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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 (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
www.genologics.com to standard service based
companies like
www.drfish.ca , the GVEC has produced and
will continue to mentor, educate the young
innovators of tomorrow.” |