What is E-Spirit?
It's a national Aboriginal youth business plan competition sponsored by BDC for Aboriginal youth in grades 10 to 12. Each year over 500 Aboriginal students across Canada participate. Since 2001, E-Spirit has introduced over 5,000 students to entrepreneurship. BDC contributes over $300,000 per year to the competition.
How do students compete?
Teams complete a business plan using modules provided on the E-Spirit website. To qualify for the 3-day gala event, each team needs to:
- Submit a complete business plan
- Submit a video promoting their business idea
- Give an oral presentation in front of their peers and judges
- Set up a trade booth promoting their idea
The goals of BDC's eSpirit competition are to help youth:
- Create their own opportunities
- Set goals and objectives
- Establish a framework for a better future
E-Spirit is Internet-based.
Because technology has no geographic boundaries, it offers a whole new way of doing business. The opportunities are tremendous! Students use the eSpirit website to get:
- Online learning modules
- Mentoring
- A business-plan template
What's in it for students?
E-Spirit provides participants with valuable skills for today's marketplace. Students:
- Gain an awareness of self-employment opportunities
- Learn business, management and leadership skills
- Increase their employability skills
- Get an awareness of ebusiness models and technologies
- learn the importance of team work
- improve their communication skills
Is your school registered?
- Registration was online from September 12 to October 7, 2011
- Completed business plans were due by February 17, 2012
- This year's gathering will be held in Winnipeg, Manitoba, from May 15–17, 2012