In 2009 legendary angel investor Mike Volker was awarded the inaugural BC Angel Investor of the Year award. Last year the award went to the active angel investor Paul Geyer.

Now it’s time to crown the BC Angel Investor of the Year for 2011.

The Angel Forum’s Bob Chaworth-Musters has posted the criteria for the 2011 BC Angel Investor of the year award:

• An individual who has invested at least $100,000 of their own money in one or more companies (not their own) in last 12 months.
• Is recognized by his/her peers as a experienced business mentor to entrepreneurs.
• Is recognized by entrepreneurs as measurably adding value to companies
• Promotes his/her activity so as to bring new investors to the market
• Who has agreed to be nominated, is a resident of BC and attend the 30th Angel Forum
• Contributed to the knowledge base or profile of angel investing in BC
• Cannot be a previous winner

If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, or advisor, nominations are now open and can be submitted online. The BC Angel Investor of the Year will be honoured at the 30th Angel Forum in Vancouver on October 17th.

BCIC-New Ventures is excited to announce that we’re a partner of the Startup Canada Campaign.

Startup Canada is an entrepreneur-led, grassroots initiative to celebrate, inspire and accelerate enterprise in Canada through:

1. Bringing together and leveraging the capacities of the Canadian enterprise support community;
2. Catalyzing a national mainstream media campaign to increase awareness of the impact of entrepreneurs and those who support them; and,
3. Providing Canadians with an online resource to easily identify and connect with enterprise support, resources, opportunities and offerings to start and grow their ventures.

Now eight weeks into partnership-building phase, the StartUp Canada Campaign has grown to over 100 partners across Canada.

BCIC’s Cleantech Commercialization & Business Planning Workshop is an intensive, hands-on exercise which compels the entrepreneur to think critically about the true value, commercialization potential and positioning of their product idea.

Designed for new or early stage BC-based technology entrepreneurs/companies with an idea for, or in the process of building, a clean technology or clean energy company.

The workshop is taught by Mark Dance, former CFO and COO of Creo, one of BC’s most successful technology companies. Participants go through three comprehensive one-day workshops, examining critical business planning issues and key elements of product management such as: sustainable differentiation, revenue forecasts, pricing, competitive landscape, positioning and market strategy.

Upon completion of the last workshop and final project, participants are given three 1 hour one-on-one company specific mentorship sessions with Mark, valuable opportunities to further discuss, develop and gain feedback on their idea and business plan.

The workshop takes place on Friday, October 21st, October 28th, and November 4th from 9:00am to 5:00pm followed by 3 mentor sessions on Friday, November 18th, December 2nd, and December 16th. The workshop costs $269 per company (valued at $3,000) and includes 2 attendees and all materials. A third attendee may join for an additional cost of $125. The workshops maximum attendance is 8 companies.

The application deadline is Friday, September 16th. To apply or for more information, please download the application form or email Nadine Diner at BCIC. Submitted applications will be reviewed and the chosen applicants will be notified after the deadline.

For those outside of Vancouver, five $1000 travel bursaries will be awarded to select participants.

As part of TECTERRA’s mandate to support growth and opportunity for geomatics in Canada, they’re sponsoring geomatics companies/professionals to attend Wave2011 and Banff Venture Forum. Calgary’s TECTERRA is proud to be a sponsor of both events.

Each opportunity requires that you complete a very brief application form. You may apply to participate in one or both activities. Both applications are due by August 31st.

If your company is selected to participate in Wave2011 the package valued at $3,110 will include an exhibit booth, two registrations, an exhibitor presentation during the conference, and 3 nights at the Chateau Lake Louise. Apply for sponsorship to Wave2011 here.

If your company is selected to attend the Banff Venture Forum the package valued at $1,695 will include one full conference pass to the BVF and one night stay at the Banff Springs Hotel. Apply for sponsorship to the Banff Venture Forum here.

Accelerate Okanagan’s Jump:Start Challenge is an “investor-ready” pitch competition launched to support technology companies and entrepreneurs seeking to raise investment to finance their growth.

All entrants to the Jump:Start Challenge will be invited to present their pitches at an open forum, and will then have an opportunity to participate in two Pitch Workshop training sessions, at which they will be taught the “rules of pitching.”

The top 10 entrants will receive eight weeks of expert training, coaching and mentorship to improve their “pitches” and increase their chances of raising capital.mFive finalists will then present their business ideas to pre-selected members of the investment community, in Vancouver and the Okanagan. The overall winner will receive $10,000 worth of prizes; while the second and third-placed companies will receive prizes valued at $2,500 each.

