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[$15K in Seed Funding Awarded to OCAD U Students and Alumni to launch and grow their creative businesses](/index%2Ephp/markdownify/node/2862) April 3, 2023 # $15K in Seed Funding Awarded to OCAD U Students and Alumni to launch and grow their creative businesses ![FinalistsAndJury_2023](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/2024-11/FinalistsAndJury_2023.png.webp?itok=MnWJxqCW) rgb(255,255,255) Now in its third year, the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers is thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2023 Seed Fund for Creative Entrepreneurs: - **$5,000 First Place Dobson Entrepreneurial Excellence Prize:** [Fraymer](https://fraymer.com/) (Demilade Olaleye) is a simple web app that helps creators make animated content easily without the need for any motion design experience. - **$4,000 Second Place:** [NimiMinds Mindfulness Kit](https://www.instagram.com/nimiminds/) (Liza Levitin and Ilan Levitin) is a child-focused, fun, customizable set of mindful books and cards. - **$3,000 Third Place:** [The Creative Kids](https://thecreativekids.xyz/) (Ajay Woolery) is a platform, community, and source for creative youth. - **$2,000 Honorable Mention:** [Chlos](https://www.instagram.com/chlos____/) (Chloe Lorenzo) is a styling + creative direction consulting agency and garment rental shop, specifically for creative productions. - **$1,000 Ample Labs Prize for a business tackling a social problem:** [Vulnerably Speaking](https://www.instagram.com/higherselfperception/) (Lotus Tsang) is a set of prompt cards that have been designed to facilitate self-exploration, deepen relationships, or spark engaging conversations. These individuals were selected by our jury of experts: Dr. Alia Weston, Associate Professor of Creative and Business Enterprise at OCAD University; Daniel Francavilla, Marketing Advisor, Brand Strategist, & founder of Now Impact Studio and ACCESS; Jaymin Luces-Mendes, founder of Toni Marlow Clothing, and Noire Now; Shilbee Dhalla-Kim, coach for changemakers, entrepreneurs and community builders; and Steven Lui, Investment Associate at Front Row Ventures. We would also like to shout out the other finalists for this year’s seed fund: - [ARCH ACCESSORIES](https://www.instagram.com/archaccessories_/) (Lily Li and Hussain Butt) specializes in prototyping and manufacturing custom hardware and trims. - [Birthed by Bracy](https://www.instagram.com/birthedbybracy/) (Bracy Appeikumoh) is an alternative lifestyle brand that mixes the sweet and the vicious. After all, you can't spell cute without C-U-T. - [Em Moor Documentation](https://www.instagram.com/emmoordocumentation/) (Em Moor) captures professional images of gallery exhibitions and artworks. - LeapoN (Niranjan Kaur and Nikhil Pawar) is the one-stop solution for salon and spa businesses to enhance customer experience and flourish. - [Luce Tooth Tattoos](https://www.lucetooth.ca/) (Luce Ruttan) is a tattooer committed to offering an inclusive studio and empowering experience. Thank you to our supporters for making this opportunity possible: - RBC Emerging Artist Project - The John Dobson Foundation - OCAD U alumni and Ample Labs co-founders, CG Chen and Geordie Graham Learn more about the CEAD at: [www.ocadu.ca/cead](http://www.ocadu.ca/cead) ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026)