HELIX

Seneca's innovation and entrepreneurship incubator, invites Seneca students, graduates, faculty and staff, along with members of the community, to explore and develop their entrepreneurial mindset. These are the stories of some of the companies created through HELIX.

By Giulliana Micheletto

Imagine moving to a foreign country all by yourself at only 18 years old while the entire world is pausing because of a highly contagious virus.  That was Manvi Verma’s reality when she decided to move from India to Vancouver to pursue her artistic dreams. According to her, nothing about her journey to Canada was typical, but then, neither were her goals.

Having grown up in an Indian household full of women who were constantly wearing and playing with makeup and clothes, Manvi started to learn about the power of feeling confident very young. From testing out makeup on herself to taking on any opportunity to make someone else feel more at ease in their own skin, Manvi knew she was destined to work in the entertainment industry. (more)

By Miriam Bosiljevac

“Progoti means progress in Bengali”, shared Nurjahan Begum, social entrepreneur and owner of a clothing line.

Begum wanted to find a way to support the garment workers by providing them with an insurance and pension plan.

The garment workers the fashion industry primarily come from developing countries. They work long days, and by the time they reach 40 years of age, they can’t sustain the hours required of them. Begum wanted to give these workers some financial security. “From 18 to 40, they can work. But what’s going to happen after 40? People don’t die at 40.” (more)

by Mercyliana Mukaga

Kim Ng’s journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t an easy one. For many hairstylists, owning a business is a dream often complicated by a lack of business knowledge, funds, or resources. But Ng, who spent over 15 years honing her craft in cities like Toronto, Hong Kong, and Sydney, wasn’t going to let those obstacles hold her back. Her passion for hairdressing was strong, but she knew that to take her career to the next level, she needed more knowledge.

Growing up in a typical Asian family where academic success was heavily valued, Ng faced early challenges in pursuing her passion.  (more)

by Sam Rogers

The virtual reality trend has been a fixture of the gaming world for over decade now. But more recently, the medical world has come to view virtual reality, or VR, as an unexplored avenue for therapy.

And innovation is sorely necessary as according to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health one in two Canadians will have or have had a mental illness by the age of 40. That is a staggering number of people.

With this in mind, and with guidance from Seneca’s HELIX program, Navun Razdan pitched Unvrap.  (more)

by Alejandra Jimenez

A professor at Seneca Polytechnic and his wife, Sonya Viflanzoff, Co-owner and Beekeeper of Drunk Bee, sell 100% pure and unpasteurized honey jars as a sustainable and traditional family business. However, the biggest challenge for them has been the economy and being able to reach several people. “We have to hit the market, getting them to understand it's a quality product from a single source,” says Viflanzoff.

Pop-up markets have been an alternative for the entrepreneurial couple, generating accessibility and highlighting local and sustainable products.

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by Hope Makoura Zoumbra

Taseen Chowdhury is not your typical college student. While most are focused on passing exams and figuring out life after graduation, he is already building his future one sneaker at a time. A business student at Seneca Polytechnic College, Taseen has taken his love for sneakers and transformed it into a profitable business @instant.Ca which is a sneaker retail business where they sell Jordans, air-forces and many more. All while juggling coursework and deadlines. His story is one of hustle, resilience, and smart decision-making, proving that you don’t have to wait until graduation to chase your dreams.  (more)

By Folashade Adetuyi

In 2019, Carmen Doucette became a mother for the first time when she welcomed her baby girl Peyton. Reflecting on that time, she said, “I was on a 12-month maternity leave, like most women are, and I just assumed, cause I didn’t know, that like near the end of my leave, I would be able to just get childcare. Like I wasn’t on any waitlists— I knew nothing.”

During this time, she considered quitting her job to care for her child, despite her household running on two incomes. It wasn’t until a friend suggested exploring home daycare options or searching Facebook groups for availability that she discovered alternative solutions.

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By: Muqaddas Ashfaq

Throughout history, herbal medicine has been a cornerstone of healing across cultures. Two powerful plants that have stood the test of time are kanna and blue lotus, both of which play a significant role in The Botanical Sage’s offerings.

Kanna is a succulent plant native to South Africa, traditionally used by indigenous communities for its mood-enhancing properties. The plant contains alkaloids like mesembrine, which are believed to interact with the brain's serotonin receptors, potentially reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation. Modern applications of kanna include its use in teas, tinctures, and supplements aimed at alleviating stress and enhancing cognitive flexibility.

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by Ganga Bhujel

Imagine watching your business lose nearly three-quarters of its revenue in a single season. That’s exactly what happened to Mehrad Moarefi when his ice cream business took a massive hit during the Canadian winter. Sales dropped by 70%, and it became painfully clear that people just didn’t want ice cream when it was freezing outside.

Mehrad Moarefi had been a producer in the dairy business in his shop and ice cream was one of his products. Moarefi stated that, “Soon I realised that ice-cream was the best-selling product and it’s profit is higher than whole other product of my shop.” “So, I decided to do focus on only ice-cream”, he said.

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By Ghazal Fatima

Sara Asyyed's journey as a filmmaker is a testament to her passion and dedication to storytelling. With a growing list of diverse projects, she is making her mark in the industry by blending artistic depth with commercial appeal.

From the age of eight, Sara knew she wanted to be a filmmaker, writer, and actress in musicals. Her passion never wavered, but breaking into the industry was challenging. After years of struggling to secure funding and pitching films to major studios, she decided to take control of her career.

"I wanted to escape the rat race and create my own work—stories that truly resonate with me and my audience," she says. This led to the creation of her production company, Celestial Sands Productions.

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By : Giuliano Trombatore

Overtime , basketball shoes became popular because of the specific need and feel for an athletes foot. Every athlete has experienced some sort of discomfort when it comes to trying new pairs of shoes. Sunny Kim has a solution for this issue. After experiencing discomfort while moving sideways in basketball , He noticed that his foot would naturally want to turn inward when making quick lateral movements, but his shoes did not allow for this motion. With his passion and knowledge in Business , Design , Basketball and Patents , He decided to start his own business called Vidar.

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