1. OSEntrependre Challenge
mobilize| promote| inspire

2. Presentation
The OSEntreprendre Challenge is a major entrepreneuship contest that has been taking place at the local, regional and provincial levels for 19 years. Through its Student Entrepreneurship Division, which recognizes young people from elementary school all the way through to university, and its Business Creation division, which supports new entrepreneurs, the Challenge draws more than participants each year. It can count on over 350 representatives to help implement it throughout Québec’s 17 regions. This is a key ingredient in its success! The OSEntreprendre Challenge is the main activity of the OSEntreprendre corporation, which implements initiatives to MOBILIZE a large network of partners to PROMOTE entrepreneurial initiatives in order to INSPIRE more people to believe in themselves and rise to the Challenge.

3. Mission
To inspire entrepreneurship in order to build a proud, innovative, committed and prosperous Québec.

4. Vision
To become a symbol of mobilization and to help people discover their passion.

5. Why make entrepreneurship a part of education?
Incorporating an entrepreneurial approach into education is a powerful pedagogical tool. Entrepreneurial experimentation, in particular, contributes to the students’ construction of identity, feeling of competence, sense of direction, feeling of belonging, motivation and educational success. Some 90% of the teachers using this approach state that it makes class management easier and teaching more fun.

6. Intervention Tools Education in Entrepreneurial Culture
Manon Théberge © OSEntreprendre

7. What is the OSEntreprendre Challenge :
Act on three intervention tools : testing, recognition and self-affirmation!
More than $ for prizewinners throughout Québec.
More than half of that amount is given in REGIONAL prizes all over the 17 regions of Québec. In
12 provincial prizes in Sudent Entrepreneurship Division
20 provincial prizes in Business creation Division
1 prize for Regional Commitment

8. Clients Two major project divisions : Student Entrepreneurship
Business Creation

9. Student Entrepreneurship

10. Student Entrepreneurship
By carrying out, with school staff, projects that place them at the heart of the action, young people can transform their lives! Whether they start from the age of 6 with a community garden, or at university with the launch of a new app, they can use the Challenge to promote their best initiatives, enjoy the benefits of greater self-esteem and a sense of identity, and feel more motivated to stay in school. Over 38 000 students opt for this every year by deciding to learn through doing.

11. Student Entrepreneurship Eligible projects
Entrepreneurial projects done as school or extracurricular projects and completed over the course of the year between June 2016 to June Most project activities must have begun before the application deadline of March 14, 2017, so that the development of the students’ entrepreneurial values can be evaluated and validated.

12. Student Entrepreneurship Eligible Applicants
The Student Entrepreneurship division of the OSEntreprendre Challenge is open to residents of Québec enrolled in a public or private educational institution recognized by the ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur, such as :
an elementary or secondary school, a vocational training centre or an adult education centre;
a college (or an affiliated centre);
a university (or an affiliated centre);
a government school;
any educational institution recognized by the MEES.
All the registered participants must be students as described above.

13. Student Entrepreneurship Categories
Elementary Cycle One (Elementary 1 and 2) One or more people
Elementary Cycle Two (Elementary 3 and 4) One or more people
Elementary Cycle Three (Elementary 5 et 6) One or more people
Secondary Cycle One (Secondary I and II) One or more people
Secondary Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV andV) One or more people
Secondary school – Special Education One or more people
Vocational Training and Adult Education One or more people
College – Individual and Small Group One to three people
College – Group Four or more people
University – Individual and Small Group One to three people
University – Group Four or more people

14. Student Entrepreneurship Evaluation Criteria
Projects are evaluated according to the following criteria :
Project description
Steps involved in carrying out the project
Mobilization
Impact
Scope
Originality and innovation
Overall assessment of the project

15. Student Entrepreneurship Entering the Challenge
Carry out an entrepreneurial project as a school or extracurricular project.
Fill out the online entry form on the OSEntreprendre web site
When the online entry form is complete, officially submit the project to the Challenge before the deadline.
Once the registration form has been sent, the local representative will ensure that it is complete, that the project corresponds to the definition of an entrepreneurial project and that it respects the eligibility rules. If it is, the project will then be considered by the jury members using the official evaluation criteria.

16. Student Entrepreneurship MEES Introduction to Entrepreneurship Measure
In order to encourage and support projects that foster entrepreneurial culture and the spirit of entrepreneurship in general education in the youth and adult sector, the MEES provides educational institutions with financial assistance through its Introduction to Entrepreneurship Measure (IEM) :
Option 1 : Entrepreneurial Spirit - elementary and secondary school, as well as in adult education. Projects can be carried out in school or as an extracurricular activity;
Option 2 : Entrepreneurship Spirit – vocational training centers, as an extracurricular activity.
The OSEntreprendre Challenge is not directly associated with the IEM, or mandated to disseminate information regarding it. For additional information on the two IEM options and the related funding, please contact the person responsible for this matter in your school or in your school board.

