Matthew Eliot started his own business this summer driving his pontoon boat to sunbathers at cottages to deliver ice cream treats dockside.
The 16-year old entrepreneur needs his mother to tag along because while he owns the boat, he only has his G1 license and can't drive it alone.
He says he's already making money serving up ice cream bars, drumsticks and Haagen Dazs on his Ice Cream Float boat.
"People love it. I just go right up to their dock. It's convenient," said Eliot.
Eliot was joined by about 39 other young business start-ups at the Southshore Centre Wednesday morning for the launch of the Summer Company Program.
The provincial program provides aspiring student entrepreneurs with business training, mentorship and up to $3,000 in grants to start and run their own summer business.
The students are from the Small Business Centre, Simcoe-Muskoka YMCA, College Boreal and Nottawasaga Futures.
MPP Ann Hoggarth told the crowd of "bright, young entrepreneurs" that they had "amazing ideas."
She lauded the Summer Company Program.
"It's a priceless experience," Hoggarth said.
Travis McEwan, a 2014 alumnist of the program addressed the crowd of young business people.
McEwan owns Jacked Scholar, a website that sells affordable sports nutrition supplements to young people.
He's now 23, in the Starter Company Program and just moved into a 2,000 square feet warehouse facility office space in Barrie and is looking to hire employees.
He credits the Summer Company Program with giving him a great start.
"The funding obviously and then the mentorship. The mentorship is super valuable," said McEwan, who has just over 300 campus reps across Canada.
Meanwhile, The Ice Cream Float owner Eliot is heading to Muskoka this summer.
He plans to save up for university and has a business plan and sales pitch all nailed down.
"At the Blue Jays game you pay $7 for a Haagen Dazs ice cream. I'm selling them for $5."
