July 5, 2021

Local business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs were awarded over $30,000 in investments for their innovative venture ideas at a virtual event hosted by the Entrepreneur Development Centre (EDC) at Medicine Hat College (MHC).

The Venture Investment Showcase saw ten EDC clients submit a 5-minute video highlighting their product and service offerings in hopes to receive investment funding for startup costs and costs associated with growing their business.

The showcase was a result of weeks of learning and mentoring as part of the EDC’s Start Up Essentials and Scale Up Essentials programming. Participants worked with instructors and industry experts over six to eight weeks to build or expand their business ideas.

Brand 47 Coffee Co., founded and owned by Alex Graham, was created with the intention of filling two needs for her and her family. With a desire to create a sustainable business to pass along to her two sons, as well as to fulfill a personal need and love for delicious coffee, Graham has worked closely with the EDC and participated in the Scale Up Essentials program to make her family’s dreams a reality.

“The mentorship I’ve received has single-handedly helped my family grow our business. The combination of course work, interacting with fellow entrepreneurs, and being paired with a mentor has been unbelievably helpful. I learned so much about my business, but more importantly, I learned what I need to be doing for my business.”

EDC programming and the investment awards disbursed at the showcase are funded largely in part by the RBC Foundation and MNP. Both organizations, as well as additional valuable community partners, also donate their time and expertise in mentoring the participants as they progress through their entrepreneurial journey.

MHC further supported the showcase by contributing investment funding for awards and APEX Southeast Alberta proudly sponsored two innovation awards valued at $1000 total.

A breakdown of the award recipients is as follows:

Scale Up Essentials

Alex Graham with Brand 47 Coffee Co. – $6,200

Curtis Clark with Green Island Farming Co. – $4,800

Wes and Jennifer Paterson with Sedona North Healing Arts – $4,000

$500 APEX Innovation Award Winner – Curtis Clark with Green Island Farming Co.

Start Up Essentials

Lia Schipper with Buffaloberry Bioresonance – $5,000

Kennedy Griffin, Cheryl Griffin and Jurney Davies with Be. Gluten Free – $5,000

Anna Polsfut with Chosen Studio – $2,500

Kade Rutt with Crown Corvidae Cosplay - $2,300

$500 APEX Innovation Award Winner – Lia Schipper with Buffaloberry Bioresonance

Ventures who were awarded cash funding also received a free Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce membership donated by the organization.

Graham shares her gratitude for the EDC, as well as the organizations and individuals involved in making opportunities for entrepreneurial learning and access to funding possible in our community.

“I can’t begin to express what the award means to my business and family. The investment I received brings us one step closer to growing this business for our boys and providing employment opportunities for the Down syndrome and special abilities community.”

The EDC thanks all of its partners and sponsors for their dedication and ongoing support of local entrepreneurship in our region.

To learn more about the EDC, visit www.mhc.ab.ca/Services/EntrepreneurDevelopmentCentre.

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Check out two of the video submissions from the Venture Investment Showcase below!

Scale Up Essentials

Alex Graham with Brand 47 Coffee Co.

Received $6,200 in investment funding

 

Start Up Essentials

Lia Schipper with Buffaloberry Bioresonance

Received $5,000 in investment funding and $500 as the APEX Southeast Alberta Innovation Award winner for Scale Up Essentials