The next generation of young Canadian entrepreneurs is getting set to face off in a boardroom in the Nation'ss Capital to compete for the prestigious National Nicol Entrepreneurial
Award.
Participating in this year'ss
nicol award competition are teams from
across the country, including Acadia University, Carleton University, St. Francis Xavier University, the University of Victoria, the University of Western Ontario and Wilfrid Laurier
University. The teams have advanced from local competitions at their own schools, with entries from thirteen of Canada'ss top universities.
The
nicol award , launched in 1997, is unique for its emphasis on the
value of the entrepreneurial spirit and the key role it plays in the success of a business. No other business award offers as true-to-life an experience or is as inclusive as the
nicol award , which welcomes entries from any undergraduate student with a
solid business idea, from any program.
Even though he'ss faced some challenges this past year, Chris Carmichael, winner of the 2008
nicol award credits the experience for giving him the confidence to roll with the punches and realize success. Competing for the
nicol award gave me the confidence to trust my instincts and make solid
business decisions even when faced with unexpected hurdles, said Carmichael. This competition gave me a real taste of what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. The total experience,
from developing an idea to pitching it to venture capitalists, is invaluable - you can'st get this experience in a classroom.
In the midst of the current global economic crisis founder Wes Nicol believes that the
nicol award is more relevant than ever. People with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and good business sense are going to play an
extremely important role in driving the Canadian economy forward in the coming years, said Nicol, a successful Ottawa business leader. I founded this competition 12 years ago to encourage
that spirit and provide students with a true-to-life, supportive venue to develop and test their business ideas. The fact that so many universities across Canada are participating and
encouraging their entrepreneurs is a good sign for the future.
The 2009
nicol award will be presented during the 5th Annual
nicol award Gala on March 24, 2009 at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier Hotel. Mr. Nicol
is pleased to welcome Mr. Frank McKenna, Deputy Chairman of TD Bank Financial Group and former Canadian Ambassador to the United States, as the keynote speaker at the event.
For more information please visit www.nicol-award.com/
MemaScene, Acadia University
MemaScene provides its clients with an act of closure and remembrance for a loved one using a variety of digital media. MemaScene will combine client-supplied photographs, videos, spoken
words, and music into a tasteful and unique presentation for use at funerals, visitations and private viewing, and will also package this material as a permanent memento.
GetMovers, Carleton University
GetMovers is a web-based moving lead generation company. It provides a simple way for individuals to specify their moving requirements and then sells these leads to pre-screened moving
companies. GetMovers's services are offered at no cost to the customer and save its customers from the time-consuming chore of finding a suitable and reputable moving company.
Fratpackers, St. Francis Xavier University
Fratpackers is a moving and storage company that targets the unique needs of university students. Many students leave campus each summer to return home and must find some way to store
their belongings. Fratpackers provides them with a simple, comprehensive and inexpensive solution to their moving needs.
Synergy, University of Victoria
Synergy is a green business consulting firm operating in Victoria that works with small and mid-sized organizations to help them overcome the existing barriers to utilizing sustainable
practices and policies.The company has adopted the Social Enterprise framework and will offer a range of services such as greenhouse gas inventories and energy audits, and source and
provide green products such as lighting and waste management systems.
Make It Digital, University of Western Ontario
Make it Digital takes customers's print photographs, negatives, slides, and video in obsolete formats and converts them to a standard digital form.Make it Digital will emphasize high
levels of customer service at moderate prices, combining local store-front locations for convenient drop-off and pick-up with off-shore subcontracting of labour-intensive tasks like photo
touchup and graphics manipulation.
Tilted Pixel, Wilfrid Laurier University
Tilted Pixel builds websites that help small-to-medium sized companies achieve real, measurable business results. All its websites are built on top of the Tilted Pixel Platform, which
provides common capabilities such as security management, database access, and content abstraction.
