Plastic from plants.

Solegear Bioplastics Inc. designs, produces and distributes high-performance bioplastics. Founded in 2006, Solegear has worked on research and development for four years with an international team of scientists to develop Polysole® – a 100% natural, non-toxic, high-performance, biodegradable plastic. Solegear also recently launched Traverse® – a complementary, high-performance biocomposite that uniquely blends natural fibers with recycled or traditional plastics.

His Story:

Toby Reid has always looked at business beyond the bottom line.

After beginning his career working for large corporations, Toby knew he wanted to be part of a business that gave back to the community. Learning from his father and grandfather, both agricultural entrepreneurs, Toby was inspired to pursue his dreams of running his own company – one that was not only successful, but socially and environmentally responsible as well.

With the investment of CYBF and the support of Small Business BC, Toby launched Solegear Bioplastics Inc. in 2006. Working closely with his CYBF mentor, Jason Finnis, Toby has developed Solegear into a company with the potential to change the way the world manufactures plastic.

As Solegear continues to grow and strengthen its position within the bioplastics market, Toby says he is grateful for all the opportunities afforded to him through entrepreneurship.

“Being an entrepreneur has enabled me to pursue my dreams, to develop my skills in leadership and communications and to have the opportunity to experiment. Innovation comes from experimentation, which is a key activity any economy must invest in if it wishes to be sustainable.”

Short Quote:

“The service that CYBF provides to young entrepreneurs in Canada can‟t be measured. CYBF is a critical link between the business leaders of tomorrow and sound economic innovation. No economy succeeds long-term if they don‟t invest in their youth and in innovation – CYBF meets this need with aplomb.”

- Toby Reid, Solegear Bioplastics Inc.

Mentor Program Quote:

“My mentor, Jason, has made a difference in the development of my business through timely advice, exposure to real-world scenarios and networking. His involvement at the very early stages in the development of Solegear provided an ongoing reality check to the growth of the business.”

- Toby Reid, Solegear Bioplastics Inc.

Canadian Youth Business Foundation – www.cybf.ca

Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the „go to‟ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

Small Business BC– www.smallbusinessbc.ca

Small Business BC offers assistance and resources for those running or starting a business in British Columbia and Vancouver. Created in 1993 as a federal/provincial partnership and then transformed into a not-for-profit Society in 2002, Small Business BC is British Columbia’s key resource centre for business information and services. Small Business BC involves the business community directly in its operations, which enables the development of private sector partnerships to complement and expand future services. www.smallbusinessbc.ca.