Loyalist offers help for young aspiring entrepreneurs

By Kristen Oelschlagel

Starting your own business can be hard, but the Loyalist College branch of ENACTUS is making it easier for local entrepreneurs.

“The Bullpen is an opportunity for residents of the community to come to the forum and pitch their business ideas,” said David Pickett, president of ENACTUS Loyalist College.
The Bullpen, which mimics CBC’s Dragons’ Den show, gives aspiring entrepreneurs a chance to get advice from local business professionals and possible funding for their business.

“The idea originally came from Mark Hanley, an entrepreneur in the area, he felt there was a need to have this kind of form to help entrepreneurs, and help the younger generation,” said Pickett.
ENACTUS, formally known as SIFE, is an international organization run out of college and universities. Each branch partners with their community to develop outreach projects that help improve the standard of living in the community.

This year the Loyalist College branch has over 50 students and seven projects, such as working with military spouses to develop portable businesses (HERCS) and collecting milk bags to be sewn into sleeping mats and shipped to third world countries (Michael’s Milk Bag Project).
Anyone in the Quinte area with a plan to start a new business, or a business that recently opened can submit a business proposal. The scouts will chose three to five entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas in The Bullpen.

Hanley, along with six others, will hear the pitches sometime within the next month. An actual date has not been set yet.
One page business plans need to be submitted by February 8 for consideration.