From a pandemic side hustle to a fast-growing eco-luxury brand, Toronto’s Helius Originals is proving that eco-conscious design doesn’t have to compromise on luxury — and now, they’re upgrading their tech to up their game even further.
The homegrown brand, known for its sleek cocktail and culinary smoking kits crafted from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified reclaimed wood, is on a mission to transform at-home happy hour. And now, the rising small business has just scored a major win: a coveted Evolve Small grant from global tech giant Lenovo. As part of this year’s North America-wide cohort, Helius Originals will receive $25,000 in funding, $10,000 in cutting-edge tech, AI training and expert mentorship–tools that will help the small-but-mighty team scale their business and elevate their operations.
“Being selected for the Lenovo Evolve Small award is a game-changer,” said Helius Originals co-founder, Bilqees Grant. “It’s enabling us to scale responsibly and refine our operations, all while staying true to our pillars of creativity, sustainability, and craftsmanship.”
The company’s smoking kits bring the depth and drama of smoked cocktails and dishes into home kitchens and bars. Helius Originals was founded in December 2021 by Grant and Ethan Gough; Grant worked in the restaurant industry for more than a decade as a bartender, server and manager and always had a passion for innovating on the side. With bars and restaurants largely closed during the quiet months of the pandemic, Grant and Gough wanted to bring unique cocktails straight to the home to recreate that excitement of sipping from a luxury cocktail surrounded by friends. Helius Originals offers cocktail smoking kits that elevate the at-home drink and dine experience by infusing cocktails, mocktails — and even food items — with the essence of smoke derived from FSC-certified reclaimed wood.
Rooted in an ethos of environmental responsibility, Helius Originals is redefining what luxury can look like. With a mission to reduce landfill waste, the business is already looking ahead — aiming to incorporate additional landfill-bound materials into future products. Through Helius Originals, they are challenging the status quo and making it clear: sustainability has a place in the high-end market.
Now, with Lenovo’s backing and AI-driven insights in hand, the team is gearing up to expand its reach and launch new offerings. “We’re currently developing a patent-pending product that we believe will redefine the luxury smoke experience,” says Grant. “The technology and mentorship we’re receiving through Lenovo are accelerating our ability to bring cutting-edge, sustainable innovation to our customers.”
The Lenovo Evolve Small grant is now in its fourth year of supporting small businesses with financial aid, technology and mentorship. New to this year’s initiative, small businesses across North America will receive an AI grant, featuring AI solutions as well as access to experts to support with training on how to implement AI into their day-to-day work.
Helius Originals joins a group of nine other well-deserving standout entrepreneurs as well as a broader community of small business leaders in this program. Now armed with fresh funding, cutting-edge tech and AI-powered insights, founder Bilqees Grant and her team are ready to scale — and shake — things up. From their Toronto base, they are proving that small businesses can lead with creativity, sustainability and serious impact.
