The Aboriginal Business Service Network (ABSN), in partnership with Vision Quest Conferences Inc., is pleased to announce the winners of this year’s Dragon’s Quest Business Plan Competition. Now in its tenth year, the business plan contest awarded cash prizes totalling $10,000 in two categories – Rural and Urban (City of Winnipeg) at Vision Quest’s Gala Banquet on May 15, 2014.
Finalists make a live pitch to a panel of business professionals, comprised of Elaine Palson – Business Development Manager at Canadian Youth Business Foundation, Manitoba, Nunavut & NWT, David McLeod, General Manager, Native Communications Incorporated, and Leslie Lounsbury – President of Spirit of Youth Enterprises Inc. and Publisher of SAY Magazine. The Business Plan Competition is open to all First Nations, Inuit and Metis entrepreneurs in Manitoba; the competition requires that applicants submit a business plan. The business plans are judged by volunteers from various business service providers.
This year the top three finalists from each category were selected to advance to the Dragon’s Quest to pitch their ideas to our panel of judges and in front of a live audience at Vision Quest Conferences Inc. Pre-Pitch interviews were scheduled with all the finalists to help them prepare for the big day at Vision Quest.
The Dragon’s Quest Finalists:
Urban Category Winner – ALAN LAVOI E – AEROSEAL WINNIPEG
Rural Category Winner – CHERIE FONTAINE – CUB’S CLOSET
Urban Category Finalist – TANIS THOMAS – BOREAL WORKSHOP
URBAN Category Finalist – COLLEEN SIMARD – LITTLE FEATHER
Rural Category Finalist – NEIL DANIELS – KEEPERS OF THE LAND RECYCLING
Rural Category Finalist – CHARLOTT E LAROCQU E – IUS OPES
