How Founders4Founders grew from its Innisfil roots into a ‘movement’ for entrepreneurs

Founders4Founders (F4F) offers resources to founder-led businesses with 10 or fewer employees and ‘solopreneurs’.

Though they meet at the Sandbox Centre (second floor of 24 Maple Ave.) in Barrie, the group — which its four founders describe as a “community and movement more than a business” — has its roots in Innisfil.

“Founders4Founders was born out of the DMZ Innisfil program, supported by the Town of Innisfil’s economic development team. That foundation gave us a platform to connect local entrepreneurs, and we are grateful for it,” said founders Scott Newman, Azadeh Mostaghel, Shane Johnston and Charlene MacArthur in a joint statement sent via email to InnisfilToday.

They originally came together as the Founders Circle at the DMZ in May 2024, as they wanted to create a peer-driven space where founders could share wins, challenges, and lessons without pretense. This is beyond what is offered at regional accelerator programs, which are “designed as short-term sprints.”

“The spark came after many of us had just completed a DMZ business accelerator cohort. While the program provided excellent resources, mentorship from experts in residence, and access to coworking space, what we felt was missing was an ongoing peer community. A place to keep collaborating, sharing, and working through challenges together after the program ended.”

“Founders4Founders was created to extend that sense of connection into something ongoing,” they said.

When asked how F4F differs from other small business and networking groups, the founders said they are not about swapping business cards or trading referrals.

“Yes, we do peer-group activities like roundtable discussions, sharing wins and challenges, and exchanging resources, but it goes much deeper,” they said.

“It’s about sharing lessons, supporting each other, and proving that local businesses can thrive together,” Newman said.

Its 25 current members are small business owners and entrepreneurs who specialize in tech, marketing, health, trades, consulting and retail. There is no restriction by industry, as the founders told InnisfilToday that “diversity is part of the value.”

“The only real requirement is mindset: being open to growth, willing to share and support others, and committed to contributing to the community,” the founders said.

The founders bring a unique mix of professional backgrounds to the group.

Newman is a realtor in Innisfil and the owner of a hardwood flooring and refinishing business. 

Mostaghel is an engineer and founder of Orchid Analytics, which builds custom AI decision tools to transform healthcare operations. Her business provides solutions to help increase patient access, decrease wait times, and reduce costs by tackling challenges such as scheduling, capacity management, and resource utilization. 

Johnston is the founder of Bolder Future Marketing, which provides growth strategies with deep expertise in scaling product and service launches. He also founded Insta-Dialogue AI and is currently developing LaunchFlo, a new Agentic AI workflow platform. 

And MacArthur is the founder of Directline, a telecom consulting and services company. She helps businesses increase speed and bandwidth, eliminate redundancies, and enhance systems to maximize return on investment.

They explained that entrepreneurship has highs and lows, including lonely stretches where founders second-guess themselves and struggle to maintain momentum when they enter the “valley of despair.”

“Founders don’t often talk about it openly, but we all go through it. Having a circle of peers who have been there, or are there right now, and have your back, makes it a lot easier to keep going. That is the heartbeat of F4F: you are not alone,” the founders said.

Membership is $100 per year, which covers the costs of the meeting space and coffee. Services are still being rolled out, but membership also includes monthly founders circles, expert speaker sessions, accountability check-ins, roundtables and panels, and a community and resources hub, which is an online space for sharing tools, templates and wins.

The founders said the core monthly circles — which are peer mastermind sessions — are already well-attended.

“This is where bold ideas collide and where entrepreneurs actually show up for each other,” MacArthur said of F4F.

“Being a founder is tough, and no one should have to do it alone,” the founders added.

“Integrity and privacy are also central. Since members often share personal and sensitive details about their businesses, we expect everyone to maintain confidentiality and show up with empathy. This trust is what allows the group to function as a true mastermind community where members feel safe to be real, vulnerable, and supported,” they continued.

At F4F, early-stage entrepreneurs gain shortcuts from seasoned peers, while experienced founders rediscover fresh energy and ideas, the group says.

It offers primarily peer-led coaching, as members often volunteer their expertise in “spotlight” sessions.

Miguel Abascal will share how Bitcoin is becoming increasingly relevant for businesses on Sept. 10. Then on Oct. 15, Tim Brown will showcase Draiper, his new AI-powered content platform designed to help entrepreneurs publish authentic, strategic content without losing their voice.

“We also bring in outside experts when the need arises,” the founders said.

Previous speakers have discussed theatrical techniques to help leaders communicate with confidence, tapping into local resources like student co-ops and applied research projects, and advocacy being done for independent business owners.

“What began as a small mastermind group grew into a community fueled by the belief that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’” the founders said.

Simcoe County is a great place to build a company, the said.

“Founders4Founders is about harnessing that spirit, building something bigger together, and proving that world-class businesses can be built right here in our backyard,” they said.

Learn more about Founders4Founders — including this fall’s reIGNITE conference, where members’ entrepreneurial spirit will be showcased on stage — by checking out its website.