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RDC hosting seminars, competition for aspiring entrepreneurs

Dec 4, 2018 | 2:47 PM

This winter, Red Deer College will be hosting two opportunities that will help to educate and encourage future small business owners. The Business Basics for the Aspiring Entrepreneur Seminar along with Breakthrough Your Business, a Dragon’s Den-style competition, will help people learn how to develop and then pitch their business ideas.

“Central Alberta is filled with people who have innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirits,” says Darcy Mykytyshyn, Dean of RDC’s Donald School of Business. “The two events we’re offering provide unique opportunities to introduce people to foundational business knowledge and skills that will help them transform their ideas into actionable business plans.”

Business Basics for the Aspiring Entrepreneur is a one-day seminar that is open to anyone, including RDC alumni living in Alberta. The free event will provide information for people interested in starting and operating a small business. Topics will include legal structure and risk management, financing, accounting, sales and marketing, entrepreneurism, tips for success, key steps, and lessons learned.

For those looking to elevate their business ideas to the next level, the Breakthrough Your Business competition will provide an opportunity to create a proposal and business plan, which they will then present to a panel of judges. The first and second place winners will be awarded $6,000 and $4,000, respectively, to help them start their small businesses. Each winner will also receive a $500 tuition voucher for RDC’s School of Continuing Education.

Local philanthropists, Joan and Jack Donald, have sponsored this event since it was first created, dedicating their time through mentorship and donating a total of $20,000 in prize money over the years. As business owners, they understand the challenges that can come from starting a new business. They believe the learning and opportunities from Breakthrough Your Business will help support local entrepreneurs to make timely, sound decisions as they pursue their business goals.

“There are many good opportunities lost and precious time wasted for lack of a timely decision,” says Jack Donald. “Both Joan and I have always followed this rule: marshal the facts, make a decision and move on. As long as you make more ‘good’ decisions than ‘poor’ ones you will prosper. This Breakthrough Your Business event is a great opportunity.”

To help this year’s participants prepare for the event, competitors will have the opportunity to partner with students to develop the business proposals. “This is a great example of collaboration and learning, with students from the Donald School of Business working with local people to help them develop viable business plans,” says Mykytyshyn. “It’s a practical learning opportunity that has benefits for everyone involved.”

Anyone competing in Breakthrough Your Business must participate in the Business Basics Seminar, either this year or in the past years, as the learning from this seminar will help to position them for success in the competition and in their future businesses.
People interested in participating in Business Basics for the Aspiring Entrepreneur Seminar and Breakthrough Your Business are encouraged to be aware of the upcoming dates and deadlines for the events:

January 18, 2019 Expression of Interest registration deadline for Breakthrough Your Business

January 26, 2019 Business Basics Seminar (required for Breakthrough Your Business)

February 15, 2019 Submission deadline for Breakthrough Your Business

February 22, 2019 Final five contestants notified for Breakthrough Your Business

March 9, 2019 Breakthrough Your Business

For further details, contact BreakthroughYourBusiness@rdc.ab.ca.

 

(RDC media release)