Aboriginal restaurant, fine food and better hockey bag are winners of exCite! entrepreneurship competition

Feb. 11, 2016

 

Brandon Pitawanakwat is working hard to see his dream come true – the Crowned Eagle, a restaurant in Collingwood that will specialize in Aboriginal fine food.

Pitawanakwat, a Georgian College student, is the first-place winner in the latest exC!te Experience competition offered through Georgian’s Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre (HBEC).

exC!te allows participants to pitch their real-world business ideas to a panel of judges who offer not only prizes but also expert advice on entrants’ business plans. A total of 25 entrepreneurs participated in the most recent competition. The application deadline for the next round of pitches is coming up fast, on Friday, Feb. 19.

Pitawanakwat, co-owner in the restaurant with his mother Joanne Bradshaw, says their business plan is almost complete.

“We are in the planning stages, looking forward to accessing market research through the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre to find the right location for our restaurant, ” he said. “It will be an upscale restaurant focusing exclusively on Aboriginal cuisine,” he said.

Two competitors tied for second place. One of them is Monica Roe of Crooked Tree Fine Foods in Collingwood. She learned about the competition by attending some of Georgian’s food entrepreneurship events.

“I am in my first year of business and have been managing food production from home. I graduated from the Business Enterprise Resource Network Self-Employment Assessment program and quickly transitioned to accessing HBEC support and workshops in Collingwood,” she said.

Her business specializes in organic sprouted tree nut cheese spreads and crackers.

Jeff Texmo, another Georgian student, tied with Roe for second place with his product, the Ultimate Gear Organizer. It’s a unique pull-out sports bag for storing hockey equipment.

“I have been working on this product for the past four years and have accessed mentorship and support through the Henry Bernick Entrepreneurship Centre,” Texmo said. “It started with people inquiring and wanting to get their hands on my product, and that inspired me to locate a manufacturing plant and seek out business advice.”

The Ultimate Gear Organizer is market-ready. Texmo has created a website with an e-business voucher grant through Ontario Centres of Excellence funding in partnership with Georgian College’s Centre for Applied Research and Innovation. He will be launching the website and associated social media soon.

Marc Francis’ proposal for Ride On, an indoor bike park, won third place. Francis, a Georgian College student, has been an enthusiastic member of Power Up a mentorship group sponsored by HBEC.

“Taking part in the exC!te experience through HBEC gave me an opportunity that doesn’t arise very often. I encourage all my friends and classmates at Georgian to participate in it,” he said.

“It’s not about the prize but more about the experience. The benefit was having influential people (panelist and judges) see me and hear my dream. My business plan is developed and I am actively seeking financing and the ‘right’ location.”

Learn more about the current exCite! competition .