Blogging from Inside the New Media Revolution

Despite what is often portrayed in the media, entrepreneurs are seldom “lone wolves”. This point was made obvious when I attended theTEC Edmonton’s Venture Prize Award Luncheon, it takes a community to support and inspire innovation in an entrepreneur. Business leaders and representatives from Western Economic Diversification Canada, Alberta Research Council, Economic Development Edmonton, the University of Alberta’s School of Business, and many more were on hand to show their support for this program that “assists aspiring entrepreneurs to transform high-growth ideas into solid business plans”. On Thursday April 30, 2009 there were three finalists for TEC Venture Prize’s fast growth award CIE: Seek Your Own Proof, SmileSonica Inc. and Swiftclips Media Networks. The finalists were competing for more than $90,000 in cash and in-kind prizes. The pitches were polished and the presentations pristine, but when the dust settled Ken Bautista and Jason Suriano’s Seek Your Own Proof emerged as this years winner.

CIE: Seek Your Own Proof is an online community where kids ages 8-13 are challenged to investigate the extraordinary, unexplained and unusual side of science and history. As agents of the “Central Institute for Exploration”, kids work together to crack open the truth – completing missions, sifting through information, and moving up within the ranks of the agency. It “blurs the lines between entertainment and education, nonfiction and fiction, and the online world with the real world”

The Student Business Plan Competition Award was given to Gordon Mckinlay and his company KennelSeek.com. KennelSeek provides boarding kennel/cattery management and online reservation services. Gordon walked away with $10,000.

Congratulations gentleman. Everyone here at Smibs wishes you continued success!!!

Tags: Alberta Research Council, Alberta Venture, Business Plan Competition, cefe, CIE, David Cox, Economic Development Corporation, Edmonton, Entrepreneurship, Gordon McKinlay, Ken Bautista, KennelSeek, KennelSeek.com, Paul Steier, seek your own proof, TEC Edmonton, University of Alberta school of business, Venture Prize, Western Economic Diversification