What is the Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge?
The Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge (CEC) is more than a competition; it is an opportunity to build on your dream. It is a business plan writing competition designed and targeted toward new or existing business (individuals, or teams) who have a sustainable business idea. Through the program you will gain business skills, write your business plan, get feedback on your ideas from regional professionals, network with key people including other entrepreneurs like yourself, and last but not least, have a chance at winning cash and in-kind prizes. Due to the amazing support from our sponsors, we are able to offer both a general and a technology stream.
BUILD A PLAN, CHALLENGE YOURSELF, LIVE YOUR DREAM!

Key Dates

Prizes
(2) Grand Prizes
$10,000 Cash + More in-kind prizes
(4) Runner-Up Prizes
$2,500 Cash + More in-kind prizes
The skills you’ll gain
- Strategic Thinking 25%
- Business Plan Writing 50%
- Presenting Ideas 75%
- Putting Ideas Into Action 100%
Winners of the 15th Annual Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge
View our winners of the 2019 Challenge & read their stories. We’ve seen many unique businesses over the years, could your idea be next?
FAQs
1) When is the registration deadline?
2) Is there a cost to enter the program?
3) Who is eligible to participate in Chinook Entrepreneur Challenge?
a) Individuals (18 and older) or teams (one member must be 18 years or older), new or existing business owners, students, researchers, or anyone with a sustainable business plan or concept. Sustainability of the business or concept will be determined in the absolute and sole unfettered discretion of the Organizing Committee and/or Judges.
b) Teams must be living, working or attending school in the Challenge Region (see handbook page 14).
c) Teams must have one member designated as the Team Leader. Team Leader will be the primary contact person for the team, be of legal age (18 years or older), and will be responsible for all communications to and from the CEC on behalf of his or her team.
d) An existing business will have been in operation for five (5) years. A new business will have been in operation for less than five (5) years.
e) Existing and new businesses, as defined in d) above, must not exceed $500,000 in annual revenues; have 20 or fewer full and part time employees, and have a capitalization between $10,000 and $500,000.
f) The proposed business must be located in the Challenge Region (see handbook page 14).
g) All business plans must be submitted no later than 2:00 p.m. on the date published in the Participant Handbook to be eligible.
Ineligible to participate for prizes
A participant is able to participate in the CEC, but is ineligible to compete for prizes if he or she:
a) does not meet all the eligibility requirements;
b) is a member of the CEC Organizing Committee, Screener or Judge (or any partner or business associate of a Screener or Judge), staff member (or staff equivalent), or any of the immediate family of the above who are on a team, is a mentor in the current competition year or operates with some formal business relationship with a Participant;
c) solicits a Judge(s) directly or indirectly, in which case the Participant will be disqualified;
d) has won first place in the CEC in the past five (5) years;
e) exhibits conduct which is unlawful, would reflect poorly on the reputation of the CEC, is harmful with malicious intent to any of the sponsors in any way, or for any other reason at the discretion of the Organizing Committee;
i) does not meet the submission guidelines as published in the handbook (see page 21);
ii) does not have a signed Participant Agreement/Non-Disclosure Agreement or Submission Checklist;
iii) does not agree to the terms and conditions outlined in this handbook.
4) Will my plan remain confidential after judging?
5) How does the participant / team system work?
Competitors are those individuals or teams submitting a business plan on the date published in the Participant Handbook.
All participants (teams, individuals and competitors) must be registered before the date published in the Participant Handbook to be eligible to submit a business plan for judging.