Nottawasaga Futures and DMZ Innisfil help chart the course for local veterinary company’s growth
Most successful new businesses are the product of a lot of hard work; a singular devotion to making a new idea work. They also tend to involve collaboration with founders reaching out to partners for valuable resources and advice that can help them take the next step.
That’s exactly how CEO and Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) Rebecca Bartley’s entrepreneurial journey has been unfolding since she first launched Trooper Pet, a mobile veterinary nursing service, five years ago. Wanting to grow her business, she was open to feedback and actively sought advice.
Rebecca is a dynamo! She has completed the Small Business Centre of Barrie, Simcoe County and Orillia’s Starter Company Plus program, graduated from Georgian College’s Further Faster Program and participated in the competitive Grand Pitch competition. She was awarded the Ontario Association’s RVT of the Year in 2021, lauded for her pioneering work in veterinary medicine through Trooper Pet. Recently she was nominated for the RBC Woman in Business Awards for Young Entrepreneur.
As she worked hard to grow her business, she sought advice from local business support partners who were able to provide her with mentorship and resources that she leveraged to further her success. One support Rebecca took advantage of was the DMZ Innisfil Startup Incubator program which provided key knowledge, curated mentorship, and networking opportunities that have helped her create the thriving business she has today.
“DMZ Innisfil has been the most influential on the day-to-day operations and success of my business. It was nothing like all of the other incubators. DMZ Innisfil is alongside me as I grow,” she says. “I meet with a lot of different mentors but Jelmer Stegink, Town of Innisfil Economic Development Project Manager, is my go-to and we’ll just strategize.”
DMZ Innisfil also helped connect Rebecca with Nottawasaga Futures, who supported her in receiving critical funding, which allowed her to hire additional staff and further expand her business. As a young entrepreneur, it is hard to secure loan funds, so Nottawasaga Futures' support was critical and allowed Rebecca to onboard employees quickly to help meet increasing demand.
“When I got to the point in my growth that I needed a loan, Nottawasaga Futures enabled me as a small business owner to get funding,” says Rebecca. “We also just purchased our first Trooper Pet Mobile, which is wrapped and driving around Simcoe County, so that’s pretty cool.”
She can’t envision a time when she won’t take advantage of these resources and is already looking forward to continuing to work with her mentors. “I’m at the point in my business where I’m profitable. To see it be successful and profitable and actually scale up is exciting,” she says.
“They always say making it past three years and five years, that’s when you really know if the business is going to last. I’m telling you at the five-year-mark now, I can definitely attest to that. It feels good.”
Nottawasaga Futures
Nottawasaga Futures is a local business support partner for entrepreneurs across South Simcoe. They partner with various levels of government and offer full wrap-around support for local small businesses including business plan development, guidance on marketing plans or business expansion strategies, one-on-one coaching and business mentoring, financial assistance, and a variety of business training opportunities.
“Nottawasaga Futures is a place where entrepreneurs can access support locally as they start, grow and expand their businesses. Our team works closely with individuals and businesses across the region to provide guidance, financing and practical resources that help turn ideas into successful ventures,” says Martin Kuzma, CEO of Nottawasaga Futures.
Trooper Pet started working with Nottawasaga Futures back in 2021, when Rebecca sought information on their programs. She approached the organization again in 2024 after being referred by DMZ Innisfil, looking for information about loans. Through Nottawasaga Futures consulting program and collaboration with their partners she applied for and successfully secured a loan — support that helped provide the resources she needed to expand her business and move forward with her growth plans.
The process helped ensure the business was financially prepared and positioned for growth while also meeting the requirements for financing. With a strong business plan and clearer financial projections in place, Trooper Pet was able to move forward with confidence and successfully secure the loan needed to support the next phase of the company’s development.
“The funding from Nottawasaga Futures enabled Trooper Pet to expand its operations and strengthen its overall capacity for growth. One of the key outcomes was the ability to hire additional employees, which helped support day-to-day operations and allowed the owner to dedicate more time to strategic activities focused on growing the business,” says Kuzma.
A portion of the funding was used to enhance the company’s online services and digital presence — an investment that improved how the business connects with customers, supports service delivery and better positions the company to reach a broader market. “Overall, the funding provided the resources needed to scale operations while building a stronger foundation for long-term growth,” he says.
Key collaborations
Nottawasaga Futures and DMZ Innisfil work together as part of the same regional entrepreneurship ecosystem. While each organization offers different types of support, they collaborate closely to ensure entrepreneurs receive the resources that best fit their needs.
Nottawasaga Futures often refers clients to DMZ Innisfil when they would benefit from business support services, mentorship and programming designed to help local businesses start and grow. In turn, the DMZ Innisfil may refer clients to Nottawasaga Futures when businesses are seeking financing, business advisory services or support with business planning.
“By working collaboratively and sharing referrals both organizations help create a stronger support network for entrepreneurs in the region, ensuring businesses can access the right expertise, funding opportunities and development programs as they grow,” he explains.
“We believe strong local businesses are the foundation of a thriving community. By working collaboratively with entrepreneurs, partners and municipalities, Nottawasaga Futures helps create opportunities for innovation, job creation and economic growth. Our goal is to ensure that entrepreneurs have the support they need to move their ideas forward and turn their entrepreneurial ambitions into reality.”
The Entrepreneurial Journey Map
The Town of Innisfil recently launched its Entrepreneurial Journey Map, which outlines regional support partners across Simcoe County who can assist local entrepreneurs. It aims to help emerging founders identify what steps they should be taking to create, build, and scale a successful business.
The Entrepreneurial Journey starts at the “dream” phase when early-stage founders are developing ideas and follows the “launch”, “grow” and “scale” phases before concluding with the business’ “exit” phase. In total, there are 27 steps or milestones along the way.
The helpful tool was designed to guide new and growing businesses through the various resources, programs, and service providers available to support them. “Starting and expanding a business can often be complex, and the map helps entrepreneurs understand where to go for the right type of support at each stage of their journey,” says Kuzma.
It connects entrepreneurs with key organizations that provide mentorship, training, financing, and business advisory services. With clearly outlined pathways, the map makes it easier for businesses to navigate the local support ecosystem and access the programs that can help them start, grow and scale successfully.
“For new businesses in particular, having a clear roadmap to available resources reduces barriers, saves time and ensures they are connected with the right partners who can help them build a strong and sustainable foundation,” says Kuzma.
Review the new Entrepreneurial Journey Map at innisfil.ca/JourneyMap to identify your position and connect with the business support partner best aligned with your current needs. Reach out to the Town of Innisfil Economic Development office at 705-436-3710 or visit InvestInnisfil.ca to learn more about the supports available in Innisfil.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Ontario and the Town of Innisfil.
This story was written by Village Media and originally published on Innisfil Today and now shared to the Town's Economic Development news channel.