ThriveNorth, a Futurpreneur initiative that empowers young entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses in the Northwest region of British Columbia, announced the winners of its ThriveNorth business challenge.
ThriveNorth had startups founded by entrepreneurs between 18-39 pitch in front of 100 peopleat the R.E.M. Lee Theatre in Terrace. The event was hosted by both Futurpreneur and Prince Rupert LNG, a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) project on Ridley Island.
Since 2014, the ThriveNorth initiative has funded 19 young entrepreneurs. ThriveNorth has provided coaching, training and support to 77 people and helped engage 1,600 members of the community through entrepreneurship-focused events.
“It takes a tremendous amount of skill and courage to pursue entrepreneurship,” said Julia Deans, CEO of Futurpreneur Canada. “These finalists did an amazing job delivering their pitches using the skills they learned through the process. On top of the funding for award winners and runners-up, this competition helped all the finalists gain new skills, confidence, networks and support to build thriving businesses in their communities.”
The startups and runners-up include:
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Best New Business
Winner: Bobby Middleton, The Saw Shack, Terrace – $10,000
Runner up: Jill Whitfield, Repose, Terrace – $2,500
Best New Social Enterprise
Winner: Heather Bohn, Our Roots, Terrace – $10,000
Runner up: Andrea Pollock, Island Sugar, Prince Rupert – $2,500
Best Growth Opportunity
Winner: Kristine Ewald and Simone Crook, Transcend Fitness, Terrace – $10,000
Runner up: Johanne Chaine, Peoples Pharmacy, Terrace – $2,500
Audience Pick
Kristine Ewald and Simone Crook, Transcend Fitness – $2,500.