The University of New Brunswick’s Summer Institute has launched its eighth cohort with seven companies participating in the virtual program.

Whereas most accelerators teach lean methodology to innovation-driven startups, the Summer Institute targets companies with social or environmental impact, many of them making consumer products. It focuses on such elements as design, marketing and personal development.

Operated by the J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, known as TME, the 12-week accelerator aims to teach sales, marketing, and customer validation. The Summer Institute has in the past accepted companies from other countries but all the companies in the 2021 cohort are based in New Brunswick.

“It’s been a tough year for entrepreneurs across the region,” said TME Managing Director of Accelerators Joe Allen in a statement. “Even so, we had impressive applications from across Canada showing that entrepreneurs are still hustling and keeping the economy moving. It just happened that the best talent came from right here.”

The companies and entrepreneurs in the program this year are:

• Mariam Ismail – A newcomer to the region, Ismail is using her background as a pharmacist to craft natural skincare products that are uncommon in the local community.
• Lifetrack Safety Systems – Led by Amy Andrews, Bridget McCloskey, and David Itoafa, Lifetrack originally set out to develop advanced life jackets for fishers. It has evolved and is now working on a safety product for a broader market.
• Tutor on Time – Students Irtiza Khan, Minh Nguyen, Moneeb Kassimi, and Roy McIntosh started Tutor on Time as an online platform to help students prepare for tests, exams, and assignments. Their application lets users connect with upper-year students with similar educational backgrounds.
• Village Sage Herbals – Emilie Patterson, a clinical herbalist, has created herbal kits that encourage people to use herbal medicine to improve their health.
• Posh Nosh Spice Blends – Led by registered nutritional consultant Joanne Rolfe, Posh Nosh produces spice blends that “wow the taste buds” while saving people time.
• Super Deodorant – Praveen Pillai and Aruna Jairam are making an all-natural deodorant that stops body odour for 24 hours and won’t cause rashes or stains.
• Soul Star Aromatics – Founder Emily Durling blends organic essential oils into unique mixes.

The program began last month and will conclude July 16 with a virtual demo day. Earlier this week, TME announced the six companies accepted into the spring cohort of Energia Ventures, its accerlator for energy, cleantech, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

This cohort of the Summer Institute features three entrepreneurs-in-residence who previously took their companies through the program: Abby Pond of Queen of Cups Lingerie, and Kevin Lebeouf and Alicia Phillips of Educated Beards.

“Entrepreneurship is a journey,” said UNB TME Chair Dhirendra Shukla. “This year has been difficult for entrepreneurs, and this cohort has proven that they can succeed. We’re so excited to be able to help them and invest in the individuals so they can lead in our economic recovery.”