Give new entrepreneurs a 1-UP
Hamilton, ON (August 3, 2012) – STARTOFF Hamilton is a new, hip, local contest presented by Innovation Factory, disguised as a retro videogame. The adventure begins when new innovative entrepreneurs campaign for buzzing online community votes to win packages filled with the type of prizes beta businesses need to take control of the joystick and get in the game!
This October, iF Clients will be unveiled to the Hamilton community as STARTOFF competitors. The public will be able to go online to startoff.ca to learn about each company and vote on their favorites, all while learning about the resources new startup businesses need to get off the ground. The ten iF Clients with the most votes earned over the course of the competition will each earn a prize package valued at up to $16,700!
The prize package includes a $5000 FirstOntario Small Business Innovation Loan in addition to $11,700 of in-kind services: Free Business Diagnostic and Consultation with Ideacia ONE, Trademark Application from Ballagh & Edward LLP, appBuilder and Consultation from Weever Apps, Preparation of a Performance Profile from Express Employment Professionals, Online Marketing Seminar from KKT Interactive, Accounting Services from KPMG, Telecom Services from Net@ccess, Meeting Room Space at McMaster Innovation Park, and a 3-Month Membership to Innovation Factory’s FACTORY FLOOR.
Entries are now open until August 31, 2012 at startoff.ca, where you can also find the complete STARTOFF Hamilton Competition Guidelines. Members of the public who are not iF Clients but would like to participate can email intake@innovationfactory.ca for more information and to determine their eligibility.
Since its official launch in November 2010, Innovation Factory has engaged over 310 companies from a wide array of business sectors. Partnering with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is a significant step in harnessing all the know-how and resources in the community to provide a web of support for the next generation of Hamilton job creators.
About Innovation Factory
Innovation Factory (innovationfactory.ca) is Hamilton’s not-for-profit Regional Innovation Centre, located in Hamilton, ON committed to connecting and enabling active collaboration between the city’s communities of science, business, government, academia and finance to accelerate the innovation process and amplify the economic and social impact of key new ideas and discoveries. Funded by the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE), we are focused on strengthening Hamilton’s next generation of job generators. innovationfactory.ca
Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Network of Excellence (ONE) is Ontario’s innovation system. The ONE is made up of regional and sector focused organizations designed to help Ontario-based entrepreneurs rapidly grow their companies, and create jobs. For more information visit oneinnovation.ca.
Media Contact
For more information, contact:
Stephanie Shuster, iF Communications, stephanie.shuster@innovationfactory.ca, 905.667.2611 x.224