What is the QEC?

The Queen's Entrepreneurs' Competition is the largest international undergraduate business plan competition in Canada. Under the management of the Queen’s School of Business undergraduate students, the QEC exists to foster innovation and provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the opportunities they need to turn their ideas into reality. The Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition gives competitors the chance to collaborate and network, develop their business ideas, and receive the support they need to launch their plans successfully.

Now entering its 25th year, the Queen's Entrepreneurs' Competition brings together the brightest young entrepreneurs from around the world to compete for $25,000 in cash prizes. The QEC has received business plan submissions from as far as Australia, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Scotland, South Africa, India, Singapore, Portugal, Sweden, the Philippines, the U.S. and across Canada. The eighteen teams who make it past the preliminary business plan grading will have the opportunity attend the final weekend in Kingston, and to present their plans to Canada's leading business professionals. The QEC final weekend will be taking place from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, January 19, 2013.

The Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition prides itself on the incredible judge to competitor ratio of 1:2 which provides a tremendous networking opportunity. In addition to the multitude of high profile judges we have hosted, we regularly welcome knowledgeable and engaging speakers. Some past speakers and judges include: Bryan Pearson, President of Loyalty One; Neil Hetherington, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Toronto; John Sleeman, founder and CEO of Sleeman Breweries; Brett Wilson, formerly of CBC’s The Dragons’ Den; and Ron Bremner, former CEO of the Calgary Flames. The eighteen teams who make it to the final weekend will have the opportunity to network with inspiring individuals and receive feedback about their business plans.

The QEC is well-known internationally, and the New York Times hails it as “one of the longest-running and best-known undergraduate business plan competitions in the world”. As the Queen’s Entrepreneurs’ Competition enters its 25th anniversary, it promises to be the best yet!