ABBOTSFORD – Budding entrepreneurs looking to turn their brainstorms into reality are being invited to access a new resource at the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV).

The Entrepreneurship and Process Innovation/Incubation Centre or EPIIC for short, has partnered with the Canada Discovery Foundation to provide funding and expertise to Fraser Valley residents in search of consultation and resources to take their business from vision to reality.

UFV and EPIIC welcome business proposals from all interested individuals and organizations residing in the Fraser Valley including current and former UFV students, young entrepreneurs, and small to medium size businesses.

Proposals will be evaluated by a panel comprised of faculty members from the UFV School of Business, representatives from the Discovery Foundation, and community stakeholders.

Priority will be given to proposals focusing on areas of high potential growth such as internet-related activities and initiatives, high-tech ventures, and information technology-related concepts. EPIIC will give preference to projects with low environmental impact, high scalability, a minimal amount of operational inventory, and the possibility of an immediate global market.

Winning proposals will be provided capital and expertise and will be incubated to commercialization. The originator of the concept or business will retain primary ownership in the project.

The first round of proposals will be assessed January 2016. Consultation and the incubation of the winning proposals will start later in the new year.

Proposals should be submitted with the following elements included:

1. Your first, middle, and last name
2. The name of your organization and type of existing entity. For example, is your business a sole proprietorship, an incorporated business, or conceptual at this stage?
3. Your mailing address
4. Your business phone number
5. Your email address
6. A one page description of the proposed business concept
7. A brief explanation of how the concept can contribute to the economic diversification of the Fraser Valley
8. A summary of the type of resources required and expected (financial support, business expertise, human capital, etc.)
9. A brief statement outlining the long term sustainability of the project
10. A description of the expected profitability of the venture in the first year and the size of the anticipated target market

Please submit your proposal by January 15, 2016 by email to Mike Ivanof, Associate Professor, School of Business at epiic@ufv.ca