If you have a business idea and the drive to succeed, there is a program that will offer you the opportunity to pitch it.
The Community Futures Enterprize Challenge is an entrepreneurship competition designed to give new and start-up businesses the opportunity to present their idea and be one of three winners sharing prizes worth more than $30,000.
Similar to CBC’s Dragons’ Den, Community Futures and VantageOne Credit Union have teamed up to offer this program in an effort to support and encourage entrepreneurship.
“Businesses that were started in 2015, as well as potential start-ups are encouraged to register,” said Leigha Horsfield, with Community Futures North Okanagan.
Participants will pitch their business concept in a 10-minute presentation to a panel of judges. The presentation will describe the product or service, the operations of the business and who the market is. Seven participants will advance to deliver a final presentation and the winners will be announced at an awards event in April.
Last year, the program saw 24 entrepreneurs take part in the program.
“The Enterprize Challenge was a great experience,” said Bernie and Maylene Ramis, with Rollin’ Spring Rolls and the winners of the 2015 competition.
“It helped us launch our food truck business, and the prizes, business support and media coverage we received has been invaluable to our success.”
For more information or to register for the program, go to enterprizechallenge.ca.
Program partners include, KPMG, Nixon Wenger, Sproing Creative, The Morning Star, the City of Vernon, Okanagan College, Futurpreneur Canada and Sun FM.
