Nova Scotia Students Represent Canada at International Business Competition
News Release
Government of Canada supports work of Dalhousie University’s Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship
Halifax, N.S. - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Three teams from Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s Universities will be among the eight teams that represent Canada later this week at the International Business Model Competition, which is being hosted at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Each team competed for a spot during Canada’s Business Model Competition, a national qualifying event, hosted last month by Dalhousie’s Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship.
The Government of Canada announced a non-repayable investment of $250,000 today, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program (BDP), to support the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship’s participation in Canada’s Business Model Competition and other activities that contribute to an entrepreneurial environment such as seminars and workshops.
Through the Launch Dal programming, the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship hosts on-campus initiatives and events such as Starting Lean, the LaunchPad Accelerator, Startup Weekend, Pitch 101, the Entrepreneurial Skills Program Accreditation, the Launch Dal Workshops, and Entrepreneur-in-Residence. The Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship anticipates it will support the entrepreneurial efforts of approximately 5,000 students, 2,000 community members, and 400 faculty members through this project.
Quotes:
“There is an incredible amount of entrepreneurial-minded potential waiting to be unlocked in the minds of some of our youngest Canadians. In order to build a culture of innovation we must show our support for organizations like the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship who foster this potential and create strong ties between students and the business community. As reinforced in Budget 2016, the Government of Canada is committed to supporting opportunities for businesses of all sizes and Canadians of all ages to build our economy and our country.”
- The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
“We are living in a world defined by innovation. Through our support for organizations like the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship, the Government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to helping young, engaged innovators seize the momentum of their ideas. Investments such as this not only encourage hands-on learning, they stimulate our economy by inspiring the next generation of job creators, exporters and business leaders.”
- Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville-Preston-Chezzetcook
“Through Launch Dal, supported by the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship, we are enabling Dalhousie students, researchers and faculty members to contribute to the vibrancy of the regional Innovation Driven Ecosystem. Canada’s Business Model Competition is just one example of the impact of this work. Through this competition and the support from ACOA, student teams from across Nova Scotia and Canada are building relationships with their peers nationally and internationally.”
- Dr. Richard Florizone, President, Dalhousie University
Associated Links:
- Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship
- International Business Model Competition
- Canada’s Business Model Competition
Contacts:
The Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship may be reached for media interviews using the contact information below.
Alex Smith
Director of Communications and Outreach
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(902) 426-9417
(902) 830-3839 (cell)
Email: alex.smith@canada.ca
Doctor Mary Kilfoil
Academic Lead, Launch Dal Programming
Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship
Dalhousie University
902-494-3066
902-478-8634 (cell)
Email: mary.kilfoil@dal.ca
Twitter: @Mary_Kilfoil
Janet Bryson
Senior Communications Advisor
Dalhousie University
902-494-1269
902-222-9379 (cell)
Background
Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship: Established in 2005 as part of Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Management (School of Business Administration), the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship works to promote entrepreneurship, in its many forms, through innovative curriculum, applied research and outreach work. This is accomplished by: supporting the academic programs and courses taught within the School of Business Administration; supporting the broader entrepreneurial community; providing opportunities for Dalhousie students to work with the entrepreneurial community; and, facilitating the incubation of student business.
Canada’s Business Model Competition: The 3rd Annual Canada’s Business Model Competition took place in Halifax, March 4-5, 2016. The competition was hosted by the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship, through their Starting Lean Initiative, and in collaboration with Dalhousie University’s Rowe School of Business. During the competition, 30 student teams from across Canada worked to create innovative business models to solve real business problems. The event was Canada’s national qualifier for the International Business Model Competition. The winning team, ExVivo Labs from the University of Waterloo, automatically advanced to the quarterfinal round of the international competition. As the organizers of the competition, Dalhousie University was also able to nominate a team to compete in the international competition. As such, 3 Meals, from Dalhousie’s Agricultural Campus, will also advance to the quarterfinal round. 3 Meals is generating a protein from meal worms that can be used as a protein supplement. ExVivo Labs is creating a product to reduce the pain and wait times involved in testing for allergies.
International Business Model Competition: The 4th Annual International Business Model Competition (IBMC) will take place April 29-30, 2016 at Microsoft’s corporate headquarters in Redmond, Washington. The event is co-hosted by Brigham Young and Harvard Universities and encourages startups to move away from traditional, static business plans towards a more dynamic methodology in the early planning stages. In addition to qualifying to compete through national events like Canada’s Business Model Competition, student teams could also apply directly to the IBMC for consideration during the competition’s At-Large Round. Via this route, six additional Canadian teams, who participated at the Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship-hosted Canada’s Business Model competition, have also advanced to the IBMC’s quarterfinal round. The two Saint Mary’s University teams who qualified via this route are ProTell and SeeMePly. ProTell is creating wearable technology for people with Sickle Cell Anemia; SeeMePly is lessening the administrative and financial burden encountered by African students applying for post-secondary education.
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