2026 Clients

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Dhara Upadhyay, I’m the founder of Dolphin Dive Baby Spa & Wellness Inc. in London, Ontario, and my background is in Ayurveda Medicine & Surgery. I’m a mom of two young daughters, and becoming a parent truly changed the way I viewed wellness, balance, and community support.

When our baby was born, there were no facilities to provide the service we were looking for in the city. To help parents similar to us, we have taken the lead to start a business in London. Hydrotherapy, infant massage, and pre- and pre/post-natal care will be very beneficial to babies and their parents in the surrounding area.

Family plays a huge role in everything I do; my husband and I work closely together, and our children inspire many of the programs and services we offer. As a parent, I understand firsthand how important it is to have spaces that support both babies and caregivers in a meaningful, nurturing way.

Tell us about your business.

Dolphin Dive Baby Spa & Wellness Inc. is a baby-focused wellness spa designed to support families from infancy through early childhood and parents, too. We officially launched in November 2025 and are proud to be one of the first baby spas of its kind in the London area.

Our services include baby hydrotherapy, infant and pediatric massage, parent-and-tot wellness classes, prenatal and postnatal massage, therapeutic massage therapy, and family-focused workshops and events. We currently work with a growing team of Registered Massage Therapists, certified instructors, and support staff. Our goal is to create a calm, safe, and welcoming environment where families can focus on connection, development, and well-being.

What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre and how have they helped your business?

The London Small Business Centre has been an incredible resource from the early stages of our journey. We utilized business advisory services, mentorship, and funding-related guidance that helped us move from concept to execution with confidence [Dhara participated in the Starter Company Plus Program in 2025]. The one-on-one support helped us refine our business model, better understand financial planning, and make informed decisions around growth and operations. Having access to experienced advisors who genuinely wanted to see our business succeed made a huge difference, especially during the startup phase.

How has your business grown since SBC’s involvement?

Since working with SBC, our business has grown steadily and intentionally. We’ve expanded our service offerings, added specialized equipment for baby hydrotherapy and parent relaxation, and grown our practitioner team. We’ve also built strong partnerships within the local business and parenting community, hosted recurring classes and themed events, and increased our brand visibility across London. SBC’s guidance helped us scale responsibly while staying true to our values and mission.

What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?

The idea for Dolphin Dive was born from my own experience as a parent. I noticed a gap in services that truly focused on early childhood wellness and parental support in one place. Many new parents feel overwhelmed, isolated, and unsure. I wanted to create a space that felt safe, informative, and comforting. Entrepreneurship wasn’t just a career move for me; it felt like a calling. I wanted to build something meaningful, community-driven, and rooted in care. That passion ultimately pushed me to take the leap. 

What were some of the challenges you faced getting started ,and how did you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges was navigating regulations, startup costs, and operational details while also managing family responsibilities. There were many moving parts from licensing and equipment to staffing and branding. I overcame these challenges by seeking support early, asking questions, and surrounding myself with mentors and professionals, including the team at SBC. Breaking big goals into smaller, actionable steps made the process manageable and less overwhelming. 

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why?

The best advice I’ve received is: “Don’t wait for perfect – start with progress.” As a new entrepreneur, it’s easy to overthink every detail. Learning to move forward, test ideas, and adjust along the way allowed our business to grow organically and respond to real client needs. 

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur today?

Start before you feel ready, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. No one builds a successful business alone. Use the resources available in your community, stay open to learning, and remember that consistency matters more than perfection. 

What’s in the future for your business? 

In the short term, we’re focused on expanding our programs, growing our team, and strengthening partnerships within the London community. Long term, we hope to become a recognized hub for family wellness, potentially expanding to additional locations or offering more specialized programs and training opportunities. Above all, we want to continue supporting families during some of the most important stages of life. 

Learn more about Dolphin Dive Baby Spa and Wellness.

 

Tell us about yourself.  
I grew up in Strathroy and moved to London probably about four or five years ago. I took Police Foundations and Advanced Police Studies at Fanshawe College, and then COVID happened, so I switched gears and did anything to make money at the time.   

I started gearing back up in 2022 to apply to police forces, and I was actively doing that. Then the shop kind of popped up for sale, so we took the risk and bought it, and that’s how I’m here today. It’s been over two years now. 

Tell us about your business.  
We started in October 2023. We’re open seven days a week with varying hours. We try to be open for lunch during the week, then stay open a little later on Saturdays, and from 4:00 to 8:00 on Sundays. 

There are five employees, not including myself and my girlfriend, who is a co-owner. She and I are pretty much always there all seven days; we don’t really get much time off now. We do special events, weddings, catering, and lunch parties. 

What services/programs have you utilized at the London Small Business Centre, and how have they helped your business? 
We were part of the Starter Company Plus Program in 2024/2025. I gained a lot of knowledge in different topics that I probably wouldn’t normally look into myself, such as HR and accounting. Accounting was a big one, because I’m eventually trying to move from a sole proprietor to a corporation. That really helped me understand what I need to get ready. 

It was great to upgrade my business using the grant. I bought a new cash register and a fridge. 

How has your business grown since SBC’s involvement?  
I would say this year’s sales were much better compared to last year. These past couple of months leading up to Christmas were especially strong. We had steady business every single day. Our social media presence has also grown a lot during this time. 

What led you to start this business? Was there something that drew (or pushed) you into being an entrepreneur?  
I come from a family of business owners, so it’s always been part of my world. I grew up surrounded by people running their own businesses—my grandparents owned a printing shop in Strathroy, and my dad is a contractor, real estate broker, and landlord. 

Owning a business is something I’ve seen my whole life, so I naturally picked up ideas and lessons along the way. When this opportunity came up, it felt like the right fit, and I knew it was something I could do. 

What were some of the challenges you faced getting started, and how did you overcome them? 
I gave myself only about a month from the day we got the keys to opening the business. Figuring out everything in those first 30 days was a huge challenge. Looking back, I wouldn’t change much. I wouldn’t give myself extra weeks. We just had to dive in, and things worked themselves out. 

Even though all the pieces were there, the real challenge was figuring out how to put them together—getting the product ready, hiring and managing staff, and getting all the business paperwork organized at the same time.  

As a busy entrepreneur, what do you like to do when you take a break?  
When we take a break, we usually try to go on a day trip together. On the occasional Sunday in the summer, just the two of us will head out to a lake or cottage, or to a sports game.  

What’s the best business advice you’ve ever received and why? 
We wouldn’t be as successful as we are today without learning how important it is to treat every customer well, not just new ones, but everyone who walks through our doors. We always try to make customers our top priority, from the moment they come in to the moment they leave. 

Focusing on building strong relationships within the Ilderton community has made a huge impact. Those connections are a big part of what helped us succeed, and why we’re still here two years later.  

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreneur today?  
There will be moments of panic, especially at the beginning when the bills start coming in, and the money going out doesn’t seem to match what’s coming in. You have to stay focused on delivering the best product you can and put the time and care into it. 

Find places where you can wisely cut costs—it’s not about cheaping out. Keep showing up and putting in the work every day, just like we have, and eventually you’ll start to see the payoff. 

Learn more about 4 Pizza Sake.