Thanks to the Ignition Fund, Rachael Sonola, will be able to further develop Sonola Sweets’ products for the wholesale market.

"This fund will facilitate our production phase, as we perfect our formula and prepare to launch in stores,” said Rachael Sonola. "We look forward to becoming a household brand and providing authentic Afrocentric foods to the world.”

Sonola is one of five recipients who received a $25,000 grant in the spring 2022 round of funding. 

The spring 2022 Ignition Fund recipients are:

• CollaborationSchool.Com
• L’nu Energy Inc.
• Performers’ Health
• Sonola Sweets
• Tunistrong Technologies Incorporated

“Government recognizes the Ignition Fund is crucial in helping new and expanding businesses take that next step with their companies. The key to success in business is the spirit of the individual and the strength of their idea. With the Ignition Fund, we are happy to help bring those great ideas to reality.”

- Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture Minister Bloyce Thompson

In addition to receiving the funding, recipients will also be accepted into the Startup Zone's Resident Company Program. As a resident company, they can access a number of services, including 24-hour access to the SUZ space, mentoring support, opportunities to interact with SUZ community partners, such as lawyers, accountants, and business development officers, as well as networking and free in-person and online events hosted by Startup Zone. 

Media contact:
Hillary MacDonald
Department of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture 
902-394-6368
hpsmacdonald@gov.pe.ca

Backgrounder 

CollaborationSchool.Com (Kirstin Lund)
A unique training product that helps teams to manage and prevent workplace conflict to decrease stress, increase productivity, and create healthy workplaces.

L’nu Energy Inc. (Dylan MacLennan)
Focused on helping First Nation peoples design, construct, and implement cleaner energy systems.  

Performers’ Health (Rich Knox)
A health and wellness company that focuses on delivering tailored, accessible, and engaging workouts, nutrition plans, and creative guidance to professional musicians over a digital platform.

Sonola Sweets (Rachael Sonola)
An Afro-fusion baked goods company that produces bread mixes for customers to create soft and buttery loaves and buns at home. 

Tunistrong Technologies Incorporated (Ian Lucas and Dr. Matthew Dunlop) 
The first and only company to commercialize CNC from tunicates as an ingredient useful for the manufacture of a wide variety of composite materials.