BDC Young Entrepreneur Award explained

The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award (YEA; French Prix jeune entrepreneur BDC) is a contest organized by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)^[1] to promote youth entrepreneurship across Canada and encourage public support for it. BDC has organized the contest for business owners aged 18 to 35 since .^[2] The format of the contest changed in 2012, when for the first time finalists competed online for a $100,000 grand prize and a second prize of $25,000 in consulting services.^[3]

To enter the YEA competition, applicants have to fill out an online form and submit a short video (1 to 2 minutes) in which they explain a turning point their business is facing and the solution that will take their company to the next level.^[4]

Up to 11 finalists are selected by regional selection committees across Canada. The winner and the runner-up are then determined by a public vote combined with a score attributed to each finalist by a national committee.^[5] The grand prize is to be used by the winning entrepreneur to implement his or her project.

Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and operate a Canadian business.^[6] The application period, finalist selection and voting take place from mid-winter through mid-summer.^[7]

Winners of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award

2015^[8]

100,000 BDC Grand Prize

• Chris Cowper-Smith and Bob Garrish - Spring Loaded Technology (Nova Scotia)

Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)

• Melissa Butler - Real Food Market (Newfoundland and Labrador)

2014^[9]

100,000 BDC Grand Prize

• Shep Ysselstein - Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese (Woodstock, Ontario)

Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)

• Toni Desrosiers - Abeego Design (Victoria, B.C.)

2013^[10]

100,000 BDC Grand Prize

• Joel Pinel - WOW Factor Media (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan)

Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)

• Max Jenke - Endeavor Design (Vancouver, B.C.)

2012^[11]

$100,000 BDC Grand Prize

• Zane Kelsall - Two if By Sea Café (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Second prize ($25,000 in consulting services)

• Mike Miltimore – Lee's Music (Kamloops, B.C.)

Notes and References

1. http://www.bdc.ca/EN/about/awards/Pages/default.aspx Business Development Bank of Canada’s website.
2. http://www.bdc.ca/EN/Documents/yea/fact_sheet.pdf Business Development Bank of Canada’s website.
3. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/06/04/top-entrepreneur-contest-online-from-start-to-finish/ Top entrepreneur contest online from start to finish
4. https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/details.php BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website.
5. https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/details.php BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website.
6. http://www.bdc.ca/EN/Documents/yea/fact_sheet.pdf BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website.
7. http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ich-epi.nsf/eng/02277.html Industry Canada.
8. https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/en/home BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website.
9. https://www.bdcyoungentrepreneuraward.ca/en/resources/2014-winner-grand-prize BDC Young Entrepreneur Award website.
10. http://www.bdc.ca/EN/about/mediaroom/news_releases/Pages/yea2013_grand_prize.aspx Business Development Bank of Canada’s website - Press release.
11. http://www.bdc.ca/EN/about/mediaroom/news_releases/Pages/2012_yea_second_place.aspx Business Development Bank of Canada’s website - Press release.