Celebrating "next-gen" entrepreneurs at the Jose Lam Startup Event

Top winner "Grow Up" team poses with Minister Gerry Byrne and Navigate manager Allison Rowe

Getting back to an in-person Jose Lam Startup Event for 2021 proved to be a great success.

Navigate hosted the 2.5-day event for entrepreneurs in memory of Dr. Jose Lam — the weekend was filled with creativity, fun, and many fantastic ideas from participants. Navigate encouraged all that partook to adopt Dr. Lam's well-loved and inspirational can-do attitude, resulting in the teams developing a variety of carefully crafted and creatively thought-out ideas in the short amount of time given.

"We could not be more impressed with the great business ideas and quality pitches that the teams delivered," said Allison Rowe, manager, Navigate. "Bravo to everyone who threw their hat in the ring for a job well done. Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to all who participated, sponsored, and contributed to the Jose Lam Startup Event. We love to see ideas flowing and entrepreneurs thriving!"

On Sunday, the top five teams presented their final pitches. A panel of judges had the tough decision of choosing the top three teams. The winners were:

The top award went to "next-gen" entrepreneurs Ezra Hengeveld, 12, brother Silas, 14, their father, Robert, and team member Chris Watton of Corner Brook. The foursome rocked the event, taking first prize for their startup "Grow Up: Growing Greens and Entrepreneurs." The Hengeveld brothers, and their sister Juniper, 9, came up with the idea for the hydroponic produce business about six months ago.

"The Jose Lam Startup event gave us the opportunity to present our business plan and show the judges that our idea was ready to go," said Silas.

The initial plan is to grow basil in their home — 144 hydroponic plants using the nutrient filter technique (NFT) — with a view to expanding the produce options over time. The siblings have already had interest from a local grocery store and several restaurants. Eventually, they hope to introduce lettuce, spinach, lemon grass and other herbs to their operation.

"It was a cool experience to hear everyone's ideas and to meet new people," said Ezra, adding that Allison Rowe of Navigate and Carla May, startup business advisor with NLOWE, were great supports during the event. "This is their thing," said their dad, Robert Hengeveld. "Their mother, Marcia, and I are here to help with the technical stuff, but otherwise it's their idea, their business."

It took a lot more than just participants to make the event run smoothly. Mentors, coaches, volunteers, judges and sponsors all pitched in to ensure a fantastic weekend. Mentors for the event included Carla May (NLOWE), Rob Thomas (Qalipu), Ken Carter (Grenfell Office of Engagement and Research), Mark Tierney (ACOA), Dr. Billy Newell (Grenfell business program), Linda Spingle (IENL/Study & Stay).

Coaches included Dr. Jacqueline Walsh (legal support), Lynn and Allan Kendall (tourism and business support), Denise Gibbons (business support), Grant Wheeler (sales and marketing), Jon Paulse (sales and marketing), and pitch coach Carole Spicer (Spicer Facilitation and Learning).

The judges for the event were Tobi Biggin (CBDC Humber), Tony Joyce (RBC), Brent Decker (IET), Dustin Parsons (Marble Mountain & Steady Entertainment) and Dr. Ian Sutherland (VP Grenfell Campus).

Generous prizes were provided by a number of sponsors:

Navigate launched the Dr. Jose Lam Startup Event in 2019 in commemoration of Dr. Lam's many valued contributions to community engagement, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning in rural communities of Western Newfoundland. Dr. Lam passed away in March 2019. Dr. Lam's research interests included the fields of entrepreneurship, small business management, family business and regional economic development.

The Navigate Program is made possible thanks to generous funding from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the NL provincial government's Department of Industry, Energy and Technology.

For more information about Navigate, visit navigatesmallbusiness.ca.