2025-26 IMPACT REPORT
Supporting entrepreneurs through every stage of their journey — from first idea to sustained success.
2025-26
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
LandAcknowledgement
CEED acknowledges that we operate in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People, covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We recognize our shared responsibility as Treaty People and honour the Mi’kmaq Nation. We are committed to supporting inclusive entrepreneurship and building meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities across Nova Scotia.
WHO WE ARE
CEED (Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development) is a trusted home base for entrepreneurs across Nova Scotia.
For nearly three decades, CEED has supported individuals to start, grow, and sustain businesses through education, advisory, financing, and community connections. We operate at the intersection of:
Entrepreneurial learning
Venture development
Access to capital
Ecosystem collaboration
Our work is grounded in one belief: We don’t just build businesses. We build entrepreneurs.
A vibrant and innovative Nova Scotia where all people are empowered to achieve their entrepreneurial potential
CEED delivers innovative and solutions/supports that empowers and enables entrepreneurs to progress toward their full potential in a robust entrepreneurial community.
MESSAGE FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
CallaFarn
In 2025–26, CEED demonstrated the continued importance of entrepreneurship support rooted in trust, inclusion, accountability, and practical impact.
At a time when entrepreneurs are navigating complexity, uncertainty, and changing economic conditions, CEED remained anchored in its mission to be the trusted home base for entrepreneurs — providing hands-on support, practical advice, and the right connections that help them innovate, create, and scale through every stage of their journey. This work continues to be guided by CEED’s values of impact, innovation, community, accountability, and inclusivity.
This year also brought real funding and operating pressures, challenges that are being felt across the broader entrepreneurship support ecosystem. CEED’s response has been to look forward with discipline and optimism. Through the development of a new strategic plan, continued refinement of our programming, meaningful partnerships, the thoughtful use of AI, and the strategic deployment of staff expertise and talent, CEED is positioning itself to serve entrepreneurs with even greater focus and effectiveness.
Programs such as Levelling It Up reflect CEED’s commitment to inclusive economic development and to meeting entrepreneurs where they are in their journey. As we move ahead, the Board remains confident in CEED’s ability to adapt, lead, and deliver meaningful value to entrepreneurs, partners, funders, and communities. On behalf of the Board, thank you to CEED’s staff, partners, funders, and the entrepreneurs who inspire this work every day
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
CraigMacMullin,FCPA,MBA
PRESIDENT & CEO
Entrepreneurship is not just about starting businesses. It is about building possibility.
Every entrepreneur who works with CEED brings more than an idea. They bring ambition, courage, uncertainty, lived experience, and the belief that something better can be built. Our role is to meet that ambition with practical support, trusted guidance, and a pathway forward.
In 2025–26, CEED did that work with focus and momentum. We assisted 746 entrepreneurs across our programs, welcomed more than 1,000 participants to events and workshops, distributed more than $360,000 in character-based loans, and continued expanding our reach across Nova Scotia. We supported startups working toward first revenue, existing businesses seeking stability and growth, and innovation-driven enterprises building new models for the future
746
Entrepreneurs Assisted
954
Interventions delivered
through programming, advisory sessions, and expert strategy calls excluding events
30%
Returned for additional
support, demonstrating the lasting value and trust we've built within the ecosystem
The numbers tell one part of the story The greater impact is found in the entrepreneur who gained the confidence to launch, the founder who finally understood their customer, and the business owner who made a stronger decision about cash, pricing, hiring, or growth. It is found in the woman entrepreneur who accessed support designed around her reality, the rural founder who connected with expertise without leaving their community, and the person who no longer felt alone in the work of building a business.
Inclusive entrepreneurship remains foundational to that future. In 2025–26, CEED continued to support women entrepreneurs, newcomers, Indigenous entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs with disabilities, 2SLGBTQ+ founders, rural entrepreneurs, and others who face barriers to traditional business supports. Inclusion is not an add-on to CEED’s work. It is part of how we design access, build trust, and expand economic opportunity.
That is CEED’s impact.
1090
Entreprenuers attended events and workshops ( Inperson & Online)
21%
Businesses Assisted Outside of HRM
SupportingEntrepreneurs.Strengthening Communities.
Entrepreneurship is a powerful driver of economic resilience — but only when entrepreneurs have access to the right support at the right time
At CEED, we work alongside entrepreneurs as trusted partners. We help them navigate uncertainty, build confidence, and make better business decisions — whether they are launching a first idea, stabilizing an existing business, or preparing for growth and innovation.
In 2025–26, CEED supported hundreds of entrepreneurs across Nova Scotia and beyond, strengthening businesses, expanding opportunity, and contributing to a more inclusive entrepreneurial economy.
