Connect Who or what is your inspiration in business?

My greatest inspiration in business is my great-grandfather, Ubba, who raised me and taught me how to live from and respect the land. As a boy, my job was to keep the grub box full when we were out on the land, which taught me the importance of providing for others. Today, my motivation comes from my wife and children, and my hope that the work I’m doing can help bring my community together again around food, opportunity, and a shared future.

How do you stay motivated?

I stay motivated by remembering why I started. My family especially my children and my wife remind me every day that the work I’m doing is about building a better future for them. I also carry the lessons of my great-grandfather, who taught me the value of hard work and providing for others. Even when things are difficult, the vision of creating opportunity and food security for future generations keeps me moving forward.

What would you do with the $25,000?

If awarded the $25,000, I would invest it directly into building the pilot stage of my food security project, Ubba’s Grub Hub. The funding would support developing a prototype vertical farming and sustainable energy system designed for northern communities. This project aims to produce fresh food locally, reduce dependence on imported groceries, and create a scalable model that can strengthen food security and opportunity for future generations.