BCIC–New Ventures Competition welcomes applicants

The British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC) and non-profit New Ventures BC have teamed up once again for a contest that rewards the province's best new business endeavours. The BCIC–New Ventures Competition has been running since 2000, and this year the team that places first will take home $110,000. Companies will vie for more than just cash:...

Credit: Courtesy of New Ventures BC

The 2017 BCIC-New Ventures Competition

Businesses are invited to compete for $275,000 in cash and prizes

The British Columbia Innovation Council (BCIC) and non-profit New Ventures BC have teamed up once again for a contest that rewards the province’s best new business endeavours.

The BCIC–New Ventures Competition has been running since 2000, and this year the team that places first will take home $110,000.

Companies will vie for more than just cash: mentorships and other prizes are available for those making the top 40. There are also free business seminars for anyone involved.

“Whether you come in first place or 33rd place in the competition, you still benefit,” Angie Schick, New Ventures BC’s program director, said in a statement. “Over the past 18 years, we’ve seen companies compete, get valuable feedback from our judges, and then come back to win a couple years later after refining their businesses.”

Last year’s first-place winner, Ecoation Innovative Solutions Inc., developed a technology that measures plant signals to identify stress in crops. The North Vancouver–based company recently closed a $2-million seed round.

We used the funds to hire three new people, expand activities and grow our operations within North America,” said Saber Miresmailli, founder and CEO of Ecoation. “The competition is great exposure and experience. If I could, I would come back to enter again.”

Startups are invited to register before the April 16 deadline.