Niagara College, alongside a panel of industry judges, is on the hunt for the next great entrepreneurial idea from students across both NC campuses.
Sponsored by Meridian Credit Union, the annual ncTakeOff Start-up Weekend will take place February 1-3 at NC’s Niagara-on-the-Lake campus.
In a weekend-long competition, student teams will meet, form teams, and develop ideas into a business model while being supported by several mentors. By Sunday, teams will be ready to pitch in front of a panel of industry professionals.
The winner of this weekend will receive a prize package, including $1,000 cash, and continue on to Pitch Perfect, the next ncTakeOff pitch competition, where they will have the chance to win additional prizes, including $3,000 towards their business.
“The goal of the event is to give students an opportunity to test out entrepreneurship,” said Madison Fuller, ncTakeOff project manager. “This is meant to be a crash course for any student interested in starting a business in the future or just get involved with something on campus to meet new friends and network.”
Forty students from programs across both NC campuses are expected to participate in the event. On Friday evening they will network, form teams, and have an opportunity to hear from keynote speaker Kevin Unger (Sales and Marketing alumni and owner of Kevin Unger Photography). In the following days, participants will attend various workshops to help them build their business before the big pitch.
To evaluate student presentations at the event, ncTakeOff has invited Vivian Kinnaird, dean of Business, Hospitality, and Environment; Leah Foer, Niagara College professor and founder of Simply Sustainable; and Matt Goch, small business advisor at Meridian Credit Union.
“Being an intensive start-up simulation event, all participants – from students to community members who volunteer as judges and mentors – experience the highs, lows, learning and fun of entrepreneurial life,” said Kinnaird.
Last year’s winners, Health and Fitness Promotion students Andrew Newton and Jorge Siqueira, developed CanCovery, through their pitch for a fitness app that make it easier for cancer survivors to make the transition back to everyday life.
