Business Community Supports Breakthru With $185,000

Twelve business organizations have joined ranks with the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation (NBIF) with an additional $185,000 in support of the Breakthru Business Plan Competition.  Together with NBIF's cash investments, the prize packages for the competition have reached an all-time high.

Financial support comes in the form of professional services for the three award recipients, in addition to cash and in-kind support for the competition itself.

“When we created Breakthru, our aim was to put up a prize attractive enough to uncover the best of the province's talent and ideas, » says NBIF President and CEO Calvin Milbury, “thanks to the generous support of our business partners the award recipients will be able to hit the ground running in a serious way. »

Deadline for submissions is January 10, 2011. If you know someone with an innovative idea that's ready to start and grow a new business, tell them about Breakthru. Helping us lets you help them too, just by spreading the word.

Participants chosen for the second round will attend NBIF's Breakthru Bootcamp. Sponsored by the New Brunswick Securities Commission, the one-day session prepares participants for the submission of their business plan. In the end, six finalists will be chosen to present to the Breakthru Selection Committee on March 16th.  NBIF and presenting partner Cox & Palmer will announce the grand and two second prize recipients at the Breakthru Gala Dinner held that same day.