From Newcomer to Entrepreneur: How Enterprise Bridge Is Helping Immigrants Build Businesses in Toronto
Starting a business is no easy feat, especially for newcomers navigating life in a new country. The Global Migration Institute’s recently launched initiative, Enterprise Bridge, developed in partnership with the University of Notre Dame’s Urban Poverty and Business Initiatives (UPBI) (external link) , is helping immigrant entrepreneurs in Toronto turn their business ideas into sustainable ventures while building pathways out of precarity and economic exclusion. Using a six-pillar model, the initiative includes a structured 80-step pathway that guides participants through training, mentorship, and community-building.
The larger project, hosted by UPBI and implemented in more than 50 cities around the world, is generously supported by The Coca-Cola Company in North America. Inspired by the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26™, Coca-Cola is supporting community groups that drive economic growth and inclusion. Through partnerships with local colleges and universities, Coca-Cola in North America aims to create meaningful opportunities for communities by expanding equitable access to opportunity and upward mobility. By supporting programs like Enterprise Bridge, the company hopes to create a legacy that extends far beyond the tournament.
Shatvahi Ramesh, one of the 28 graduates of Enterprise Bridge’s first cohort in Toronto, says that push led her to start her own business, Thethani and Co., a mobile tea and snacks stall. “They helped me really feel like my idea is worth pursuing,” she says, referring to one of her conversations with her mentor.
Urban poverty affects 13.2% of Toronto's population, exceeding national and provincial averages. The city's child and family poverty rate reached 25.3% in 2022. Among Toronto's 2.76 million residents, 55.7% are racialized, with immigrants experiencing higher low-income rates (8.7%) compared to non-immigrants (6.3%). Entrepreneurship offers a pathway to alleviate poverty, particularly for immigrants who comprise 22% of Canada's population but run 25% of small and medium enterprises. However, immigrant-led firms face greater financial fragility and challenges navigating Canadian business practices, securing financing, and building social capital.
Enterprise Bridge is addressing these challenges by recruiting immigrants with business ideas or early-stage entrepreneurs, providing training, mentoring, counselling, and community connections over three years.
In the Fall term of 2025, CERC Migration, with support from the Bridging Divides research program, kicked off this nine-month program beginning with six bootcamp sessions delivered over six weeks, followed by a mentorship phase and a student consultation phase. Each bootcamp session was designed to be immersive, combining a two-hour workshop with sessions featuring both a guest speaker and a guest entrepreneur.
Workshops covered key stages of the entrepreneurial journey, from ideation and execution to financing, securing resources, marketing, and other essential business fundamentals. Participants also heard from guest speakers across sectors, including government, financial institutions, and local businesses, who offered specialized insights and practical advice. Guest entrepreneurs shared their personal journeys and day-to-day experiences navigating the realities of building a business in Canada.
“The UPBI provided the rare opportunity to support communities through direct development initiatives, while also continuing to drive meaningful research,” says Researcher and Program Lead Anil Dhakal.
As Enterprise Bridge continues to grow, the initiative aims not only to support individual entrepreneurs, but also to strengthen communities by fostering economic inclusion, expanding opportunity, and helping newcomers build long-term stability and success in Canada.
Useful links:
How to Design an Entrepreneurship Program for Migrants
Enterprise Bridge Toronto: Fostering immigrant economic integration