Junior Dragon’s Den
Modeled after CBC’s “The Dragons’ Den”, where qualifying entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors, Junior Dragons’ Den is a Columbia Basin wide initiative and call to action for youth entrepreneurs from Grade’s 8 to the College, University and Trades School levels, to create their own summer job/business or to expand upon an existing one. Junior Dragons Den consists of 3 regional qualifying competitions, the winners of which automatically advance in the Junior Dragons Den Columbia Basin Championship.
How it works:
Students are required to submit a business concept paper for their business idea, or their business improvement idea (in the case of an existing business). The concept paper speaks to the: who, what, where, when, how, why and start-up costs associated with the business concept, finishing off with why the applicant should be chosen to compete in Junior Dragons Den.
Applicants can apply individually or in teams, in one of three regional competitions, depending on where they live or go to school:
REGIONAL COMPETITIONS
Cranbrook – April 7th, 2016
Revelstoke – April 14th, 2016
Trail – April 21, 2016
Entry categories– Junior (Grades 8-10)……Senior (Grades 11-12)…….College/University/Trades
Qualifying for the Competition
The applicant selection process is based upon the merits of the business concept paper submitted.
Short Listed applicants
The top 5 applicants from each category will advance to the competition and each be assigned a mentor from the local business community. Mentors’ will assist with everything from start-up considerations and marketing, to coaching & presentation skills.
The top 5
The top five applicants from each category will then work on refining their business concept into a formal one page business plan, plus financial statements (outline and template to be provided), as well as create and submit an updated Video elevator pitch to use at the live competition. The Junior Dragons Den crew will assist by filming and recording each video in order to ensure consistent audio and video quality.
These Junior Dragons’ will then pitch their business idea in one of three regional shows in front of a live audience and panel of local business leaders (a.k.a. ‘The Dragons’)!
Winners will be selected based upon:
- 80% input from our Dragons’ (a.k.a. the judges)
- 20% audience participation through ballots/ voting
The First, second and third place winners from each Junior Dragons’ age category, will receive cash prizes & awards and automatically advance to compete to the Junior Dragons’ Den Columbia Basin Championship.
Cash prizing must go toward the start-up costs of their respective business, business expansion or tuition for future education.
Regional Competition Contacts
Revelstoke: Kevin Dorrius, Community Futures Revelstoke, kdorrius@revelstokecf.com phone: 250-837-5345 ext. 3206
Cranbrook: Sean Campbell, Community Futures East Kootenay, sean@cfek.ca phone: 250-489-4356 ext. 102
Trail: John Reed, Community Futures Great Trail, john@communityfutures.com phone: 250-364-2595 ext. 28
For more information visit www.juniordragonsden.com