Vernon’s own version of the Dragon’s Den has planted the roots for several new businesses competing to succeed.
The first round of the Enterprize Challenge competition is complete and the seven finalists have been chosen.
The Enterprize Challenge is designed to give new and start-up business owners the chance to pitch their business ideas (yes, kind of like CBC’s Dragons’ Den) to a panel of judges. The competition took place March 8, where judges had the difficult task of narrowing down the participants to seven, who will do a final pitch on April 5. On that date, the judges will face the enormous challenge of choosing the three grand prize winners who will share over $30,000 in business service prizes.
The seven Enterprize Challenge finalists are:
Farm Bound – Jaye Coward
Farm Bound connects people with organic and local food, offering customers throughout B.C. organic produce, artisan cheeses & meats, as well as organic, dried and processed goods. Farm Bound has partnered with local farms and producers to provide and deliver specialty boxes each week. Customers subscribe to a box of their choice on a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly basis. Boxes are then delivered to customers’ homes (Vernon only) or to pick-up locations. Visit Farm Bound www.farmbound.ca or check them out on Facebook: farmboundbox.
Healing Arts Finder – Diane Kelm
The Healing Arts Finder is for Holistic Practitioners who need affordable, targeted marketing and advertising services. It is an online directory that provides a connection between health issues and alternative health services, providing an on-line resource for individuals looking for whole person healing and wellness practitioners. Healing Arts Finder is a user friendly website offering flexible search options for individuals to find practitioners by healing methods, specialties and treatment benefits, as well as by location. For more information visit www.healingartsfinder.ca.
Parks Sustainable Design Build Ltd. –
Matthew Parks
Parks Sustainable Design Build provides the North Okanagan with design and construction of high performance, sustainable, and energy efficient new homes and renovations. Striving to minimize their footprint both on the site and on the global scale, Parks’ key strategic points include building energy efficient homes, minimizing site disturbance and maximizing local sustainable products. Please visit them at www.parksdesignbuild.ca.
Vision FX – Mark Nadeau
Vision FX is the first major special effects studio in the Okanagan that works in post-production for TV, film and online video. Working in anything from independent film to major motion pictures, serialized television as well as web-series content, Vision FX assists film makers and video production companies with their creative vision through the use of visual effects, 3D animation and digital compositing. To check out their demo reel and other projects visit www.visionfx.ca.
Pitstop BBQ –
Czarina Wisse and Tanya Wisse
For people who appreciate fast service and high quality homemade food for a reasonable price, the Pitstop BBQ won’t disappoint. This will be a BBQ drive-through and take-out location, open for lunch and dinner 6 days a week. The Pitstop BBQ is a sister business to the already popular Station BBQ Smokehouse which specializes in authentic, slow-smoked, southern barbeque. Stay tuned for an opening date and location!
Out and About – Kathleen Colquhoun
Out and About is a driving and companion service that supports seniors and others who may be isolated and facing barriers which make it difficult or impossible to access community supports. They provide the opportunity for community members to engage in normal activities by assisting them with transportation to medical appointments, shopping, and organized events. Out and About offers a safe, friendly and helpful alternative to seniors and others who require transportation to and from their homes.
Brent Selver Designs – Brent Selver
Love to commute around town or want to start? Convert-a-bike is a cost effective and simple way for bike owners to convert their existing pedal bikes into work bicycles. Often the problem with riding bikes to get to work or to run errands is the lack of storage space. This easy conversion kit allows users to safely transport themselves along with their stuff. Check out Brent’s proto-type at the upcoming Trade Show.
The public will have an opportunity to view all of the businesses that were presented during the competition, at the trade show and awards event on April 12 at 4 p.m. at Okanagan College.
The Community Futures Enterprize Challenge 2016 is presented by VantageOne Credit Union. Other partners and sponsors for this initiative include Nixon Wenger Lawyers, KPMG, Sproing Creative, City of Vernon, Okanagan College, The Morning Star and Sun FM.