Second Junior Dragons’ Den show a big success in Trail!

The 2nd Junior Dragons Den live show took place at the Charles Bailiey Theatre in Trail, BC — Photo courtesy Junior Dragons Den website

After months of preparation the 2nd Junior Dragons Den live show took place at the Charles Bailiey Theatre in Trail, BC, May 1, 2015, and what a show it was! Modeled after CBC’s “The Dragons’ Den”, where qualifying entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors, Junior Dragons’ Den, the West Kootenay wide business contest for youth entrepreneurs proved to be equally as entertaining.

Eleven finalists competed for over $9000 in cash prizes, they pitched their business ideas to a panel of Dragons in front of a live audience of over 200.

Background - spearheaded by Community Futures, students in Grades 8-University from throughout the West Kootenay-Boundary region were invited to submit a business concept paper and a brief 1.5-2 minute video elevator pitch, explaining their business idea. Submissions were then evaluated based upon: finances, marketability, the product or service and the overall plan presented. 

“We were very impressed with the level of detail, business plans and presentations by all of the Junior Dragons", stated Don Freschi, GM of CFDC Greater Trail. “There were some very talented individuals and teams that presented a number of business ideas ranging from patent pending electronic martial arts sparring gear to virtual fridge apps and everything in between", stated Freschi.

And the winners were:
Junior Category (Grade 8-10)
- SparrX- Mike Ganzert, J.L. Crowe
- Power Studs- Darren McBee, Keegan Christiansen, Stanley Humphries
- 3 Little Pigs- Talia Westergreen, Nathaniel Laybourne, Wildflower Middle School

Senior Category (Grade 11-12)
- Use It or Lose It - Hannah Bauman, Rebekah Liszt, Stanley Humphries
- BCS Firewood Services- Sebastian Sullivan, Brandon Drexler, Grand Forks Secondary
- Soothing Sounds - Austin Forry, Anthony Wilson, J.L. Crowe
- Positive Hoop Life - Rachel Danczek, J.L. Crowe

College, University, Trades
- Ideas Cafe- Maxwell Nicholson

The prize money awarded to the successful candidates must be used to expand an existing business, launch a new business, or may go toward tuition for post secondary education. Plans are already in the works for 2016 to take the competition throughout the Columbia Basin, with a Provincial launched planned for 2017.