From Urban Planning to Sweet Entrepreneurship:
Somaieh’s Journey as a Refugee Vendor 

For Somaieh Farhoomand, a newcomer from Iran, entrepreneurship became the path to reconnect with her passion for baking while building a future in Canada. Starting a business in a new country comes with many challenges. For many refugees, like Somaieh, rebuilding a career means adapting skills, learning new systems, and finding creative ways to pursue their passions. 

Today, Somaieh is growing her dessert business and developing an online platform that connects independent cooks with customers, turning homemade food into an opportunity for community and economic empowerment.

A Journey from Iran to Canada 

Before arriving in Canada, Somaieh built an impressive professional background in Iran. She completed a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and worked as an AutoCAD drafter and designer. While her academic and professional path was in urban design, she also nurtured another passion: baking. 

Alongside her professional work in Iran, Somaieh began making cakes and desserts and selling them through Instagram, starting in 2019. What started as a small side project quickly became a creative outlet and a way to connect with people through food. 

After moving to Canada nearly four years ago, Somaieh decided to continue this passion. Despite the challenges that come with starting a business in a new country, she remained determined to keep building. 

Turning Passion into a Business 

Launching a small food business as a newcomer is not always easy. At the beginning, Somaieh faced several obstacles, including building a customer base and navigating the logistics of running a business in Canada. 

However, she continued selling her cakes and desserts while exploring ways to grow beyond individual orders. Over time, her vision expanded into something larger: creating a trusted online platformwhere many independent cooks can sell their homemade food. 

Her goal is to provide a secure and accessible platform for food entrepreneurs, making it easier for talented home cooks to share their cuisine with the community.

Learning to Wear Many Hats 

Running a business requires more than just passion. Somaieh quickly learned that entrepreneurship means understanding many different aspects of business, from marketing and customer service to operations and technology. 

“Having a business is challenging. As an entrepreneur, you need to learn about many different fields.” Somaieh shares.  

For many refugee entrepreneurs, hiring large teams or specialized professionals is not always possible at the start. Instead, Somaieh has taken the initiative to learn and develop new skills on her own, constantly educating herself and adapting as her business grows. 

Her journey reflects the reality for many refugee entrepreneurs: resilience, learning, and persistence are essential parts of building something from the ground up.

Defining Success Beyond Profit 

While financial stability is important for any business, Somaieh defines success in a deeper way. 

For her, success comes from building trust with customers. 

“When customers come back again and again, that means we’ve created trust,” she explains. “Repeated sales show that people believe in your product.” 

For Somaieh, these returning customers represent something bigger than revenue—they represent relationships, community, and confidence in her work. 

Building Community Through Food 

Her vision is to create a space where people can discover authentic homemade dishes while supporting small food entrepreneurs. 

“I want people here in Canada to enjoy our food and experience our culture,” she says. 

Through her platform and social media presence including LinkedIn and Instagram.Somaieh is working toward building a vibrant community around shared meals and cultural exchange.  

Advice for Aspiring Refugee Entrepreneurs 

For other refugees and newcomers who dream of starting a business, Somaieh has one important message: 

“Don’t give up.” 

Her journey has not always been easy, but perseverance has been key. 

“We have to move forward,” she says. “During the journey, we need to see where the problems are and find the solutions. Just keep moving and don’t give up.” 

Looking Ahead 

Somaieh continues to grow her dessert business while developing her online platform to support independent cooks. With each step forward, she is not only building her own business but also creating opportunities for others. 

Her story is a reminder that entrepreneurship can be a powerful tool for newcomers, allowing them to share their talents, build connections, and contribute to their new communities. 

Through determination, creativity, and resilience, Somaieh is turning her passion into impact one dessert at a time.

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