This report highlights the impact of that work — not just what we delivered, but what changed because of it.
IMPACT AT A GLANCE
In 2025–26, CEED supported entrepreneurs at scale while maintaining a high touch, relationship‑based model.
In one year, we supported 746 entrepreneurs through 954 interventions—combining advisory sessions, expert strategy calls, and tailored programming.
21% of entrepreneurs supported outside Halifax Regional Municipality
674 startups assisted
72 established businesses assisted focused on stability, growth, or transition
138 innovation‑driven enterprises leveraging technology and advanced models
$360,000+ in capital distributed
Startups Assisted at various stages: exploring, validating, launching, and stabalizing
90.3%
Established businesses assisted focused on stability, growth
9.7%
Innovation driven enterprises leveraging technology and advanced models
18.5%
Inclusive entrepreneurship is embedded across CEED’s entire model
56%
Were women-owned businesses or women entrepreneurs, independent of participation in the Leveling It Up program.
WHY CEED’S WORK MATTERS
CEED reduces those barriers by offering:
Accessible entry points
Trusted, practical guidance
ntrepreneurs face real challenges — limited access to capital, skills gaps, isolation, systemic barriers, and the pressure of making high‑stakes decisions with limited margin for error.
“CEED helped me make decisio I had been avoiding for month finally felt supported and cle about my next steps.” - CEED SME Incubator program participan
Clear pathways through the entrepreneurial ecosystem
“CEED’s Before You Build is a catalyst for turning my concept into a functional reality, specifically the seamless transition into the technical development phase.” - CEED | Before You Build Program participant
Our impact is measured not only by participation, but by confidence gained, decisions improved, and businesses strengthened
“The CEED program has provided me with a framework to focus on the creation and direction of my business. With the help of the instructor, I have been pushing my boundaries and enjoying the steep learning curve. ”
- CEED | Plan Validate Build program participant
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
“The biggest thing that I think helped me was being open to hearing feedback from CEED advisors that pushed me in directions that weren't what I was initially intending for my business. Jay (and Archie!) offers really great observations and questions from his experience in business The customer discovery process was eye opening for me, as were the ways I was challenged during my business plan development. CEED’s goals are very much to see you be operating a financially solvent business. Just be willing to put in the work, focus on data driven decision making, and trust the Lean model and the feedback you get from CEED. I'm six months in and I can say that it really works ”
Nicola Gillis
Saffron + Salt (Halifax)
“From the moment that I met with CEED Team, I was blown away by their knowledge, collaboration, relatability, and professionalism Throughout a variety of training modules and program deliverables, CEED advisor provided a consistent and trusted voice on my business. He grew to know me and my business both personally and professionally. There were many times throughout my journey that I doubted myself or my vision. He consistently asked the right questions and reminded me of the end towards which we were both working Although I am building an independent business, I have never felt alone thanks to CEED’s support, guidance, and collaboration. CEED is an invaluable member of my team and support network. Thanks for everything”.
Craig and his staff, along with the entire CEED organization, have been our biggest supporters and believers Craig is an incredibly well-informed and up-to-date professional. I can go two years without speaking to him and somehow he knows what's going on in my company before I do.
MARS VR Lab
Daniel Baldwin
Ben Brezner Two Bridges Marketing (Bridgewater)
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
“ I now feel I have the capacity to move forward as an entrepreneur and to provide for my family in an area of slower economic growth. It opens up the world of possibilities with online business management as well as giving me a clear understanding of the local and global market. I gained the tools to scale my business with confidence I feel opportunities like these are essential and a wonderful investment by prospective parties in assisting women entrepreneurs who carry many hats and execute endless roles. It provides fair and equitable paths to entering and successfully executing entrepreneurial endeavours Thanks again to Caroline Chu and the Leveling It Up Program I have eliminated the barriers, gained the knowledge, skills, and courage to launch my entrepreneurial idea. I can now support the economic growth of my community and make a difference through the social impact of my vision”
"CEED have done like such a great job pushing us out of your comfort zone. I had never heard of Customer Discovery before this. Did I feel ready to go out and interview customers? No Did I do it anyways? Yes Did I find a lot of really great information that I couldn't find on a website? Absolutely
“When I had my first idea in mind, I was really struggling to figure out what my MVP was going to be I had no idea And now it’s like a no-brainer This process has made it much clearer what I should actually be building.”
Kelsie Brannon, Artist
Halifax, NS Woodland Adventurers Guild
Kudos to you because this program is excellent. It does exactly what it has sought to do It is so practical I felt like I was flailing around and didn't know where to be and what to do before this. This gave me structure and support. "
Andrea MacLeod
Rachel Stone Ilusik Labrador Expressions Inc.
