Francophone business contest finalists announced
A mobile music service, a dinner theatre, an online marketplace and a clothing business are finalists for the top honour at this year's Francophone Ignition Contest.
The seventh RDÉE Prince Edward Island contest is scheduled for March 3 in Abram-Village at the Acadian Musical Village. It is the first time the event has been held at that venue.
"The public is invited to come and support the finalists during this grand finale of our entrepreneurial development competition, which will be presented in a style similar to the television shows Shark Tank and Dragons' Den," said Julie Gallant, the event's co-ordinator, in a press release.
"Each contestant will have only seven minutes to pitch his or her project, with the help of visual aids on the big screen or with samples, and then answer a series of questions from the judges. Every competitor will have to do his or her best to convince our panel of business professionals to award them the investment, which comes from Innovation P.E.I.'s Ignition Start-Up Fund."
In addition to a $25,000 investment, the winner will receive free one-year memberships at the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce, the Summerside Area Chamber of Commerce and the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I. As well, the winning business will receive a free college course from the Collège de l'Île. Following are the finalists: Renowned playwright and artistic director Paul D. Gallant is proposing to offer a series of performances in two dinner-theatres and a lunch-theatre show in MontCarmel this summer.
Musician and singer Jake Charron and musician and sound engineer Donald Richard of the The East Pointers are looking to establish SpaceCamp Productions, a bilingual mobile recording and production support services for musicians.
Acadian sisters Samantha Arsenault and Natalie Gallant launched the clothing business Ligne à hardes (The Clothes Line) that promotes Acadian culture in November.
Jacinthe Lemire is looking to expand her bilingual online business Shop P.E.I. Marketplace that sells Islandmade products.
The event is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Face masks are required, and anyone attending will be served a snack during the judge’s deliberations. A cash bar service will be provided.
Admission will be free but those who want to attend must register by Feb. 26 by contacting Josée Ouellette at 902-854-3439, ext. 228, or josee@rdeeipe.org.