Yarn & Fibre
The winner of the Parry Sound Area Founders Circle Choice $5,000 Award is: Harbour Hot Sauce
Parry Sound Area Founders Circle is pleased to announced this year's finalists, in alphabetical order:
- Harbour Hot Sauce
- I Like to Move it Movers
- New Wave Fishing Academy Inc
- Oli’s Parry Sound Fishing Charters
- Smart Fitness Studio
- Sound Yarn & Fibre
Over the next few months, there are a series of education sessions, videos, headshots, and presentations to the Founders.
The winners, will be announced at our Awards Dinners, scheduled for April 10th, 2025.
Exciting to see the business community alive and well in the Parry Sound District. Thanks to all the applicants for their submissions and helping our community grow and thrive.
The Parry Sound Area Founders Circle is a group of individuals and business owners working together to promote economic development throughout the District of Parry Sound. The group’s first initiative, The Founders Choice Awards, identifies and rewards entrepreneurs with promising business ideas.
Founder's Choice awards include:
- 1st place $10,000
- 2nd place $5,000
The Founders are community leaders who have invested funds as prizes to be awarded to individuals or groups with innovative ideas that will help improve the local economy. Aside from screening applications, interviewing finalists, and presenting the prize, the Founders aim to provide significant assistance to all finalists through video production, marketing, and introduction to investors.
APPLICATION PROCESS
APPLY
Application deadline: Oct. 31st, 11:59:59 PM EST
All applications will be evaluated by the Founders based on the following 5 criteria:
- Broad Economic Impact
- Innovation
- Scalability/Growth Potential
- Profitability Potential
- Demand for Product/Service
INTERVIEW
VIDEO DAY – Selected finalists will attend a video recording session where they will present their business idea in front of a video recording crew.
HEADSHOTS – Selected finalists will have their professional headshot taken.
MEET THE FOUNDERS – Top finalists will individually meet with a group of Parry Sound Area Founders for a Q & A session.
AWARDS
Parry Sound Area Founders Awards Dinner - An evening to celebrate business and entrepreneurship. Date: Spring 2025
Finalists will be recognized for their achievements and vignettes of video presentation will be shown.
At the end of the evening, the first and second Parry Sound Area Founders Choice prize winners will be announced.
Make a difference - Be a Founder
The power of community and the importance of investing in our local area.
Founders have the opportunity to shape the future of Parry Sound and foster growth and innovation. Our collective efforts support local businesses and enhance the quality of life for all residents.
Together, we can create a vibrant and thriving community.