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.
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 2021 – can I participate?
No, the program is focused on new start-up businesses that have started in 2021 or will be starting in 2022.
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 2022 Enterprize Challenge is now closed.
Registration for next year’s Challenge will open January 2023.
Whether you have an idea or a brick-and-mortar store, sign up your new North Okanagan business for a chance to participate in the Enterprize Challenge. Registration opens in January.
Registered businesses are invited to an orientation workshop in February. This recommended event prepares you for the Enterprize Challenge. Participate in this workshop to get started on the right foot.
Arm yourself with the tools you need to deliver your best pitch to our volunteer judges. This series of 2–3-hour evening workshops begins within the first few weeks of the Enterprize Challenge. This step includes the creation of a Business Model Canvas.
You and your team are assigned a mentor to help prepare your presentation and coach you throughout the competition. Mentors are members of the North Okanagan business community who operate a business or support a business.
Your first pitch happens behind closed doors. In this 15-minute presentation, you will provide judges a description of your business and an overview of your industry and competition. Once the judges have heard all presentations, seven entrepreneurs will be named Enterprize Challenge finalists.
A financial mentor will aid you and your team during this step. In this stage of the challenge, finalists must provide judges with a Business Model Canvas and financial overview that communicates the details judges need to determine if your business idea could really make it.
This is your time to shine. The Enterprize Challenge culminates in a final pitch to the judges before a live audience. Throughout the challenge, you will work with your mentor and coaches to polish your final presentation. Finalists have five minutes to convince the judges and the audience that they deserve to win. First, second, and third prizes, as well as the People’s Choice, will be awarded at the end of the event.
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 3, 2022
Registration deadline – NOON, February 4
Introduction & Orientation Workshop – February 10, 5pm to 6:30
Operations & Financials Workshop – TBD
Marketing Workshop – TBD
Open Session (Round Table) to ask questions and get support – TBD
Business Model Canvas Workshop – TBD
Presentation Skills Workshop – TBD
First Presentation – April 5 & 6, 2022
Finalists Pitch, Awards & Challenger Showcase – April 27, Live stream 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—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
Registration Now Closed.
See you in January 2023.
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.