Grants with a Difference competes for $100,000 BDC Grand Prize for Innovation - Seccuris Inc. aims to reinvigorate Canadian entrepreneurship

WINNIPEG, May 30, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Canadians can now vote for "Grants with a Difference", the innovation project proposed by Seccuris Inc., one of eight finalists selected to  compete for the $100,000 Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Grand Prize for Innovation.

Founded in 1999, Seccuris relies on cutting-edge innovation to assure end-to-end information security for organizations worldwide and to provide strategies that enable them to take advantage of new opportunities. Now, Seccuris is proposing a unique marketing campaign to stimulate grassroots ingenuity across Canada by distributing grants to business-focused non-profit groups.

Known as community innovation spaces, these groups enable innovation by providing physical space, usually rented, and equipment that would otherwise not be available to first-time or established entrepreneurs. "No one needs to spend millions to kick-start local entrepreneurship. Some of these initiatives have created entirely new jobs and opportunities with less than $1,000," says Michael Legary, founder of Seccuris. "Businesses and entrepreneurs who harness these grassroots initiatives stand to become leaders in their marketplaces in future."

"I would like to congratulate Michael for bringing his project to the finals of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest," says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. "It is now up to Canadians to choose which project will come to life in the next year. Every vote counts towards the Grand Prize!"

"By voting for my project, Canadians can support the kind of entrepreneurship that made us who we are today-the farmers, the family-owned shops and local businesses-all of the things that build a community. And it's something we need more of to make Canada more competitive," says Legary. "Our project answers a real need by injecting a kind of support for grassroots initiatives that would not otherwise be available to budding entrepreneurs. If we can show people that this is possible and get others motivated by this idea, we will have started an entrepreneurial movement."

"All the finalists competing for the Grand Prize for Innovation have projects with a solid potential to generate growth and prosperity. The eight finalists have proven that they have ability to run a successful business and to establish themselves as thought leaders within their respective industries," adds Bergeron.

Voting for the 2012 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest runs from May 30 to June 19 and the general public can vote once a day.  To support your favourite innovation project, log in to the dedicated microsite or vote directly on Facebook at BDC Entrepreneur.  Frequent contest updates will be posted on Facebook,  Twitter at @BDC_News and LinkedIn.  The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award winner and runner up will be announced on June 25.

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 successful Canadian entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years of age. For the first time in 2012, the contest will see finalists competing for the BDC Grand Prize for Innovation which will award $100,000 to one young Canadian entrepreneur to carry out a specific innovation project. The Financial Post is the exclusive media partner of the BDC 2012 Young Entrepreneur Award. The contest is sponsored by Les Affaires.

About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 1,900 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers financing, subordinate financing, venture capital and consulting services to 29,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity.

Maria Constantinescu
Advisor, Public Relations, BDC
514 496-7146
[email protected]