Indigenous youth with a business idea but no start-up capital have the opportunity to learn about setting up a business plan and getting things rolling through a program at USask’s Edwards School of Business. Enactus is a student non-profit international organization with a chapter in Saskatoon with the goal of improving the world through business.

Local Enactus spokesperson, Leon Zhu, says one way they do that is through the Indigenous Youth Idea Challenge. Indigenous youth, ages 14 to 30, can register for a series of workshops taught by business leaders and USask faculty to help shape a business plan. The top 5 will have the chance to pitch their idea to a panel of judges at a gala next February and the winners receive startup funds with $10-thousand to be handed out that night. You can click on the link below for registration information.

One of the former winners of this challenge is Kendal Netmaker and his clothing enterprise, Neechie Gear, which gives 5 per cent of its proceeds to help under-privileged youth who want to play sports. Netmaker now has 5 businesses, many awards, is the author of the book Driven To Succeed and is an internationally known speaker.