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Working with CEED during the entrepreneurship program was one of the most valuable parts of the entire experience. Jay is incredibly easy to talk to, approachable, grounded, and genuinely invested - which made it easy to be honest about where I was struggling and where I wanted to grow
He brings a wealth of real-world knowledge and experience as a business owner, and his guidance always felt practical, thoughtful, and relevant.
What I appreciated most was his ability to meet me where I was When I needed support, Jay showed up as a friend, listening, encouraging, and steady And when he knew I was capable of more, he stepped into the role of mentor, challenging me to think bigger and act with more confidence Jay kept me on track and held me accountable in a way that felt motivating rather than pressured. CEED’s process was incredibly valuable and truly helped propel me to take the chances I already knew I needed to take, but hadn’t yet fully committed to.
I’m very grateful for CEED’s guidance and would highly recommend them to anyone looking for an advisor who is both supportive and genuinely invested in your success
I found working with CEED was really insightful and refreshing They were honest and direct when I needed it, and wasn’t afraid to push back on ideas I was holding onto so I could think about my business more realistically. They brought creative solutions and perspectives I wouldn’t have come up with on my own, due to their extensive experience, which made working with them especially valuable.
I wasn't sure what to expect with a Business Advisor- Jay was very knowledgeable, direct and supportive in what you needed to start your business. There is a lot of information coming at you and he is able to help you see the overall picture and give constructive and positive feedback throughout. It's been a pleasure working with Jay.
Bailey Vernon Churned (Dartmouth)
Brianna Courneya The Talent Hive (Halifax)
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Plan - Validate - Build covered material that I needed to now Kim offers practical, expert teaching and advicehe has started and operated businesses Learning culture s positive, open, encourage sharing and questions “CEED | Plan Validate Build program Participant
“The CEED team is supplying a much needed service to entrepreneurs and their facilitation of support is critical coupled by the approved financial assistance that was also critical to success” - CEED Advisory Participant
“CEED Staff is the asset of CEED Being rainbow registered, accommodating my disabilities and making feel inspired, understood, I am treated like I really matter and the assitance and advice exceeds my wildest expectations and it will give me the confidence The constructive critique and advice are always relevant as they listen and comprehend my plan, the potential and without crushing my soul by helping me improve if I missed the goal. All the staff go the extra mile and I am so so so fortunate for what this program is and the quality of all. This will ensure not only a smoother start up ,but prepare me to be in business untill retirement where I will be able to retire! My life has changed and I was encouraged every step of the way” - CEED Self Employement & Loan Client
“The CEED (Leveling It Up) programs and consults have been phenomenal I always walk away with actionable steps to grow my business. It has allowed me to niche down, understand how to get more leads, and ultimately earn more revenue I refer women founders to the program any chance I get and have only heard excellent feedback I appreciate that the facilitators are experts in their craft and actually doing the work they are teaching! I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate, and I hope more women founders continue to get access because this work is needed to amplify our voices!”
LIU participant
WHAT SUPPORT LOOKED LIKE IN 2025–26
CEED delivered flexible, responsive support tailored to entrepreneur needs:
Programs & Services at a Glance:
954 interventions combining advisory sessions, expert strategy calls, and tailored programming
54 Incubator (Plan → Validate → Build) participants across Mainstreet and Leveling It Up 102 Self-Employment Program orientations & 31 businesses started
85 Business Skills Development Fund engagements
Business Support
504 Advisory services (finance, marketing, operations)
70+ events, workshops, learning sessions, and partner led events
Financing
$360,000 distributed in Character-based loans ($5K–$50K)
Launched Financial Readiness workshop In 2025–26, CEED expanded beyond HRM: Strong growth in Cape Breton
Increased presence in Valley & East Hants
Province-wide delivery through virtual programming
AI Integration - CEED Biz Assist (AI support for entrepreneurs)
504
30‑minute discovery consultations
30%
Engaged in multiple programs, demonstrating trust in CEED as a long term support partner
74
Events, workshops, learning sessions, and partner led events
85
Business Skills Development Fund engagements
ADVANCING INCLUSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Inclusive entrepreneurship is not an add-on at CEED it is foundational In 2025–26, CEED served more than 500+ women entrepreneurs through core services alone, with Leveling It Up expanding that impact even further.
