With their entrepreneurial ideas

CHARLOTTETOWN – Dec. 3, 2013 – “All young francophone adults of PEI, aged 18-39 years, are invited to come and share their entrepreneurial ideas during a provincial competition in the hopes of being crowned the champions of our new Dragons’ Contest,” says contest co-ordinator Stephane Blanchard.

“The competition, open both to Islanders and immigrants, will offer a series of prizes to both the finalists and the champion, including the possibility of obtaining up to $45,000 in seed money if the project in question qualifies for a particular program,” he adds.

Organized by RDÉE Prince Edward Island through its LIENS project, the Dragons’ Contest will begin with three evenings for the pre-selection of finalists, in February, March and April, explains the co-ordinator. During one of these evenings, the participants will bet up to 10 minutes to present their project, which can be either for a service or a product, before a local panel of judges. The presentation can be made vocally or with the help of tools such as videos, PowerPoint or drawings, or a combination of methods.

The top entrepreneurial projects from these evenings will then compete at the grand finale May 27-28 at Rodd Brudenell River Resort in Brudenell. During a national forum on economic immigration, also part of the LIENS project, the finalists will have the opportunity to again present their project in front of the public and in front of a national panel of judges.

In addition to the possibility of obtaining seed money, the champion will also receive a promotional kit for his business (business cards, booklets, posters, etc.), access to a mentorship program as well as a free membership to the Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce.

As well, all contest participants will receive a free one-year membership to the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of PEI. They’ll also get a free course from the Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É. and a chance to win an Android tablet or an iPod Shuffle.

“A profile of each finalist will be posted on various economic websites. Finalists will receive a pass to attend the national forum on immigration being held in May 2014 along with a meal and a hotel room for a night in Brudenell. They’ll also be able to get assistance with the writing of their business plan,” concludes Blanchard.

To register, interested parties must send an email to dragons@rdeeipe.org and indicate an interest in participating. The people responsible for the contest will get back to them to explain the participation process.

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CUTLINE: Stéphane Blanchard, centre, shows the promotional poster that is being used to promote the Dragon’s contest that he is coordinating to Carlo Lavoie from the University of Prince Edward Island, left, and Donald DesRoches from the Collège Acadie Î.-P.-É. These two will promote the contest among their business students.

Stéphane Blanchard
Dragon’s Contest
(902) 370-7333, Ext. 402
stephane@rdeeipe.org