Young people, supporters rally for a national entrepreneurship action plan

TORONTO (May 15, 2014) – Yesterday, people from across Canada rallied to help make business happen and fuel the nation’s economy.

At the first-ever Action Entrepreneurship Canadian Summit in Toronto, close to 250 young entrepreneurs and supporters charted a path to boost youth innovation and enterprise throughout the country . They spoke strongly and constructively about the economic and moral imperative to offer better, clearer and more coordinated support to young entrepreneurs and their businesses.

There was resounding consensus on the key actions needed to fuel young enterprise and drive the Canadian economy. These include the need to:

  • Equip educators to make entrepreneurship part of the life-long learning experience – in high school, in all post-secondary programs and for people who are out of school or working;
  • Promote business ownership as a realistic, opportunity-filled career path;
  • Stop chastising business failure and help people learn from mistakes;
  • Teach and support entrepreneurs to be financially literate, so they can take maximum advantage of financing opportunities;
  • Improve collaboration between provincial and federal governments to standardize opportunities, regulations and tax incentives for investments in start-ups;
  • Create in-person and online networking opportunities for entrepreneurs and support for mentors – in general and within specific industries.

Hosted by Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF), the Summit brought together Canada’s best and brightest young entrepreneurs – together with business, policy, education, non-profit and other leaders – to craft an action plan to grow young enterprise across Canada. The Summit built on the engagement of 1,000 of these leaders to identify the major challenges holding back youth entrepreneurship, including having an entrepreneurial mindset, skills, resources and markets and growth.

Futurpreneur Canada will compile the results of the Summit in the coming months and release a national action plan that will require further support and involvement of leaders in business, all levels of government and all sectors of the economy.

Today also marked the official unveiling of a new name for CYBF. Going forward as Futurpreneur Canada, the organization strengthens its commitment to continue to help even more young people with the investment, mentoring, education and tools they need to flourish. After nearly 20 years as CYBF, it was time for a name that would speak more clearly to young entrepreneurs and their aspirations for the future.

Futurpreneur Canada is the only national, non-profit organization providing a full spectrum of financing, mentoring and support tools to young entrepreneurs. Since 1996, it has helped 6,570 entrepreneurs create 5,475 businesses and 26,000 jobs.

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Young entrepreneurs are the future of Canada’s economy. We have thousands of young people with the smarts, ambition and desire to build their own businesses. The Summit participants said that there are many more opportunities for Canada’s business and government leaders to step up and create the conditions for the success of these aspiring entrepreneurs. Our collective economic strength depends on it.”

—Julia Deans, Chief Executive Officer, Futurpreneur Canada

For information about the Action Entrepreneurship Canadian Summit

The Action Entrepreneurship Canadian Summit has been generously sponsored by BG Group, Clearwater Fine Foods Inc., Foundation for an Entrepreneurial Canada and ATB Business.

About Futurpreneur Canada

Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF) has been fuelling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada’s young enterprise for nearly two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors.

Futurpreneur Canada is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance, the Canadian member of The Prince’s Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week. www.futurpreneur.ca.

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Media contacts:

Dorenda McNeil
416-961-5898 ext. 216 or dmcneil@counselpr.ca

Marcus Staviss
416-920-0716 ext. 210 or mstaviss@counselpa.com