First Nations e-commerce competition begins

Page 6

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDBC) launched E-Spirit 2002 on Jan. 7. The Internet-based Aboriginal youth business plan competition is open to Aboriginal students in Grades 10 through 13 across the country.

Using computers at their schools, students go through a 16-week process, creating a detailed business plan and producing a video presentation that promotes their business idea. Fifty-six schools are participating this year with a total of 97 teams made up of 350 students. In addition to cash prizes for the winning entries - to be handed out during a gala awards ceremony in Montreal on May 24 - the teams collect special prizes as they pass certain key milestones in the process.

The students can take advantage of interactive business planning resources on the BDBC Web site where they can connect with entrepreneurial mentors online and talk with other students in a chat room.

The goal of the competition is to expose Aboriginal youth to the potential of entrepreneurship and the Internet, said BDBC national director of Aboriginal banking, Jim Richardson.

'Through the E-Spirit competition, participants will learn about business development and the multiple facets of starting and running your own business," he said. "This competition gives students the chance to develop the skills needed to become successful entrepreneurs and hopefully part of tomorrow's Aboriginal business leaders."

The BDBC is wholly owned by the federal government and plays a role in delivering financial, venture capital and consulting services to small businesses with particular emphasis on the technology and export sectors of the economy.

The E-Spirit Web site is at: www. espirit.bdc.ca.