The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award (YEA; French Prix jeune entrepreneur BDC) is a contest organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)[1] to promote youth entrepreneurship across Canada and encourage public support for it. BDC has organized the contest for business owners aged 18 to 35 since 1988.[2]
The format of the contest changed in 2012, when for the first time finalists competed online for a $100,000 grand prize and a second prize of $25,000 in consulting services.[3]
To enter the YEA competition, applicants have to fill out an online form and submit a short video (1 to 2 minutes) in which they explain a turning point their business is facing and the solution that will take their company to the next level.[4]
Up to 11 finalists are selected by regional selection committees across Canada. The winner and the runner-up are then determined by a public vote combined with a score attributed to each finalist by a national committee.[5] The grand prize is to be used by the winning entrepreneur to implement his or her project.
Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and operate a Canadian business.[6] The application period, finalist selection and voting take place from mid-winter through mid-summer.[7]
Winners of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award
edit2015[8]
100,000 BDC Grand Prize
- Chris Cowper-Smith and Bob Garrish - Spring Loaded Technology (Nova Scotia)
Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)
- Melissa Butler - Real Food Market (Newfoundland and Labrador)
2014[9]
100,000 BDC Grand Prize
- Shep Ysselstein - Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese (Woodstock, Ontario)
Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)
- Toni Desrosiers - Abeego Design (Victoria, B.C.)
2013[10]
100,000 BDC Grand Prize
- Joel Pinel - WOW Factor Media (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)
Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)
- Max Jenke - Endeavor Design (Vancouver, B.C.)
2012[11]
$100,000 BDC Grand Prize
- Zane Kelsall - Two if By Sea Café (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)
- Mike Miltimore – Lee's Music (Kamloops, B.C.)
References
edit- ^ Business Development Bank of Canada’s website. Retrieved 24.01.2014
- ^ Business Development Bank of Canada’s website. Archived 2014-02-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17.02.2014
- ^ Top entrepreneur contest online from start to finish Financial Post Retrieved 22.01.2013
- ^ BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website. Archived 2013-04-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24.01.2014
- ^ BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website. Archived 2013-04-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17.02.2014
- ^ BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website. Archived 2014-02-24 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24.01.2013
- ^ Industry Canada. Archived 2013-05-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 25.01.2013
- ^ BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website. Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13.08.2015
- ^ BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website. Archived 2015-03-30 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 13.08.2015
- ^ Business Development Bank of Canada’s website - Press release. Retrieved 17.02.2014
- ^ Business Development Bank of Canada’s website - Press release. Retrieved 17.02.2014