LevelingItUp:TurningAccessintoAction
LIU participants included immigrant women, entrepreneurs with disabilities, Indigenous women, and 2SLGBTQ+ founders
These outcomes reflect intentional design choices: Removing cost barriers
Partnering with trusted community organizations
Delivering programming that reflects lived realities, not assumptions
Leveling It Up (LIU) is designed for women entrepreneurs who are building businesses and who face systemic barriers to traditional supports. In 2025–26:
174 participants entered LIU with operating businesses
108 businesses were tech enabled or digitally supported
250 founders were based in Nova Scotia
Immigrant Women: 111 (43.5%)
Indigenous Women (LIU): 11
Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: 49
2SLGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs: 26
Francophone Entrepreneurs: 7
Women entrepreneurs were supported across Canada - LIU
Participants from Nova Scotia - Regional economic development
Delivery partners engaged
350
70%
21
Total Course Enrollments
Businesses were tech enabled or digitally supported
Provinces/Territories Served
700
108
9
STRENGTHENING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM
CEED plays a critical role as a connector within Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem
In 2025–26:
76 entrepreneurs were referred to external partners
Key partners included CBDC, Futurpreneur, Invest and ACOA
This work reflects CEED’s entrepreneur first philosophy: ensuring founders access the right support even when it sits outside our organization.
WhatWe’reLearning
CEED’s work in 2025–26 reinforced several key insights: Entrepreneurs value trusted, human‑centred guidance over one‑size‑fits‑all solutions
Early stage and underrepresented founders benefit most from low barrier entry points
Pathway based engagement leads to stronger outcomes than isolated interventions
Ecosystem coordination improves entrepreneur outcomes and reduces duplication
These insights continue to shape how CEED evolves its programs and services.
BUILDING THE SYSTEMS BEHIND THE IMPACT
Behind every CEED program, workshop, and entrepreneur success story is our team working to make support more accessible, connected, and meaningful
Over the past year, CEED has continued evolving toward a more integrated, pathway-based approach recognizing that entrepreneurship is not linear and that support must meet people where they are, whether they’re exploring an idea, navigating uncertainty, or growing with confidence.
This shift pushed us to look beyond individual programs and focus on the systems, processes, data and experiences behind them. We worked together to create clearer pathways, strengthen how we measure impact, improve collaboration across the ecosystem, and thoughtfully explored, tested, and learned how AI can be adopted not only to reduce administrative work, but to strengthen how we support entrepreneurs and deliver our programs
While much of this happens behind the scenes, its impact is felt in stronger conversations, more consistent support, and better outcomes for the entrepreneurs and businesses we serve
As CEED grows, our focus remains on building an organization that is efficient and innovative but above all, deeply human. One that helps entrepreneurs feel supported, understood, and empowered to move forward with clarity, confidence, and momentum
VICE PRESIDENT - OPERATIONS
PriyankaKakkar
LOOKING AHEAD
As we move into 2026–27 and beyond, CEED is making a deliberate shift: from delivering programs to building pathways; from isolated interventions to lifecycle support; from helping entrepreneurs at one moment in time to walking with them through the real arc of starting, stabilizing, growing, renewing, and transitioning a business.
Entrepreneurs do not move in straight lines The founder validating a first customer, the owner managing cash flow, the growth-stage company facing operational complexity, and the retiring business owner preparing for succession all need different kinds of support. CEED’s pathways model reflects that reality by connecting programs, advisory support, financing, ecosystem navigation, data, and practical tools around the actual stages of an entrepreneur’s journey
This is bigger than program design Nova Scotia needs more businesses that start stronger, survive longer, grow smarter, and modernize faster CEED’s next iteration is about becoming Nova Scotia’s trusted home base for entrepreneurs at every stage — clearer pathways, stronger advice, better data, more intentional access to capital, deeper collaboration, and practical use of technology and AI, all while remaining deeply human in how we support entrepreneurs
The next chapter for CEED is bold because it must be Nova Scotia needs more entrepreneurs who are prepared, resilient, productive, innovative, and connected
LOOKING AHEAD
Our economy needs businesses that can start stronger, grow smarter, adapt faster, and transfer successfully. Our communities need entrepreneurship that is inclusive, practical, and rooted in real opportunity. CEED is ready for that work.
I want to thank the entrepreneurs who trusted us with their ideas, challenges, and ambitions. I also want to thank our staff, advisors, instructors, funders, partners, and Board of Directors. Your commitment makes this impact possible. The path to progress starts now CEED is proud to walk it with Nova Scotia’s entrepreneurs.
& CEO
THANK YOU
The impact reflected in this report is made possible by a shared commitment to entrepreneurship.
CEED extends its sincere thanks to the entrepreneurs who trusted us with their ideas and businesses, and whose resilience and ambition shape our work every day We are grateful to our funders and partners for their continued support in expanding access to inclusive, practical entrepreneurship resources across Nova Scotia. Thank you to our ecosystem collaborators, advisors, and instructors for walking alongside entrepreneurs and strengthening outcomes through shared expertise. We also acknowledge the leadership and guidance of the CEED Board of Directors and the dedication of the CEED team, whose work turns vision into impact.
Together we are building a stronger more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem
