Driving Entrepreneurship – Creating Canadian Jobs!

Driving Entrepreneurship – Creating Canadian Jobs!

CYBF surpasses two significant milestones – supported 5,000 young entrepreneurs and spurring the creation of 20,000 jobs

May 8, 2012 – Toronto, ON – In its last fiscal quarter, the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) has achieved and surpassed two significant milestones: successfully supporting more than 5,000 young entrepreneurs and spurring the creation of more than 20,000 jobs since its inception in 1996. More specifically, as of March 31, 2012, CYBF supported 5,133 entrepreneurs and 20,183 jobs, in 1,414 communities across Canada. This success is the result of CYBF’s strong relationships with its partners, its network of 4,000 dedicated volunteers and its world-class mentoring program.

Through a proven and ever-evolving program, CYBF provides young and emerging entrepreneurs with the opportunity to turn their dreams of building their own business into a reality. The CYBF’s programs consist of pre-launch and post-launch coach, financing, mentoring and online business resources. CYBF’s network of 185 community partners across Canada helps deliver programs.

“I really enjoyed the approach with the community partners. It gave me the opportunity to sit across the desk from someone and ask the questions I needed. The mentorship program also gives me one-on-one time with an experienced business person, who has dealt with similar challenges, which makes me more confident in my decision making.” explains Kyle Williams, Co-owner, KTM Services Group, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; entered CYBF program in February, 2012. “I am finding that CYBF provides practical “real world” solutions and direction to challenges I face as a young entrepreneur. I like the focus on the importance of a solid business plan – laying out what you want to do really helps identify issues before they can become big problems.”

“The on-going success of CYBF proves this organization is, undoubtedly, a leader of youth entrepreneurship in Canada and in helping to drive success for similar organizations around the world,” said John Risley, Chairman of CYBF. “The tireless efforts of the entire CYBF team across the country, have led to a high number of successful young entrepreneurs, many of whom have built significant businesses. Entrepreneurs are the backbone of the Canadian economy, creating vital jobs and growth. CYBF is providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed, a mission it has been pursuing for the past sixteen years.”

The businesses that CYBF helps start-up are from across all industries, from high-tech to Main Street to agricultural. The young entrepreneurs starting these businesses choose to succeed with CYBF due to the strong reputation and the network of affiliates and partners across Canada.

“In order to be a successful entrepreneur, it’s critical to build a network of supporters. CYBF, in turn, fosters the growth of the entrepreneurial community, by bringing together entrepreneurs, mentors, and resources,” explains Bryan McCrea, President and CEO, 3twenty Solutions Inc., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who got support from CYBF starting in February 2012. “Additionally, one of the compelling reasons I had to work with the CYBF is the opportunity to represent Saskatchewan at the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit in Mexico. I am looking forward to working with other entrepreneurs from around the world to raise the profile of entrepreneurship and discuss how innovative business can move the world forward.”

On the international stage, CYBF is:

• The Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international, weeklong celebration of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship, globally managed by the Kauffman Foundation
• The Canadian member of Youth Business International, a global network of independent non-profit initiatives helping young people to start and grow their own business and create employment, created by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales
• Founder of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit and a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance.

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Canadian Youth Business Foundation – Canada’s Entrepreneur Gateway

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is the ‘go to’ place for youth entrepreneurship. As a national organization, we are dedicated to growing Canada’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. We look at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business. CYBF is the founder of G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit (G20 YES) and founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance (G20 YEA). For more information, visit www.cybf.ca.

For more information, contact:

Nicolee Tattersall
Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Office: 416.408.2923 ext. 2208
Cell: 647.405.2923
ntattersall@cybf.ca