Program Overview

2010 Student Entrepreneur National Competition Handbook

2009 Student Entrepreneur National Champion - Milun Tesovic

The Student Entrepreneur program operated by ACE is the only national program to focus solely on full time Canadian post-secondary student entrepreneurs. It is a program that strives to enrich participant’s lives through recognition, networking and providing a unique learning experience.

Since inception in 1997 this program has celebrated the commitment, determination and achievements of student entrepreneurs through an awards based competition. This competition is open to full-time students at Canadian universities or colleges who are simultaneously operating their own businesses.

The 2010 competition opens on September 8th, 2009 and nominations will be taken until December 4th, 2009. Nominations or self nomination are accepted. Once nominations are closed, all nominees will be asked to submit an application for the provincial round of competition by no later than January 8th, 2010.

To be eligible for the award, students and their businesses must meet the following criteria:

• Be a full-time undergraduate and/or graduate student at a Canadian university or college for the 2009-2010 academic year
• Be a founder and have at least 50% ownership of the company and be responsible for its operation
• Have been in business for at least the past six months (inception as of July 4th, 2009)
• Have not competed in the final round of the National Student Entrepreneur Competition in the past

Based on the applications, a panel of judges will select 12 provincial champions who will then be invited, travel expenses paid, to participate in one of three regional competitions held in Calgary, Halifax and Toronto.  From each of these competitions, two regional champions will be selected to receive a $1,000 cash prize and participate in the Student Entrepreneur final round of competition at the 2010 ACE National Exposition in Calgary, May 10-12, 2010.  Travel expenses to the ACE National Exposition will also be covered for the six regional champions.

At the national event a group of distinguished judges will name the 2010 Student Entrepreneur National Champion, who will receive a cash prize of $10,000.  From here, the national champion will represent Canada internationally at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards scheduled for the fall of 2010.