Algonquin Students pitch business plans in Dragons Den-style competition

On Tuesday, December 8, 2009, Algonquin Colleges business students pitched business plans to some of Ottawas elite business leaders in a Dragons’ Den-style competition. Students used their education and skills to open their own (fictitious) business. The business must fulfill a need and gainfully employ at least one member of the team. They started with $1000 each, calculated how much more was needed then are presenting their business plans to obtain the difference. The plans range from a small bakery, a daycare with a difference, an event planning company, to a variety of green consulting firms. Judges from TD Canada Trust, Business Development Bank of Canada, Gowling & Henderson Law Firm, Logan Katz CA, and Algonquin School of Business chose the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners from 6 teams. Each team had 10 minutes to pitch their business plan and 5 minutes for Q&A. Judges deliberated for 15 minutes at the end of all presentations and awarded prizes. In addition to the team prizes, a number of smaller prizes have been set aside for individual awards.