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In 2000, two of iGEN
Knowledge Solution’s executive management team, [Craig
Atkinson (COO) and Jason Carvalho (Vice President)] and their
colleagues decided it was time to spur new growth within their
community of Victoria and province of British Columbia,
Canada.
“We realized that
there was no real vehicle to help young student entrepreneurs
get their ideas off the ground and make them a reality” states
Craig Atkinson. “There were government grants and
university courses, but our community lacked a network of
young entrepreneurs that a student could interact with and
exchange ideas. We knew there was a demand for some type of
initiative - so we found a way to capture it!”
Craig Atkinson, iGEN’s
Chief Operating Officer, flew to Melbourne, Australia, to
visit the Melbourne School of Business. The school was
host to MIT’s prestigious Global Workshop on starting up
business plan competitions, (http://50k.mit.edu/) and this
Workshop served as a starting point for Atkinson to use back
in Canada.
Upon returning home to
Victoria, B.C, iGEN’s Carvalho and Atkinson and their
colleagues made plans to launch a Business Plan
Competition. Resources were gathered - prize money and
in-kind donations in the amount of $30,000 CAN was
raised from the Victoria business community. The
competition was established as the Greater Victoria
Entrepreneurs Challenge (GVEC) in 2000/2001.
iGEN also linked into
the community, encouraging volunteers to step forward and
support the competition. The Chair of iGEN serves on the Board
of Directors for the Network Professional Association (NPA),
and the two organizations work together to promote the greater
cause of helping the community. Many of the NPA members
contribute in one way or another to the GVEC and have really
become involved in the effort. |
“The Greater Victoria
Entrepreneurs' Challenge (http://www.gvec.ca/) is a
dynamic business plan competition created and organized by
student volunteers. It links up with all three of Vancouver
Island’s major Universities (University of Victoria, Camosun
College and Royal Roads University) and with the support of
community/national media outlets the Greater Victoria
Entrepreneurship Challenge is able to thrive.
“The challenge is
designed to encourage students in Greater Victoria to act on
their ambitions, to think like entrepreneurs, and to form new
ventures through competition. The Challenge is determined to
bring the student and business community closer through
mentoring and networking. Industry professionals including
successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and community
leaders judge the student business plans and business plan
development workshops are provided for
students”
J. Carvalho 2004
Now at the end of
their third year they have a solid rapport throughout the
community, are supported by all three post-secondary
institutions in Victoria, School District 61, municipal
mayors, chambers of commerce, and many more. The Challenge has
raised over $70,000 in cash and in-kind sponsorship and they
give away over $15,000 in cash and prizes to the top teams. As
a result of their efforts we helped start 6 small businesses
in our first year alone!
iGEN’s Carvalho and
Atkinson have donated three years of their time directing and
building the foundations of this award winning organization.
“Some fantastic companies have come out of the GVEC,” states
Carvalho, “from biotech/IT companies like http://www.genologics.com/
to standard service based companies like http://www.drfish.ca/ , the
GVEC has produced and will continue to mentor, educate the
young innovators of tomorrow.” |