Technopreneur of the Year Award 2025

Your thoughts on winning the CanadianSME National Business Award

Winning the CanadianSME National Business Award is an incredible honour and a meaningful milestone for our entire team at Swift Hockey. When I started the company, the goal was simple: make hockey more accessible by providing high-performance equipment at a fair price. To have that mission recognized by CanadianSME is incredibly rewarding. This award represents the hard work of our team, the trust of our customers, and the support of everyone who has believed in our vision. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, but even more excited about what lies ahead as we continue to grow and create a lasting impact.

A special message or advice to small business owners

Don’t be afraid to challenge an industry that’s always done things the same way. Some of the best opportunities come from questioning the status quo and solving problems that people have simply accepted. Building a business isn’t easy, and there will be setbacks, but consistency, resilience, and a willingness to learn will carry you further than perfection ever will. Stay close to your customers, surround yourself with great people, and keep your mission at the center of every decision. If you genuinely create value, the growth and recognition will follow.

Ryan Brinkhurst

Founder & CEO of Beautifi Solutions Inc

Ryan Brinkhurst is the Founder and CEO of Beautifi, a Canadian fintech company focused on elective healthcare financing. A CFA charterholder and honours graduate of the UBC Sauder School of Business, Ryan brings a strong foundation in finance, strategy and entrepreneurship to his leadership. He founded Beautifi to modernize access to elective healthcare by combining education, technology and responsible financing. Known for challenging conventional approaches and thinking differently about underserved markets, Ryan has grown Beautifi into a national platform supporting patients and healthcare providers across Canada. His leadership is focused on disciplined growth, customer experience and building products that create long-term value.

CanadianSME

With an aim to contribute to the development of Canada’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s), Cmarketing Inc is a potential marketing agency and a boutique business management company progressing rapidly in its scope. By acknowledging a firm reliance of the Canadian economy over its SMEs, the agency has resolved to launch a magazine, the pure focus of which will be the furtherance of Canadian SMEs, and to assist their progress with the scheduled token of enlightenment via the magazine’s pertinent content.

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