About the Role
We are seeking a passionate, entrepreneurial intern to conceptualize, launch, and scale a South Indian Tiffin venture in Oakville, Ontario. This is a rare, founder-style opportunity — you won't be running errands or sitting in meetings. You will own the entire project from Day 1: research, build, launch, and scale.
South Indian tiffin — the beloved tradition of idlis, dosas, vadas, upma, sambar, and chutneys — is a deeply cultural, high-demand food category with growing appetite in the Canadian diaspora and the mainstream food scene. Your mission is to design and launch a tiffin operation that authentically captures this cuisine while serving real customers in the Oakville and Greater Toronto Area market.
What You'll Do
- Conduct in-depth market research on South Indian tiffin demand, competitors, pricing, and target demographics in Oakville / GTA
- Develop the full business concept: menu design, pricing strategy, ingredient sourcing, branding, and customer positioning
- Build operational workflows from the ground up — production planning, packaging, delivery logistics, and food safety/hygiene compliance
- Design and execute a go-to-market strategy including social media, local community outreach, and word-of-mouth campaigns
- Launch a pilot run of the tiffin service and gather real customer feedback to iterate on the product
- Create a scalability roadmap identifying the systems, partnerships, and resources needed to grow the venture sustainably beyond the summer
- Deliver a comprehensive end-of-internship project report documenting findings, milestones, challenges, lessons learned, and a clear growth plan
Who We're Looking For
- Currently enrolled in or recently completed a program in Business, Food Science, Entrepreneurship, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field
- Strong personal connection to or deep appreciation of South Indian cuisine and culture
- Self-starter mentality — you can take an ambiguous goal and turn it into a concrete action plan with minimal hand-holding
- Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills
- Strong written and verbal communication in English (knowledge of Kannada, Tamil, or Telugu is a bonus)
- Ability to work independently and take full ownership of the project
- Enthusiasm for food entrepreneurship, community building, and cultural storytelling
- Prior experience with a food business, startup, or community project is a plus — but not required
What We Offer
- ✅ Competitive flat stipend for the full June–August internship period
- ✅ Founder-level autonomy and ownership over your project
- ✅ Immersive, real-world experience in South Indian food culture and the food business
- ✅ Strong letter of recommendation upon successful completion
- ✅ Mentorship and guidance from an experienced professional
- ✅ A standout, tangible project for your resume and portfolio
How to Apply
Submit your resume at and a short cover letter (max 300 words) telling us:
- Why you are the right person to bring South Indian tiffin to Oakville
- Your approach to building something from scratch
- (Bonus) Your favourite South Indian tiffin dish and why!
We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. If you have a love for South Indian food and the drive to build something meaningful, we want to hear from you.
Work Location: In person
Pay: $500.00-$1,000.00 per month
Work Location: In person
