Description
Recognizes young entrepreneurs who exemplify the qualities of effective leadership, innovatively applied know-how, and excellent potential for growth. Young Entrepreneurs find new and inventive ways to fix problems and show a great deal of social savviness. They are opportunity grabbers, passionate about innovation and progress.
Requirements
Specific Qualifications
To be a valid entry in the Young Entrepreneur Award of Distinction, your business must:
- Be operational in Alberta for a minimum of 1 fiscal year
- Aged 25 and under
- Demonstrate how they have used their skills to build a successful, sustainable, and blooming business that is rare for their age.
- Demonstrate that they have played a direct and primary role in the planning and establishment of the business, and currently be operating it in a leadership capacity
- Demonstrate sound potential for growth and success
General Eligibility:
Judging is complete anonymously, so your submission must also be completed anonymously to support the judging process. Companies must NOT use their company name when responding to short answer questions.
To be a valid entry in the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, your business must(at the time of both nomination and awards presentation):
- Be actively operating in Alberta
- Employ Albertans to produce goods and/or provide services
- Must be a member in good standing of a local chamber of commerce in Alberta (proof of membership required)
Contact your local chamber to become a member. - Not have won in the same category in the last three award cycles (e.g. a 2022 winner is eligible again in 2026)
- Not have anyone in your management, on your board, or in your employ serving on the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction judging committee for the category
- If you are a non-profit organization, no more than 30% of annual revenue can be directly funded by Government envelopes. This does not apply to regular procurement.
- Financial Statements submission
Sample Financial Summary Statement- Applicants must submit financial statements as part of the application process.
- Financial information is requested only to confirm that applicants represent actively operating businesses. Financial statements are not used as part of the judging criteria.
- To protect applicant confidentiality:
- Financial information is reviewed only during the eligibility verification stage
- Application materials are treated as strictly confidential
- Individuals involved in administering the awards process are required to sign confidentiality agreements
- There is no minimum profit threshold required.
- Applicants do not need to submit detailed financial statements with every line item. A high-level financial summary showing overall income and expenses is sufficient. If necessary, sensitive line-item details may be redacted, provided the financial summary clearly reflects overall business activity.
- Interim financial statements may be accepted if they reflect the most recent financial position of the business.
- If a company operates nationally or globally, financial statements may be submitted as they are normally filed. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to provide context related to Alberta operations.
