All You Need is an Idea
LIBI Fund - Leaders, Innovators, and Big Ideas
The LIBI fund is an initiative designed to launch leaders, innovators, and big ideas into the ecosystem. Through the LIBI fund, the goal is to get 20-25 tech enabled entrepreneurs/ideas off the ground in the YYC Innovation Community by providing access to resources & programming through the financial support of the LIBI fund.
Acceptance is subject to approval from the selection committee and availability of the applicants to attend all the available training dates provided. Entrepreneurs have six weeks to explore their idea, seek support from the Rainforest community, and formulate a go-forward plan they can pitch to the Rainforest community.
Entrepreneurs with a new idea are able to apply for the program to support the ideation phase (-2) in their journey.
- Applications Open: October 19, 2020
- Applications Close: November 1, 2020
- Notification of Acceptance: November 5, 2020
Acceptance is subject to approval from the selection committee and availability of the applicants to attend all the available training dates provided. Entrepreneurs have six weeks to explore their idea, seek support from the Rainforest community, and formulate a go-forward plan they can pitch to the Rainforest community.
Entrepreneurs with a new idea are able to apply for the program to support the ideation phase (-2) in their journey.
What each entrepreneur receives:
Total Value: $250 per person
Program Requirements:
Schedule / Timeline:
Matrix / Criteria for Being selected:
Application Form Questions:
- Three Nicerr Credits for Advice/Coaching
- Dedicated LIBI fund StartUp 101, Customer 101, and Customer 201 programs from StartUp Calgary/Platform
- Access to either Sales Kickstarter or Marketing Kickstarter from 321 Growth Academy
Total Value: $250 per person
Program Requirements:
- Have a new technology or tech enabled innovation idea in the ‘ideating’ phase.
- Not currently in business or have done any programming with this new idea.
- Are a member of the Rainforest community (aka signed the social contract).
- Application to the selection committee (to be convened).
- Present their idea/concept to the community (Rainforest dedicated event).
- Ability to attend ALL the program sessions listed in the schedule/timeline.
- If the idea fails to progress, the entrepreneur commits to telling their learning journey.
- Register their business on the Start Alberta platform.
- Commit to being tracked on the progress of their idea for up to two years.
Schedule / Timeline:
- November 10-18: Participate in Sales Kickstarter or Marketing Kickstarter online
- November 9-December 11: Use three Nicerr credits
- Thursday November 12, 5:00-6:30pm: StartUp 101
- Wednesday November 18, 3:00-4:00pm: Idea Pitch to the Community (part of Calgary Innovation Week)
- Thursday November 26, 5:00-6:30pm: Customer 101
- Thursday December 3, 5:00-6:30pm: Customer 201
- Monday December 7, 5:00-6:30: Ask Me Anything with 321 Growth Academy
- Wednesday December 16, 3:00-4:00: Report back to the community
Matrix / Criteria for Being selected:
- Tech enabled innovation idea
- Coachability
- Agility & drive / tenacity
- Passion (reasons for starting the business)
- Merit of the idea based on methodology
- Prepare a short brief describing their idea and ability to deliver / requirements to take their idea forward
- Ability to commit to the timeline a bove
Application Form Questions:
- I am solving the following problem, my idea is…
- The technology I want to make use of is...
- I need the following support from the community (eg legal, sales, leadership development, co-founders, etc)
- I commit to receiving help from the community (Yes/No)
- I commit to telling my story (Yes/No)
- I commit to being followed by the RF community (Yes/No)
- I can attend all the required dates (Yes/No)
