FastStart DC winners learn how to change the world

From February 18 to February 20, 11 students from Durham College (DC) and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) travelled to the Starting Point Student Entrepreneurship Conference at St. Mary’s University in Halifax, NS. The theme of this year’s conference was “Revolutionary Ideas Change the World.”

 The students attended the conference after entering and winning a contest sponsored by the DC and UOIT Student Association (SA), in partnership with FastStart DC. Entrants had to creatively demonstrate a desire to learn about entrepreneurship or share how they aspired to start their own business. Winners were selected to attend the conference by a panel of experts.

 The winners were:

  • Vicky Bolduc, Entrepreneurship, DC
  • Jeremy Coulis, Entrepreneurship, DC
  • Andrea Di Nardo Sports Business Management, DC
  • Jordan Ella, Biotechnology, DC
  • Manija Farhat, Business Administration, DC
  • Marco Lo, Commerce (Marketing), UOIT
  • Faisal Mirza, Electrical Engineering, UOIT
  • Ivanko Nimtsiv, Human Resources Management, DC
  • Andrew Eric Prandovszky, Electro-mechanical Engineering Technology, DC
  • Christian Schortemeyer, Business Administration Marketing, DC
  • Hatim Yousef, Mechanical Engineering, UOIT

 While in Halifax DC’s students made a big impact, with attendee Christian Schortemeyer winning $1,000 total; $500 for best entrepreneurial idea at the conference and $500 for being part of a winning team who presented the best idea for solving student debt. DC’s Jordan Ella also won $500 for being part of that team.

“It was truly an inspirational and life changing experience,” said Ella. “The conference opened my eyes to a world of opportunity that I had never considered. My plans for the future have been dramatically challenged after being so inspired during my time in Halifax.”

FastStart is designed to increase entrepreneurial skills and awareness while also helping students create solid business plans that take their products and services to market – quickly and successfully. It offers progressive programs and provides the tools and resources to connect students with industry leaders and mentors to help them succeed.