Student Business Incubator

A Business Incubator is designed to help build a strong and viable company from the idea and the determination of an individual(s). Since starting up a small business can be such a challenge, a business incubator helps to nurture young companies through those critical start-up months.

The goal of an incubator is not only to ensure the small business survives the start-up period where they are most vulnerable, but to produce confident, successful graduates that are well grounded financially and secure in their knowledge of how to run a productive business independently. (CABI)

While we would love to have all students who are interested be part of this initiative, we are limited in the number of students who can participate. As such, we are conducting a Competition to select students to join in the first wave. If you are interested in entering the Competition - you will need to take the following steps:

1. Complete the SBI Qualifying Questionnaire (attached PDF) 
   DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 29, 2012
2. Submit completed Questionnaire with supporting documents, either to coe@centennialcollege.ca or bring to Orientation Session
3. Business/Financial Planning Summary: We help the businesses work through templates to provide more information on their businesses. Students then submit these plans.
4. We will have another invitation to come to a Business Plan/Financial Summary Workshop on MARCH 15, 2012 as well as a Business Pitch Workshop on MARCH 22, 2012.
5. The competition in front of the panel of judges is on MARCH 26, 2012.

Following the Orientation Session, students will be informed by the Centre of Entrepreneurship if they are selected as a finalists in the Competition. 

Students in this final selected group will be asked to:

1. Complete a Business Plan , including a Financial Summary
2. Attend a workshop on how to conduct a "winning pitch" presentation  
3. Present your business pitch to a panel of industry experts and entrepreneurs on Monday, March 26, 2012

Winners of the competition will be announced on Monday, April 2, 2012.

You can make it happen through the Student Business Incubator offered through the Centre of Entrepreneurship.

The purpose of the Student Business Incubator is to enable and foster innovation and creativity amongst students from various diciplines, with the objective of helping them to establish a sustainable business.

The Student Business Incubator offers participating students with a location to meet and work on their new business concept. You will also receive support and resources from advisors, consultants and industry mentors, who will assist with the areas you will need to focus on as you turn your business idea into reality.

Business concepts will be matched with industry experts and entrepreneurial advisors to facilitate the development of your business plan, through to implementation.

Benefits to you:

• Work in a dedicated space with other student entrepreneurs
• Obtain support and resources from advisors and experts
• Receive support for up to eight months
• Learn how to develop a Business Plan
• Have a professional evaluate your business concept
• Create and implement an Action Plan
• Be conntected through the COE network for potential financing

Preference will be given to students in the final year of study or graduates of the college from the past two years.