Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition (QEC), Canada’s largest international undergraduate business plan competition is coming up once again. If you would be interested in competing at QEC for a chance to win $25,000 in cash prizes, read on below for more information!

What is the Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition?

Now in its 22nd year, the Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition brings together some of the brightest young entrepreneurs from around the world to compete for $25,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to appear on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.  Participants also have the chance to network with Canada’s leading business professionals. Furthermore, QEC prides itself on the incredible judge to competitor ratio of 3:4 — a tremendous networking opportunity and ratio of almost one competitor to one judge.

Past speakers include Bryan Pearson (President of Air Miles Canada), Brett Wilson (Dragon on CBC’s the Dragons’ Den) and Clive Beddoe (Founder of Westjet Airlines). The sixteen teams who make it past the preliminary business plan grading will have the opportunity to network with these amazing individuals and receive feedback about their business plans.

Now what’s in it for you?

Competitors are competing for $25,000 in cash and prizes as follows:

1st Place: $15,000
2nd Place: $6,000
3rd Place: $2,000
Innovation Award: $1,000 (2 available)

The Innovation Award is presented to the team in each pool who best introduces a new and original idea that has the potential to be successfully applied in the real world.

What will it cost you?

There are no delegate fees for our final competition; all fees including meals, evening socials and our final gala are covered through sponsorship. However, delegates must pay for their accommodation and transportation to Kingston.  Delegates can also stay with their friends in order to avoid accommodation fees.

Deadline and Important Dates

Applicants must submit their written business plans to Trevor Shah at trevor.shah@theqec.com by November 4th, 2009. The 16 teams who received the highest scores on their written business plan will be notified by mid December (2009) and will be invited to attend the final competition round held at Queen’s University from January 21st to 23rd.  The top 16 teams will make a 25 minute presentation to a panel of industry experts; past judges have included Tim Wilson (President of Visa Canada), Grant Rassmussen (President and CEO of UBS Bank Canada), Brett Wilson (Dragons’ Den), John Sleeman (CEO of Sleeman Breweries) and many others.

For qualification requirements and business plan requirements, please visit their website.