Community Futures Sunshine Coast has partnered with SFU to launch an entrepreneurship accelerator program in Sechelt.
Entrepreneurs on the Sunshine Coast now have access to a powerful program to launch innovative start-up businesses. Simon Fraser University, in collaboration with Community Futures Sunshine Coast, is recruiting six local entrepreneurs with a burning desire to launch a new business that creates community benefits. Just six months ago, Maryanne Smith, a LEAP participant and registered nurse practitioner, was awarded $1,000 during the LEAP barn-raising event. She has since started her business, Access Health, in downtown Sechelt.
The accelerator program is an eight-week program sponsored by Community Futures Sunshine Coast, designed so that entrepreneurs whose business concept includes social benefits can get help testing and modifying their business idea. The weekly evening classes run March 1 to April 19.
Nicole Chaland, director of SFU’s Community Economic Development Program, explains, “Social ventures use a business model to deliver social change. The majority of a social enterprise’s revenue comes from market sales, and the community benefit is baked into the operations of the organization, not tacked onto the side. Past entrepreneurs have started car-share co-operatives, local food markets, agri-food tours and sugar shacks.”
“We know we have a tonne of talent in our region,” said Dave Jephcott, Community Futures’ business advisor. “We have many community-minded people with terrific business ideas who would love the opportunity to take their idea and get on the right track to launching a viable business.”
“The great thing about this program – and why we are offering this program – is because everyone learns by doing,” Jephcott continued. “Entrepreneurs gain access to the most current and cost-effective method of idea validation out there. Local partners figure out how to build supports for social entrepreneurs by building supports for social entrepreneurs.”
In the spring, after the completion of the course, the community is invited to help celebrate the success of the entrepreneurs and learn about their businesses at the Sunshine Coast Social Venture Barn-Raiser. A 2014 participant commented, “Even though I felt I had a really good understanding of my business, I still found the exercises useful, especially to really define our market. I deeply appreciated the safe and supportive atmosphere that the facilitators/mentors created.”
Community Futures Sunshine Coast is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of different support services to people wanting to start, expand, franchise or sell a business in the community.