Prizes for the top three companies will include free enrollment for one year in Accelerate Okanagan’s Venture Acceleration Program, which helps high potential technology companies accelerate their growth and maximize their opportunity. The winner of the Jump:Start Challenge will also receive one year’s free office space at Accelerate Okanagan’s Kelowna or Penticton innovation centres.

To enter, submit a short description of your business opportunity (one page) by August 31st.

Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) supports clean-technology projects without taking an equity stake, without requiring ownership of intellectual property or any repayment of funds.

SDTC’s aim is to increase each project’s chances of success to market and to help Canadian entrepreneurs carry out their innovation efforts within Canada. To that end, SDTC supports only those technologies that have demonstrated their potential to meet market demand and help achieve Canada’s environmental goals for reducing the effects of climate change and improving air, soil and water quality. By taking these steps, SDTC effectively de-risks clean technologies and prepares them for downstream financing.

SDTC’s SD Tech Fund is accepting Statements of Interest from August 31st to October 19th. In order to to provide prospective applicants with information regarding the application process and evaluation criteria, the SDTC Applications team will be hosting Statement of Interest (SOI) workshops across Canada.

The Vancouver workshop will take place on Friday August 19th from 9:00am – 11:00am at the SFU Segal School of Business (500 Granville Street; Room 1200-1500).

If you are interested in attending this free seminar, register online as seating is limited.

On August 16th Vancouver’s newest startup accelerator GrowLab will be opening its doors to the public and you’re invited.

You’ll also have the chance to meet GrowLab’s first cohort of five companies selected for their Fall program.

Swing by to check out their brand new space, network with Vancouver’s startup community, and enjoy some food and drinks on GrowLab.

GrowLab is located on the 2nd floor of 116 West Hastings and the open house runs from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. RSVP online as space is limited.

British Columbia’s agricultural and agri-products sector can increase its competitive edge through funding under a new innovation program to facilitate the development and adoption of innovations in the B.C. agriculture, agri-food and agri-products sector.

The Canada-B.C. Agri-Innovation Program is a new initiative funded with up to $1.5 million through the federal and provincial Growing Forward Agreement, and will enable the sector to undertake projects that lead to innovations that will enhance profitability and competitiveness, both on-farm and throughout the rest of the supply chain. Examples include projects aimed at assessing or adopting technologies on farms or in processing facilities, such as waste processing or energy efficiency.

The program is seeking proposals for projects that address stakeholder needs and are intended to assess, demonstrate or result in the advancement of product, process, or technology innovation. Where appropriate, industry cost-sharing is expected. The program is open to businesses, individuals, groups and associations. Eligible technical innovations will be new or improved products, processes, and technologies, not generally available or not widely adopted in B.C.

Proposals may be submitted immediately, with a closing date of August 5, 2011 for the first intake which will be adjudicated in September 2011. Proposals received after August 5, 2011 will be considered, up to July 13, 2012, funding permitting. All projects must be completed by March 31, 2013.

BCIC-New Ventures’ sponsor Goal Holdings is hosting an office space competition, with $12,500 in office space offers up for grabs.

To enter, tell Goal Holdings why your company needs an improved office space and how this will contribute to your business success. Make your submission by email to investments@goalholdings.com by Friday, June 10th.

This contest is open to the entire NVBC community and not restricted to current NVBC contestants. Goal Holdings will pick the 5 most qualified (based on need and merit) applicants and award them each a prize worth $2,500. The winners will be informed shortly after the deadline.

Goal Holdings Group is a private investment firm that is regionally focused on providing a range of financing solutions for early stage companies in the Vancouver market.

Vancouver is once again home to a Silicon Valley style accelerator program. GrowLab launched last week and calls itself a “startup boot camp” for entrepreneurs.

GrowLab portfolio companies will receive up to $25,000 in seed funding, four months of mentorship, free office space and the opportunity to pitch investors at the end of the program for follow-on funding. Portfolio companies will be based in Vancouver for the first three months and spend the fourth month in San Francisco.

As part of their launch, GrowLab announced they have raised money from angel and venture investors including lead partner’s BDC, iNovia Capital and the Blackberry Partners Fund, along with Rho Canada, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Growthworks, Yaletown Venture Partners, Chris Albinson, and Mike Edwards.

In addition to the $25K in seed funding, GrowLab has partnered with BDC to offer each company that successfully graduates from the program up to $150,000 in follow-on funding.

GrowLab is now accepting applications for its Fall Program. The submission deadline is June 15th and five companies will be chosen for the first cohort beginning August 15th.