Do you have an innovation relevant to the health-care industry, difficulty creating a feasible business plan, a desire to be teamed up with world-class MBA students from the Schulich School of Business, and a need for $10,000? If this sounds like you, YORKbiotech and the Schulich School of Business are offering you the opportunity to enter the 2009 sanofi pasteur Healthcare & Biotechnology Venture Challenge (HBVC).
Not only will successful registrants receive a commercialization plan, they will also obtain valuable feedback from industry experts, the opportunity to glean indispensable knowledge from mentors throughout the competition and the chance to win over $10,000. This year, the first-place winner will also receive an advisory services package worth over $2,500 from MaRS Business Services.
For innovators who are unsure about their business skills, there will be an opportunity to attend an educational seminar taught by Schulich staff and industry experts where they will cover the basics of business plan writing, how to put together a successful proposal and tips on presenting to potential investors.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take your innovation to the next step and make it a commercialized reality. The winner of last year’s HBVC, Curtis Caldwell, received more than just monetary value from the competition. “We knew we had a good idea but had not determined the best way to commercialize it," said Caldwell. "The HBVC teamed us up with an experienced mentor and business students allowed us to put together a comprehensive business plan." We also benefited from pitching our plan and getting feedback from a panel of industry experts. The HBVC put us on the right track to start a business.”
With registration closing Friday, Sept. 25, all interested innovators are urged to sign up as soon as possible. For registration and more information, visit the HBVC Web site.