2023 Winners
Winners of the second annual Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge announced
Team of B.C. students claim the top prize for their anti-greying supplement.
February 22, 2023 (Toronto, ON) — Today, the Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge announced the winning team of its second annual contest. Two students representing the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition (CSNN) in Victoria, British Columbia, claimed the top $2,500 prize for their idea of a supplement to combat greying hair, coupled with a direct-to-consumer distribution strategy.
The Entrepreneur Challenge, a contest with the goal of encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, tasked teams of post-secondary Canadian students to imagine a unique product and outline an innovative sales plan utilizing the fast-growing direct-to-consumer channel.
As part of their successful submission, Fatima Sumar and Lovepreet Mahli presented their concept of the GreyGon Nutritional Supplement. The product, proposed to be distributed using social media and by utilizing influencers and affiliate marketing, featured a daily nutritional supplement that can reverse the signs of aging and greying hair, strengthening follicles, thickening growth and adding a natural glow to the user's hair.
The Challenge judging panel members praised the product concept and awareness of the direct-to-consumer distribution method. They also loved Team GreyGon’s vision of targeting an aging demographic that is looking for cost-effective, easy-to-use solutions to maintain a youthful appearance. All while being savvy to the power of social media and trusted personal recommendations have on building effective consumer relationships.
As reward for their success Team GreyGon wins $2,500 and a product bundle from supporting and sponsoring organizations.
“Interest in entrepreneurship among the Gen Z and Millennial demographic is growing, and the Challenge helps all post-secondary students – not just those enrolled in business programs – practice and explore the principles of entrepreneurship," stated Peter Maddox, President of DSA Canada and Entrepreneur Challenge organizer.
"Our hope is that this contest will continue to serve as an easy and effective lesson planning tool for academics across Canada to promote entrepreneurial education to their students," continued Maddox.
The 2022 Challenge was generously sponsored by SeneGence, Mary Kay, USANA, MONAT, Amway, and Gowling WLG.
The third annual Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge will launch in September 2023.
2022 Winners
Inaugural winners of Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge announced
Team of B.C. students claim the top prize for their wellness rings.
February 16, 2022 (Toronto, ON) — Today, the Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge announced the winning teams of its inaugural contest. A team of post-secondary students representing Trinity-Western University in Langley, British Columbia, claimed the top $2,500 prize, for their wellness rings and comprehensive direct-to-consumer distribution strategy.
The Entrepreneur Challenge, a contest with the goal of encouraging entrepreneurial thinking, tasked teams of post-secondary Canadian students to imagine a unique product and outline an innovative sales plan, utilizing the fast-growing direct-to-consumer channel.
As part of their successful submission, Marissa LaVasseur, Graham Zastre and Connor Byrne, students in Trinity-Western’s Business Program, presented their concept of Apeiro jewelry. The product range, proposed to be marketed using social media and by utilizing influencers, featured rings made of silver and terracotta that absorb and release essential oils for their wearers.
Judging panel member Tracie Kenzora, General Manager, Canada, of USANA Health Sciences, praised the group’s product concept and awareness of the direct-to-consumer distribution method. Kenzora said that “the judges loved team Apeiro’s vision of combining on-trend elements of jewelry, health and wellness, and appreciated the fact that they pinpointed direct-to-consumer as an effective way to build meaningful customer relationships.”
As reward for their success, Team Apeiro wins $2,500, as well as the opportunity to present to and meet industry executives from the direct selling channel. The judges also recognized New Brunswick students Minh Nguyen of the University of New Brunswick and Thao Pham of St. Thomas University, who received an honorable mention for their remote worker app Plansy. Both teams will be rewarded with a product bundle from supporting and sponsoring organizations.
“We wish to thank all teams who made submissions in this year’s event, as well as academics who supported the goal of promoting entrepreneurial education. Furthermore, the Challenge would not have been possible without the generous support of sponsors SeneGence, Mary Kay, USANA, MONAT, Amway, Gowling WLG and Elite Digital,” stated Peter Maddox, President of DSA Canada and Entrepreneur Challenge organizer.
The second annual Canadian Academic Entrepreneur Challenge is set to launch in September 2022.
Team Apeiro (left to right): Graham Zastre, Marissa LaVasseur, and Connor Byrne.