The Town of Niverville is partnering with the Niverville Chamber of Commerce to help give local businesses a leg up. On the evening of June 21, they will jointly host an online event that will award up to $5,000 in fellowships through the Western Canada Founder Institute.
The event will give entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of local mentors, as well as top investors and experts from across Canada, for ratings and feedback.
“As part of its commitment to building a thriving community for entrepreneurs to live, the Town of Niverville has been looking for ways to bring opportunities like this forward,” says Eric King, CAO for the Town of Niverville. “Our partnership with the Founder Institute and Niverville Chamber of Commerce is an exciting step in this direction and we are looking forward to this unique live and interactive event.”
The live, two-hour event will allow as many participants as possible to present and receive feedback. Afterwards, up to five participants will be selected to receive fellowships, valued at $1,000 each.
Viewers who aren’t presenting will also be able to watch the event.
All entrepreneurs are invited to apply to pitch. This includes anyone who wants feedback from leading entrepreneurs, has an early-stage startup, has an idea for a startup or a tech company, or who needs practice and expert advice on pitching.
“We anticipate the experience will be similar to the popular CBC show Dragon’s Den, where participants will face a panel of experts and investors,” adds King.
Brenda Desjardins, executive director for the Niverville Chamber of Commerce, is eager to see as many people get involved as possible.
“We encourage all interested entrepreneurs to apply,” says Desjardins. “Sitting in the ‘hot seat’ may seem intimidating, but since the event is online, it removes some of the pressure of an in-person presentation. Plus, the community is committed to producing an atmosphere that is supportive of fresh ideas, no matter how new they are to the business world. It should be fun, and the opportunity to connect with experts and investors is valuable, and possibly life-changing.”
Local experts who are participating in the event include Scott Wallace, founder of Wallace Wallace and Edward Properties, and Bryan Trottier, owner of Trotco Electric. They will provide feedback and aid in the selection of the final recipients.
Accepted program applicants will be enrolled in a fellowship to join a global accelerator program which gives entrepreneurs access to a support network of more than 15,000 mentors and thousands of alumni from around the world. The program also offers people a comprehensive education and structured support to take an idea from genesis to the funding/growth stage.
Through their global network, the Western Canada Founder Institute boasts a portfolio of companies worth an estimated value of about $30 billion, and their graduates have collectively raised $975 million and created 25,000 jobs.
The Town of Niverville is one of Manitoba’s fastest growing urban centres and among the top 20 fastest growing towns in Canada. The Niverville Chamber of Commerce exists to encourage sustainable economic development through advocacy for and support of local business.
