For the Simon Fraser University’s Business Model Social Innovation accelerator course, I conceptualized and launched ‘The Local’, a community food co-op designed to address food insecurity and promote sustainability through a hyper-local framework.

I meticulously developed a business model focused on uplifting area producers, ensuring equitable wages for employees, and cultivating an intentional shopping experience rooted in quality and care.

Following the incubator program, I successfully pitched The Local to the community, securing essential funding to advance its development. This initiative rapidly evolved from an innovative concept into a tangible, local solution, purpose-built and community-powered.