BDC Emerging Growth Award
Emerging Growth Application
The Emerging Growth Award is presented to the new emerging small business that has shown rapid growth and profitability in its first 1-3 years of operations and shows the potential for future growth and commercial success.
General Small Business Week Award criteria:
- Must be a small business (has fewer than 100 full-time paid employees)
- Situated in Calgary (or at least head office)
- Been in business for at least 12 months (excluding the Emerging Growth Award which applicants can be in business for less than 1 year).
What defines a "small business"?
Based on Industry Canada’s definition of a small business, the Calgary Chamber defines a small business as a company with 100 or fewer full-time employees.
BDC Emerging Growth Award criteria:
- Have been operating for 3 years or less (no earlier than September 1, 2015)
- Proof of financial growth through providing consecutive financial records such as income statements, balance sheets or annual cash flow statements.
Tell us about your company
In the following questions, please limit each answer to 400 words or less.
What is your why?
Why does your business exist, why do you do what you do? When did your business start?
What is your value proposition? What are your products and services?
Performance
Briefly describe your company’s growth, profitability and employee growth over the past three years. Tell us the story of your financials and business performance. Be specific, the more information we have the better.
Innovation
Describe your business concept. Tell us the story of your business plan. Describe how your business plan shows future growth. Do you have a creative or innovation business concept? How so?
Leadership
Outline, using specific examples, how your company is a growing leader in your industry:
a) Describe the leadership role you have taken in your industry
b) How are you disrupting or reshaping your industry?
c) What makes you stand out from your competitors?
Vision
What is your company’s vision for the future of your company? Where would you like your company to be in the next five years, and what are the key steps you will be taking?
Why do you stand out?
Finally, why does your company make a good candidate for this award? Why do you stand out from other fantastic businesses?