Own it. Win it.
Bring your idea to life, gain incredible exposure and vie for prizes that will give your business an incredible leg up.
If you’re an emerging entrepreneur or the owner of a new business, Enterprize Challenge is your chance to learn from some of the best as you hone your pitch, polish your business plan and prepare for an exciting launch.
During the Enterprize Challenge ‘business bootcamp,’ you’ll participate in weeks of workshops and one-to-one mentoring to help make your pitch stand out. The challenge culminates in a night of live pitches before volunteer judges in a Dragon’s Den-style competition. You could take home start-up capital plus thousands of dollars in prize packages—and gain valuable skills and insight into owning and operating a business everyone knows and loves.
I started my business BEFORE 2023 – can I participate?
No, the program is focused on new start-up businesses that have started in 2023 or will be starting in 2024.
Do I have to live in the North Okanagan?
No, but your business must operate or be operating in the North Okanagan (Vernon, Lumby, Armstrong, Enderby, etc.) to participate in the program.
Can I compete with more than one business idea?
If you have an idea for more than one product or service, you can compete with more than one business idea. You will have to submit more than one registration and make multiple pitches. We require one pitch per business idea.
Who is my mentor?
Your mentor will be a member of the business community. Some currently operate businesses while others work with businesses in a support capacity.
How do I register?
Registration for 2024 Enterprize Challenge will open at 8am on Tuesday, January 2nd.
What About Judging?
Members of the North Okanagan business community will judge your pitch. They alone decide the winners of the Enterprize Challenge. Judges base their criteria on:
Stay organized and up-to-date with the Community Futures North Okanagan Enterprize Challenge.
Registration opens – January 2, 2024
Registration deadline – NOON on February 6, 2024
Introduction & Orientation Workshop – TBD (Community Futures North Okanagan office)
Business Model Canvas Workshop – TBD (Community Futures North Okanagan office)
Marketing and Promotions Workshop – TBD (Community Futures North Okanagan office)
Open Session (Round Table) to ask questions and get support – TBD (Online)
Operations & Lending Workshop – TBD (Community Futures North Okanagan office)
Financials/Cash Flow Workshop – TBD (Community Futures North Okanagan office)
Presentation Skills Workshop – TBD
Open Session (Round Table) to ask questions and get support – TBD
First Presentation – TBD
Finalists Pitch, Awards & Challenger Showcase – May 9, 2024, Live from the Vernon & District Performing Arts Center
All Enterprize Challenge participants will receive six months of FREE business banking services from VantageOne Credit Union!
1st Place Winner: Prize Package valued over $20,000
2nd Place Winner: Prize Package valued over $10,000
3rd Place Winner: Prize Package valued over $6,000
First place — Hannah & Pamela Janek, Fieldnotes Market (https://www.fieldnotesmarket.ca/)
Second Place — Kristy McLennan, PV BLVD Coffee (https://www.pvblvdcoffee.com/)
Third Place — Lauren Vincent, Chef Lauren Vincent (https://www.cheflaurenvincent.com)
People’s Choice — Kristy McLennan, PV BLVD Coffee
First place—Olive Butler, Conspiracy Cosmetics (https://conspiracycosmetics.ca/)
Second place —Sean Ling-Allen, Centered Pilates (https://www.centredpilatesstudio.com/)
Third place—James Stuart, Uplift Aero Greens (https://www.upliftaerogreens.ca/)
People’s Choice – Leanna Maksymik, Waste Not Wool
First place—Amanda Homeniuk, Kaleco (https://www.kaleco.ca/)
Second place & People’s Choice —Tiffany & Olivier Asselin, OTA Gear Rental (https://otagearrental.ca/)
Third place—Jessica Bosman & Bryn Davis, DOUBL (https://doubl.ca/)
First place—Teresa Sanders, Fill (https://fillvernon.ca/)
Second place—Kayley Letendre, Sugarbee’s Icecream Company (https://sugarbeesicecream.com/)
Third place—Marilyn Courtenay, The Boarding House Café (https://www.facebook.com/TheBoardingHouseCafe/)
People’s Choice—Ashley & Michael Reina, Therabyte Inc. (https://therabyte.app/)
First place—Julia Allen & Kate Johnson, Locality (https://www.iamlocality.com/)
Second place—Dan Proulx, Think Tank
Third place—Richard & Danielle Toperczer, Steakholder
First place—Martin Paris, Jolly Good Spudz
Second place—Juanita Miller, Juanita Miller Nutrition
Third place—Rebecca Hackman, Bites Creative
First place—Jaye Coward, Farmbound (https://farmbound.ca/)
Second place—Diane Kelm, Healing Arts Finder
Third place—Matt Parks, Parks Sustainable Design Build (http://www.woodwaterdevelopments.com/)
First place—Bernie & Maylene Ramis, Rollin’ Spring Rolls
Are You the Next Enterprize Winner?
Whether you have an idea or a small business that started in the last year, you could be eligible to participate in this year’s Enterprize Challenge. You may be an Enterprize challenger if you:
Eligibility and Rules
You must be kind, courteous, and operate in the North Okanagan. No one presenting insulting or illegal content will be allowed to participate.
Multi-level marketing businesses, franchises, non-profits, and prescribed or controlled businesses cannot compete.
Pre-Screening
We may not be able to let everyone participate. If we have too many applicants, we will pre-screen everyone based on the information provided on the registration form. Make sure you:
About Community Futures
From our office in downtown Vernon, Community Futures North Okanagan offers employment, business and economic development services to help residents build their future and the community. We service Armstrong, Coldstream, Enderby, Grindrod, Lavington, Lumby, Mara, Okanagan Indian Band, Spallumcheen, Splatsin and Vernon.
