Business owners aged 18 to 35 have until April 2 to enter the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award
INCLUDES BROADCAST SUMMARY
MONTREAL, Jan. 30, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) is accepting applications for the 2013 edition of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. To win a $100,000 Grand Prize, entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 are invited to present a turning point their company has reached and the solution they propose to take their business to the next level. A second prize, consisting of $25,000 in consulting services, will be awarded to the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award runner-up. The deadline for submitting applications is April 2, 2013, at noon, Eastern Daylight Time.
"Showcasing and supporting Canada's best business talent is an important aspect of our mandate," says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. "The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award is the premier venue to shine a spotlight on some of the challenges young business owners face today."
The contest is open to all Canadian entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 as of December 31, 2012. Entrants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents responsible for the daily management of a Canada-based business for at least two years as of December 31, 2012, and must hold at least 20% of the company's capital stock.
Applicants are asked to create a short video describing a turning point their business has reached and the solution that will help them achieve future growth. This video - which need not be professionally produced - should clearly explain the turning point solution, have good image and sound quality and be memorable. All entries have to describe a project that has yet to be implemented.
"All companies reach a turning point," says Bergeron. "Some may choose to tap into new markets by implementing an internet strategy; others may decide to acquire new equipment that will increase their overall profitability. Recognizing challenges early on and having a plan to tackle individual turning points is important for business and should rank high on an entrepreneur's agenda."
"The value of participation goes beyond the monetary value of the award," adds Bergeron. "The entire experience brings finalists tremendous exposure, public support, and access to people and resources that will ultimately help their companies grow. As impressive as the monetary awards may be, a better reason to compete is to get noticed by potential customers and investors."
Applications must be filled out and submitted online at http://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/. More information about 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award eligibility criteria, the application process, the rules and regulations and the format of the video submissions is available on the contest's microsite.
For updates about the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award, follow BDC on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
BROADCAST SUMMARY: If you're a young business owner looking for resources to finance your company's growth, we have a contest for you. The Business Development Bank of Canada is accepting applications for the 2013 edition of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. Canadian business owners aged 18 to 35 now have a chance to win a $100,000 Grand Prize and a second prize of $25,000 in consulting services. To enter the contest, participants must create a short video to present a turning point their company has reached and the solution they propose to take their business to the next level. The deadline for receiving applications is April 2, 2013, at noon Eastern Daylight Time. More details about the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award application process are available at bdc.ca.
About the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest
Created by the Business Development Bank of Canada in 1988, the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest pays tribute to remarkable Canadian entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years of age. Eleven finalists — one for each province and one for the combined territories — are short-listed to compete for a $100,000 Grand Prize. The winners are selected by public vote and a second prize of $25,000 in consulting services is awarded to the contest runner-up. The Financial Post and La Presse are the media partners of the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. www.bdc.ca/yea
About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 2,000 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital, securitization and consulting services to about 28,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity. www.bdc.ca
SOURCE: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT BANK OF CANADA
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Maria Constantinescu
Senior Advisor, Public Relations
BDC
[email protected]
(514) 496-7146
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