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BC Early Stage or Startup Entrepreneurs Looking to Raise Up to $100K: Apply Now to Be on CBC's 'Next Gen Den'
Monday, August 31, 2015
Vancouver, BC, August 31, 2015--(T-Net)--CBC has announced that auditions are now open for CBC's next season of Next Gen Den, an online version of its more well known "Dragon's Den" TV show.
Next Gen Den features a cast of four new Dragons who are looking to invest in the next generation of Canadian entrepreneurs. Filming will take place in Toronto in late September.
Are a young entrepreneur with an early-stage or startup business? To be eligible, entrepreneurs must be 40 years old or younger, looking for investment of $100,000 and under.
MEET THE NEXT GEN DRAGONS
Michael Hyatt, a self-made millionaire by age 25, is a mentor and investor in many start-ups, including the Rotman's School of Business Creative Destruction Lab and The Founders Institute.
He has built two highly successful tech firms, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, and is a recipient of the Top 40 Under 40™ award.
He chairs his family's charitable foundation, and is the Executive Chair of BlueCat, one of Canada's leading growth companies. Michael is a weekly business commentator on CBC News.
By the age of 29, Michele already had four tech companies under her belt. An e-commerce powerhouse, Michele has grown Buytopia.ca to over 2.5 million subscribers and sold her latest venture to Groupon for millions.
Michele is a serial entrepreneur who started four companies before her 29th birthday. Her latest venture, SnapSaves was acquired by the American couponing giant, Groupon for millions. Now called Snap by Groupon, her app lets you get cash back on your groceries simply by taking a picture of your receipt.
Her ecommerce venture, Buytopia, has grown to 2.5 million subscribers nabbing deals on everything from lux restaurants to spa treatments and ranked #3 on the list of fastest growing Canadian companies. She is on the list of 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada and Forbes ranked her as the top 20 most disruptive Millennials on a Mission.
Michele was previously the Director of Strategy for Sears and a Queen's Engineering and MBA grad. Fun fact: her first business was the Tea Room, a sustainable coffee shop and Evandale Caviar, a high-end sturgeon caviar company that distributed to luxury hotels.
Paul Miklas doesn't just build the dream, he lives it. Known as Canada's leading mansion builder, his own Bridle Path residence was listed as the most expensive home on the Toronto market at $30 million. A self-made millionaire, Paul has now built many exclusive mansions in the greater Toronto area.
As the son of a developer, Paul learned his way around construction sites at the early age of 13 and by 26, he founded his own business, Valleymede Building Corporation. Building basement suites and later custom homes, Valleymede has evolved into one of Canada's most prestigious high-end custom homebuilders and trusted residential and commercial developers.
Paul is committed to building elegant homes and environmentally friendly communities for growing families while supporting many worthy local and international charities.
The world of technology continues to positively impact his industry. Having started his business at an early age and knowing the effort and guidance needed to get a business off the ground, Paul has become a champion of the startup scene. He is constantly looking for young, cutting edge ventures to invest in.
Best known for creating Canada's biggest fresh food chain, Corrin started Freshii at the age of 23. Today Freshii has over 100 locations in 12 countries around the globe. Corrin also invests heavily in tech through his incubator, Fresh Startups.
While working in New York City for fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Freshii Founder & CEO Matthew Corrin noted the many fresh food ‘mom and pop' delis and was determined to successfully brand one.
At 23 years old Corrin set out to add magic to the fresh food business by creating a restaurant brand that helps people all over the world live healthier and longer lives. The mission was clear: to eliminate the excuse that people don't eat well because there's nothing convenient or affordable. In 2005, the Winnipeg native opened his first Freshii location in Toronto. Today, there are over 100 Freshii locations in over 60 cities and 12 countries worldwide.
In 2013, Matthew launched Fresh Startups, a technology accelerator to invest in young tech companies. Freshii has also partnered with Free the Children to build school kitchens and vegetable gardens in developing communities worldwide. Matthew is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year winner and a recipient of Canada's Top 40 under 40, as well as Inc. Magazine's Top 30 under 30. Matthew is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member of Invest Toronto, a public board chaired by the Mayor that promotes Toronto development.
Freshii was awarded 2013's Top Franchise of the Year in Canada and is continuing to attract high quality franchise partners, worldwide.
Matthew lives between Chicago and Toronto with his wife, two daughters, and dog. Between two young children and over two new stores opening every week of the year, Matthew is proud to have mastered the 4-hour night sleep.
Corrin also invests heavily in tech through his incubator, Fresh Startups.
WHAT IS CBC NEXT GEN DEN?
Next Gen Den is Dragons' Den for an online world. Shorter and made for mobile, Next Gen Den is a launching pad for young entrepreneurs, pitching startups and early-stage businesses to the next generation of Dragons.