Four students from Lethbridge College and one from the University of Lethbridge are getting the chance to make a real-world impact on the business community. The Student Entrepreneurship Program comes to an exciting finish this week as students pitch their business ideas to community leaders with the chance to earn actual funding for their innovations.
The Student Entrepreneurship Program is funded and supported by the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA). All students from Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge were able to apply to the program. From 45 applications, five students have now completed the program and are working to develop their business ideas and plans with mentors from Lethbridge-based tecconnect and Innovate Calgary.
“The purpose of the program is to provide students with the tools and support they need to become creative leaders of new enterprises,” says Gina Funicelli, Dean of the Centre for Applied Research and Innovation at Lethbridge College. “We launched SEP as a pilot program this year and hope to run it on a yearly basis. We’re proud of our students and wish them great success with their enterprises.”
"The University of Lethbridge and the AGILITY program are working in partnership with Lethbridge College to support innovation and entrepreneurship in the city,” says Tyler Heaton, AGILITY program manager. “We are proud of our students and look forward to seeing all of the amazing pitches on Thursday.”
Students have received three in-person sessions and two phone sessions with their mentors since January. They have put in more than 30 hours of classroom time, and countless hours of their own time, into developing their ideas. On Thursday, they will pitch their plans to a group of business leaders with the chance to earn actual funding for their proposals.
“Lethbridge is a key contributor in Alberta’s south region for entrepreneurship within the innovation sector,” says Steve McIlvenna, director of Entrepreneur Development for Innovate Calgary. “It is important that we support entrepreneurs in this region to advance their ideas and enterprises forward.”
“Since data shows that 44 per cent of private-sector employment growth comes from start-up companies, we know that entrepreneurship will continue to be an important economic driver,” adds Renae Barlow, VP tecconnect and Business Development. “By empowering young people to embrace innovative thinking, we are helping to build a bright future for our city while creating opportunities for graduates to stay and work in the region.”
Students have meticulously researched and developed their ideas which range from a convenient and practical approach to fitness to a diverse way for everyone to connect with red seal trades in Canada to a method to produce safe and sustainable pesticide to feed a growing world.
“This program has been a great opportunity to learn about the business world from those who have excelled in it,” says Lethbridge College Business Administration – Accounting graduate Connor Derry. “I’ve been able to take my business idea and flesh it out into something which I think will be useful to many people. I’m excited to pitch it and get feedback from business leaders.”
The Student Entrepreneurship Program is part of an effort by Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge to work the idea of entrepreneurship into school curriculum.
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Winner named in inaugural Student Entrepreneurship Program forum
April 8, 2016 – Lethbridge College Business Administration student Caylee Vogel was named the winner of the first-ever Student Entrepreneurship Program forum on Thursday at tecconnect.
Five students – four from Lethbridge College and one from the University of Lethbridge – completed the Student Entrepreneurship Program, which was open to all students at both institutions. Funded and supported by the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA), students worked since January to develop their own business ideas with the help of mentors from Lethbridge-based tecconnect and Innovate Calgary.
The entrepreneurs were given 15 minutes to pitch their ideas, followed by a 10 minute question–and-answer period from the panel of esteemed business professionals.
Vogel’s winning idea is titled Fitness Convenience and was pitched as a practical approach to achieve desired health results and benefits with ultimate convenience.
“Going into this challenge, I had the mindset of taking on an opportunity to benefit myself in the future,” says Vogel. “This taught me how hard work pays off. I was overjoyed with the results as it has given me the confidence to pursue what I am passionate about in the future. The judge’s feedback was very helpful and I am excited to implement their ideas into my future planning.”
Fellow Lethbridge College Business Administration student Guillermo Aceytuno placed second with his idea, AutoMatics, an easy and convenient web-based app to maintain your vehicle. Lethbridge College Business Administration – Accounting graduate Connor Derry placed third with RNAiCare, which produces safe, species-specific, and sustainable pesticide to feed a growing world.
Vogel earned $500 cash for her victory, while Aceytuno and Derry each received $250. Innovate Calgary provided matching in-kind contributions for each prize for one-on-one mentorship with staff from Innovate Calgary.