-->
In The News
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Micro-lending at Metro State
Denver Daily
July 9th, 2009Micro-lending has become a new trend among higher-education institutions, according to Jackowski. The program allows educational facilities to provide financing for community and student start-ups.
Alex Shipillo, who runs the Impact Entrepreneurship Group, said micro-lending is a great way to encourage entrepreneurship.
“I think it’s really important because this is the first recession that we’re facing in our generation and the most successful companies are the ones that are the most entrepreneurial,” he said. “I think that’s why we’re seeing in the last year or so a huge rise of people who are starting their own ventures, and I think that teaching that as young as possible is important.”
The loans from the Center for Innovation and RMMFI will range from $250-$1,000 and be distributed once a quarter. The loans will be for six months and have 9-percent interest rate.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Alex Shipillo Named Top 20 Under 20
Globe and Mail
June 3rd, 2009Through Impact, Alex also developed the Microcredit Competition (http://microcredit.impact.org), which provides teams of high-school students from across Canada with a $100 loan and one week to generate as much revenue as possible for a charity of their choice. In 2008, it raised $15,000 through 35 schools; next year, Alex is hoping 500 schools will participate.
“It’s very inspiring for students to know that they’re capable of taking an idea and turning it into reality,” says Alex, who has just finished his third year studying sciences at UBC and hopes to start his own business one day. “Youth engagement is about more than just learning at school,” he says. “It’s about supporting and inspiring them.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Recessions Breed New Generation of Entrepreneurs
The National Post
Impact Entrepreneurship Group is flourishing since the economy soured. “There’s been a significant increase in interest,” says Kunal Gupta, who founded Impact in 2004 while attending Ontario’s University of Waterloo. “There are opportunities in the market for young entrepreneurs that would not be seen in a good economy.”
In the past year, Impact - which bills itself as Canada’s largest, non-profit student-run organization - opened offices in Calgary and Vancouver. Its programs target university and high school students and include a national annual conference, an entrepreneurship week campaign, a leadership summit and a Microcredit Competition that gets underway later this month for which teams of students from 200 high schools receive $100 to launch a business idea and make as much money for charity as possible within a week.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Being in Touch with Technology Proves to be Edge
Financial Post
Kunal Gupta is chief executive of Toronto-based Polar Mobile (polarmobile.com), which provides traditional publishers and advertisers access to Smartphone users. Mr. Gupta tells the Financial Post what motivated him to become an entrepreneur.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Impact Past President Wins 40 Under 40
The Record
Teaching kids not to lose their vision but to follow through with their dreams is essential to the future of entrepreneurship, says Ray Cao.
The president of Impact Entrepreneurship Group, which exposes youth from all backgrounds and demographics to the importance of leadership, says entrepreneurship is “as fundamental as math and science.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Bigger Deficit
PROFIT
If Canada is to stay fiscally fit in the future, the surplus we really need is in good young entrepreneurs…
Click Here for Full Article
Improving Canada’s business DNA
Metro News Canada
Tough economic times call for innovation and creativity. That’s why a recession might be the perfect time to think about starting your own business, say some of the country’s business leaders...
Click Here for full Article
York House students take entrepreneur award
Vancouver Sun
Six Grade 11 students from Vancouver’s York House School have won a nationwide competition for budding entrepreneurs...
Click Here for full Article
‘Windsor Apprentice’ has everything but Trump
Windsor Star
The only thing missing from the city hall board room on Tuesday was Donald Trump. In honour of Canada’s first entrepreneurship week, the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee held the first Windsor Apprentice...
Click Here for full Article
Do something ‘cutting edge’: InnoVasion event aims to inspire youth
The Province
Alex Shipillo figures anyone can be a good entrepreneur without having to own a business. It’s about making your own rules, being creative and inspiring those around you....
Click Here for full Article
Making an Impact
Imprint
When he first heard of the Impact Entrepreneurship Group, Aditya Shah, was drawn to the entrepreneurial vision Impact. Three years later, he wants to share the opportunity for others to realize their own dreams...
Click Here for full Article
CBC Dragons’ Den
October 30th, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
University of Waterloo Alumni Newsletter
October 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Metro News Canada
October 20th, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron Warrior
September 2nd, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Charlatan
October 2nd, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississauga Business Times
September 29th, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange Magazine
January/February 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Record
November 20th, 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron Warrior
November 14th, 2008----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilfred Laurier School of Business and Economics Student Council
September 20th, 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Record
September 19th, 2007----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROFIT
2006----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windsor Star
2006