CYBF and CFIB join forces to unleash full potential of young entrepreneurs

TORONTO, Sept. 9 /CNW/ - Today, two of Canada's entrepreneurial power houses, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) and Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), announced an exciting collaboration that will provide young CYBF entrepreneurs with the many advantages of CFIB membership at a discounted rate.

The special one-year membership to CFIB provides CYBF-funded entrepreneurs all the benefits of CFIB membership, including access to advocacy, business counselling, online business information and real savings on products and services at just a fraction of the cost.

"CYBF and CFIB have had a long-standing partnership collaborating on a variety of issues that are of extraordinary importance to young entrepreneurs," explains Vivian Prokop, chief executive officer of CYBF. "This special offering to CYBF entrepreneurs takes this partnership to the next level - providing all of the things that a young entrepreneur needs to roar into the future." CFIB president Catherine Swift added, "Small businesses across Canada are what make this country prosper, so we are very proud to be partnering with CYBF in offering the next generation of entrepreneurs the tools to help them achieve success, and a public voice to help drive the entrepreneurial economy."

Founded in 1996, CYBF, the 'go to' place for young entrepreneurs, has invested in more than 3,700 aspiring young entrepreneurs, ages 18-34, who have a great business idea but who find it difficult to obtain financing or mentoring through traditional sources. CYBF start-ups have generated millions in tax and export revenues, and created more than 17,100 new jobs in Canada.

CFIB provides powerful support to Canadian entrepreneurs in every sector, promotes small business-friendly government policies, and ensures financial institutions and others are accountable to their small business clients by tackling policies that may stifle entrepreneurship - CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™.

About Canadian Youth Business Foundation - Canada's Entrepreneur Gateway

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the 'go to' place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national charity, we are dedicated to growing our nation's economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. www.cybf.ca

About CFIB - Powered by Entrepreneurs™

As Canada's largest association of small- and medium-sized businesses, CFIB is Powered by Entrepreneurs™. Established in 1971, CFIB takes direction from more than 107,000 members in every sector nationwide, giving independent business a strong and influential voice at all levels of government and helping to grow the economy. www.cfib.ca

For further information:

CFIB media contact:
Gisele Lumsden, manager, public affairs, CFIB
[email protected] / 416 222 8022 ext 268 / 647 808 5769

CYBF media contact:
Rachel Azagury, senior manager, social media, media and events, CYBF
[email protected] / 416 408 2923 ext 2111 / 647 834 2923