Five social entrepreneurs received $500 in start-up funding for their ventures, along with enthusiastic support and potential clients from more than 120 community members, at the May 30 Barn Raisers event at the Seaside Centre in Sechelt.
Led by FUSE Community Work Hub, in collaboration with Community Futures and Simon Fraser University and with the support of Sunshine Coast Credit Union, the Vancouver Foundation and Sunshine Coast Community Foundation, Barn Raisers was the culminating event for Ignite, a three-month social enterprise accelerator and community engagement program on the Sunshine Coast.
Event attendees heard presentations from each of the entrepreneurs and voted on the enterprise that resonated most with them.
Johan Stroman's Coast Car Co-op was named as the People's Choice winner, receiving an additional $500 cheque. Stroman decided to share the prize with the four other entrepreneurs.
"We worked hard together and shared and learned so much from each other," he said. "With such small voting margins, it only seems fair that we all share the $500 win equally to celebrate shared outcomes in this collaborative program. Each venture has a lot to offer our communities and this is a small step towards each to take next steps forwards."
FUSE Community Work Hub will continue to act as an "incubator" for the five social entrepreneurs, thanks to Ignite sponsors Talbot Insurance, RW Business Solutions, Townsite Brewing and This Is It Design, by providing a year's membership, which includes access to the FUSE co-working space, the opportunity to connect with other like-minded social entrepreneurs and continued innovative and interactive programming.
Drop by FUSE at #301 - 5500 Wharf Ave. in Sechelt or visit www.fuseworkhub.ca to find out more about FUSE and the five social enterprises.
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