All French-speaking entrepreneurs in P.E.I. are invited to compete in the Dragons’ Contest.
The competition is open to those who have ideas for a new business, for the expansion of an existing business or for a new product or service, but there’s only a few days left to sign up for the fourth edition of the event.
The winner will receive a $10,000 prize to invest in his or her business project.
Velma Robichaud, the RDEE P.E.I. officer who is co-ordinating the business contest, said the registration deadline is Jan. 31.
“You just have to visit the website www.rdeeipe.net/dragons/ to access the online registration form,’’ Robichaud said.
She notes that several contestants with interesting entrepreneurial projects have already signed up but Robichaud still has lots of space for more competitors.
On Feb. 3, all participants will be required to attend a mandatory day-long training session on the presentation of their project, including the financial perspective, so everyone will be on the same footing.
Expert trainers Ron and Connie Robichaud from C and R Care and Consulting will offer suggestions on presentation methods as well as on the type of verbal and body language to use when appearing before contest judges.
In mid-February, contestants will be asked to pitch their project to a panel of local entrepreneurial judges. These judges will select the three projects that are the most ready and have the highest probability of success.
The top three contenders will then participate in the grand finale contest Saturday, March 17 in Summerside. They’ll then pitch their project before a national panel of judges as well as the public. The prize will be presented to the winner later in the evening at the end of the entrepreneurs’ gala, also being held at the Centre Belle-Alliance.
The champion gets media exposure, free one-year memberships to the Summerside and Charlottetown chambers of commerce, as well as to the Acadian and Francophone chamber and various other prizes.
Former contest winners are Mathieu Arsenault from Island Artisan Cheesehouse, Karine Gallant and Iain MacInnes from Productions Piroune and Ghislaine Cormier from Kaneshii Vinyl Press.
For more information, contact Velma Robichaud at 902-854-3439, ext. 229 or at [email protected].
