HUMBOLDT — A Saskatoon-based competition aimed at encouraging women in business could be adapted to aid Humboldt’s economic development, said one of its founders.
Jill Sauter, who’s with Seeds for Dreams, spoke at Community Futures Sagehill’s annual general meeting on June 20.
“We were a group of friends and we decided that we wanted to support female business owners in our community,” she said. “We just decided that we liked the idea of pitching, like a Dragon's Den show.”
The pitching event is held quarterly.
“We have four businesses pitch at the event,” Sauter said. “The members who are present, they vote on the pitch that they like the best. Whichever business gets the most votes gets a $100 cheque from every member of our organization.”
There are usually around 80 to 85 members at each event. Those who sign up to donate must sign up for four events.
Seeds for Dreams has no bank account. The money is transferred from a member to the winner directly, whether it’s a cheque in an envelope or an e-transfer. Neither are the members buying a piece of a business, which would introduce various legal complications.
Those pitching at the event must be women-owned or -led, be in business for a year and headquartered in Saskatchewan.
To adapt the event to meet Humboldt’s need, Sauter said those criteria can be changed.
“They could use create criteria that would encourage people with business startups, or if they have an issue like revitalizing Main Street or supporting young entrepreneurs, they could make that a criteria.”
Using the Main Street example, the criteria could require those competing to start a business on Main Street or move their business there.
Sauter said the donation doesn’t necessarily have to be $100 per member either. It could be smaller amounts of money, mentorship time or gifting services.