17. Student Entrepreneurship Prizes at the Provincial Level
Categorie Prize
Elementary Cycle One (Elementary 1 and 2) $
Elementary Cycle Two (Elementary 3 and 4) $
Elementary Cycle Three (Elementary 5 et 6) $
Secondary Cycle One (Secondary I and II) $
Secondary Cycle Two (Secondary III, IV and V) $
Secondary school – Special Education $
Vocational Training and Adult Education $
College - Individual and Small Group $
College - Group $
University - Individual and Small Group $
University – Group $

18. Business Creation

19. Business Creation
Bold and determined, participants flourish and further the development of their regions by founding new businesses. Whether they create these businesses on their own or with others, their contribution is critical to building an innovative, committed and prosperous Québec. A source of pride, OSEntreprendre gives the new entrepreneurs who take part in the Challenge each year an opportunity to improve the visibility of their project, win prizes, broaden their network and express themselves!

20. Business Creation Eligible Businesses
Business projects or businesses that did not take in any sales revenue before April 1, 2016, which is to say that they had no orders or contracts, either underway or completed, whether or not payment was received before that date.
Projects designed to create a new business in Québec to be launched no later than December 31, 2017.

21. Business Creation Eligible Applicants
Any adult or group of adults 18 years of age or over, residing in Québec and holding Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status is eligible for the Business Creation division of the OSEntreprendre Challenge. An entrepreneur or team of entrepreneurs may enter only one project in the Business Creation division in one category in any given year.

22. Business Creation Categories
Bio-Food
Business Operation, Processing, Production
Commerce
Services to Individuals
Services to Companies
Social Economy
Technological and Technical Innovation

23. Business Creation Evaluation Criteria
Applications will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:
the market analysis
the marketing plan
the operational plan
the funding plan
the entrepreneurial profile of the promoter(s)
the overall assessment of the project

24. Business Creation Prizes at the Provincial Level
A first prize of $ and a second prize of $5 000 will be awarded in each of the seven official categories:
Bio-Food
Business Operation, Processing, Production
Commerce
Services to Individuals
Services to Companies
Social Economy
Technological and Technical Innovation

25. Business Creation Special Prize
Provincial level :
Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge Grand Prize : $
People's Choice Prize : A prize worth up to $5 000 and offering the advantage of high visibility

26. Business Creation Entering the Challenge
Fill out the online entry form on the OSEntreprendre website
Include a photograph and a business plan.
When the online entry form is complete, officially submit the project to the Challenge before the deadline.
Once the registration form has been submitted, the local representative will ensure that it is complete and that the project is eligible for the Challenge. If it is, the project will then be considered by the jury members using the official evaluation criteria.

27. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization

28. Active Throughout Québec
350 local and regional representatives in Québec’s 17 administrative regions
Each region has an organizing committee that includes representatives of the Centre local de développement, the Société d’aide au développement des collectivités, the Carrefour jeunesse-emploi, school boards, colleges and universities, regional offices of Québec ministries, chambers of commerce, etc.

29. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization Levels
Local Level:
Student Entrepreneurship
Territory under the jurisdiction of a school board;
Private schools, government schools, colleges and universities.
Business Creation
Local responsability may be shared between the educational institutions and economic development organizations in a given geographic territory within their administrative region.

30. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization Levels
Regional Level:
Each of the 17 administrative regions of Québec corresponds to a regional level and coordinates both the Student Entrepreneurship division and the Business Creation division.
Provincial Level :
The provincial level organizers are the OSEntreprendre Challenge permanent staff.

31. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization Local Representative
Action plan:
mobilize actors to promote the OSEntreprendre Challenge;
support applications;
validate that the applications meet the OSEntreprendre Challenge criteria;
organize the local juries;
identify the winning projects using the Portal of the website;
send a thank-you letter to participants who are not selected (a form letter is available in the Tool Box);
give the local prizewinners the recognition tools provided by the provincial organisation
give a certificate to local prizewinners (use the sample provided in the Tool Box).

32. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization Regional Representative
Action plan:
take part in the two official meetings for regional representatives;
coordinate the activities of the local representatives;
promote the OSEntreprendre Challenge and organize a regional launch ceremony;
find sponsors and provide a budget;
form the regional juries;
name the prizewinners using the Portal of the website;
organize a regional gala;
give to the regional prizewinners a certificate and the recognition tools provided by the provincial organization;
publicly announce the regional winners;
collaborate in inviting the finalists for the interviews at the provincial level;
collaborate in sending out invitations for the Desjardins Grand Prize Gala;
produce a final report on activities.

33. OSEntreprendre Challenge Organization Provincial Level
Action plan:
provide support for the activities at the local and regional levels;
seek provincial sponsors;
draw up the provincial communication plan;
organize training sessions when necessary for the local and regional representatives;
coordinate and ensure compliance with regulations;
update promotional and organizational tools;
organize the provincial juries;
organize the Desjardins Grand Prize Gala in June.

34. Juries

35. Juries Local and Regional Juries select :
For Student Entrepreneurship Division
One project per category and one additional project for every 20 applications, for all categories.
For Business Creation Division
One project per category and one additional project for every 15 applications, for all categories.

36. Juries Provincial Jury select: For Student Entrepreneurship Division
One grand-prize winner per category
For Business Creation Division
Two winners (1st and 2nd place) per category

37. Partners