Season six Launch-A-Preneur Wrap Up

The top four of Launch-a-Preneur season six stand in front of the crowd before they pitch for first place.

A very exciting Final Night for Season 6 of Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur was held on the evening of June 9th in Salmon Arm at the Salmar Classic Theatre. Launch-a-Preneur is a business planning support program and pitch competition, hosted by Community Futures Shuswap, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, Okanagan College Enactus, and numerous community volunteers. The event consisted of 14 teams pitching their business ideas to a panel of judges and a sold out crowd at the Salmar Classic Theatre.

The 14 competing teams included:

• Earth Girl Granola, Amber Wasylenka
• Choose Refill, Anna DeWolff
• Fable Acres, Austin Schmidt
• Grow Up Farm, Clayton Beadle
• TheConfidants, Craig Johansen
• Haven, Daylene Fleming
• Wee Acres, Glen Schaafsma
• Bummin’ Around BC, Jennifer Belec
• Rooke Construction, Joel Rooke
• Ecotreats, Karina White
• Flake Pastry, Kate Boutillier
• Fireside Farm & Forest, Kris Hryniw
• Hand Up Recycling, Kristine Wickner
• Monster Design Works, Sam Ward

Clayton Beadle, winner of Season Six Launch-a-Preneur

In typical Shuswap fashion the community came together to support these aspiring entrepreneurs. This season, the program received over $80,000 in prize packages from 40 local sponsors, including lead event sponsor Grant Thornton. The event Master of Ceremonies, the Launch organizers video clips and participating teams kept the crowd entertained with their high level presentations and wit.

“The most amazing part of the Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur program is how our community comes together to support these teams. The support extends well beyond the program and the prize packages and sees our community following their progress for years to come. The whole Shuswap gets behind these entrepreneurs and creates a supportive environment to foster their start-up.” 

 - Lana Fitt, Economic Development Manager.

Although the program partners felt all contenders were winners and worthy of high regard, the judging panel, consisting of Andrew Klingel from Okanagan College, Brea Lake CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, Leigha Horsfield Executive Director of Community Futures North Okanagan and Richard Toperczer from the Economic Development for Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, selected the following award recipients:

• First Place Prize Package Value $31,006.80: Grow Up Farm, Clayton Beadle
• Second Place Prize Package Value $15,555.00: Ecotreats, Karina White
• Third Place Prize Package Value $5,342.00: Flake Pastry, Kate Boutillier
• Fourth Place Prize Package Value $2,777.00: Monster Design Works, Sam Ward
• Green Award Prize Package Value $2,680.00: Grow Up Farm, Clayton Beadle
• Public Choice Prize Package Value $2,242.00: Choose Refill, Anna DeWolff

Program partners wish to extend a thank you to the community for the on-going support this program receives and, in particular, our event Master of Ceremonies, volunteer judges, mentors, and sponsors.

Event Master of Ceremonies Mr. James Grieve said it best… “It takes a village to raise a child and a community to Launch-a-Preneur!”

To find out more about this innovative community program and our sponsors visit launchapreneur.ca

Business competition participants wait to see who the judges pick for the top four contestants to move forward into the ten minute pitch round.

All 14 participants of Season six Launch-a-Preneur await the announcement of the top 4.