Frequently Asked Questions

1. When is the registration deadline?

The final date for registration is the same date as the business plan due date of June 26, 2009. To participate in the free seminars, you must register first.

2. Is there a cost to enter the program?

Due to the generous help from our sponsors, there is no cost to this program.

3. Who is eligible to participate in Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge?

  • (a) Individuals (or teams), existing business owners, students, researchers, or anyone with a sustainable business or concept.
  • (b) Sustainability of the business or concept will be determined in the absolute and sole unfettered discretion of the Committee and/or Judges.
  • (c) Teams
  • (i) must have one or more member living, working or attending school in the Challenge Region;
  • (ii) must have one member designated as the Team Leader
  • (d) Existing business:
  • (i) must have between one and twenty employees (including the business owner);
  • (ii) annual revenues between $5,000 to $500,000 and $10,000 to $500,000 in capitalization;
  • (iii) must be expanding their service or developing a new product line. The Participant must certify this information to be true on June 26, 2009 and again on August 7, 2009.
  • (e) The proposed business must be located in the Challenge Region.
  • (f) All business plans must be submitted no later than 4:00 pm on June 26, 2009 for the team or individual to be eligible.
  • (g) Ineligible to participate
  • A Participant is ineligible to participate in the Challenge if he or she:
  • (a) does not meet all the eligibility requirements;
  • (b) has won cash and/or prizes as a finalist in a similar Entrepreneur Challenge;
  • (c) is a member of the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge Advisory Board or Organizing Committee, judge or any partner or business associate of a judge, staff member (or staff equivalent), or any of the immediate family of the above that are on a team, is a Mentor in the current competition year or operates with some formal business relationship with a Participant;
  • (d) solicits Mentors and/or judges directly in which case the Participant will be disqualified;
  • (e) has won first place in the Challenge in the past five years;
  • (f) exhibits conduct which is unlawful, would reflect poorly on the reputation of the Challenge, is harmful with malicious intent to any of the sponsors in any way, or for any other reason at the discretion of the Organizing Committee;
    • (h)submits a plan that:
  • (i) does not meet the minimum submission guidelines as published above and on the website.
  • (ii) exceeds the maximum length for any section outlined in this handbook.
  • (iii) uses a font, heading, line length, or margins in such a way that the amount of text on any given page exceeds the limit available using the recommended page setup and font specifications;
  • (iv) does not have a signed Participant Agreement, Nondisclosure Agreement and Plan Submission Checklist.
  • (v) Does not agree to the terms and conditions outlined in this handbook.

4. Will my plan remain confidential after judging?

Yes

5. How does the participant / team system work?

Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge is composed of three main groups: Teams, Individual Participants and Contestants. Teams are a group of individuals who are intending to submit a business plan (note: only one concept per team). They will be able to attend seminars (limit of up to four team members), contact mentors (team captain only) and submit a plan. Individual Participants are those individuals who have registered and are not on a team, but MAY wish to join a team. Individual Participants are participants who do not have additional team members but are able to attend seminars, have access to mentors (provided they have a business concept), and submit a plan. Contestants are those individuals intending to submit a business plan on June 26, 2009 but who are not interested in participating in any other aspect of the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge process. Contestants do not receive access to mentorship and are not permitted to attend the business plan seminar series All groups must be registered before June 26, 2009 to be eligible to submit a business plan for judging.

6. How big can my team be?

Team sizes can be four or less.

7. How does the judging work?

1.Click here to refer to the Judging Process in Participant Handbook, Page 12, Section VIII.

8. Where can I find resources to help me write my plan?

Along with the business seminar series and Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge Mentorship Program, Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge has compiled useful business links under the "Resources" section of this website.

9. How will my intellectual property be protected?

We have taken all reasonable precautions to protect intellectual property by having both participants and mentors sign non-disclosure agreements. Please see either the Participants’ or Mentors’ page for complete Non-Disclosure Agreement.

10. Do I have to take on additional team members and mentors?

No, it is up to the discretion of the Team Captain whether or not you add members to your team. However, you should ensure that all applicable skill areas have been filled prior to plan submission to ensure that you are submitting the best possible plan. Mentors are also optional.

11. Where can I find additional team members?

Simply network at the business plan seminars to find those who are interested in joining your team.

12. If I don't have a concept, can I still participate?

We are generally looking for individuals and companies trying to develop a feasible concept/business plan through the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge process. If you are an interested individual without a concept who is serious about attending the seminars, please contact us to see if you still qualify to participate in the process.

13. How do I choose a mentor?

Mentors will be involved in the program to help Participants develop their business plans. Mentors provide advice and consultation, drawing on their own business expertise. Mentors will represent a broad range of industries and therefore provide a variety of expertise and experience relating to their specific background. As a result, the Mentor and the Participant must discuss the value that is desired from the relationship before they agree to work together. The Organizing Committee is in no way responsible for guaranteeing, monitoring, or in any way facilitating the meetings, relationship building, or value that is being offered by any parties involved in Mentor relationships. The Organizing Committee cannot guarantee that all Participants will be paired with a Mentor. Mentors decide whether they will work with the Participants.

The Mentor’s only obligation is to provide feedback to the Participant regarding their business concept and business plan. Participants must not request or expect any time beyond the amount that a Mentor is willing to provide. The Mentor is not required to work according to the Participant’s schedule. The Mentor is under no obligation to the Participant upon the conclusion of the Challenge.

Participants interested in the Mentor program must sign up at one of the first three seminars. The Committee will then match a mentor with the participant. A Mentor is under NO obligation to agree to work with anyone. The Participants must ensure that their potential Mentor’s skill set, time availability, and past experience are appropriate to assist them with their business plan. Provided the Mentor is in agreement the relationship is expected to continue for the duration of the current year’s Challenge until Business Plan Submission Deadline.

Once a Mentor and individual decide to work together, they must inform the Organizing Committee in writing.