Win This Space – Official Rules and Regulations

Eligibility

The Win This Space Western NS competition (the “Competition”) is open to all legal residents of Atlantic Canada (NS, NB, PEI and NFLD), who are 19 years of age or older at the time of submitting an entry to the competition.

A proposed business can be a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. However, no franchises, or individuals looking to purchase/take-over an existing business will be considered. In the case of a two-person partnership, only one representative need apply to the Competition.

If the applicant is a current business owner, the application must 1) be unrelated to the applicant’s existing business, 2) introduce a new element not promoted at the applicant’s existing business, or 3) expand upon an element that would be removed from the applicant’s existing business.

The Win This Space Western NS Organizing Committee (the “Organizing Committee”) will have sole and absolute discretion in determining whether or not an applicant is eligible for the Competition under these Rules and Regulations and such determinations will be final.

Applicants must be willing to commit to signing a minimum one-year lease for one of the participating listings.

Applicants are not eligible if the applicant, a partner of the applicant (if the applicant is a partnership), or an owner or director of the applicant (if the applicant is a corporation) is on the Organizing Committee or the Jury or if there is any other conflict of interest as determined at the sole discretion of the Organizing Committee.

Applicants must have submitted an entry into the Competition by 6:00 pm on November 22nd, 2020 to have their business idea considered as part of the Competition.

Permitted Uses

In addition to meeting the requirements of these Rules and Regulations, it is the responsibility of an applicant to adhere to all other by-law regulations including without limitation the rental location’s Town or Municipal Zoning By-Law, and the Business Licensing By-law as well as obtain all other approvals or licenses that may be required by the municipality, town, Provincial or Federal departments or agencies.

Application and Selection Process

Applicants must submit their application between October 26th, 2020 4:00 pm and November 22nd, 2020 6pm through the registration form on the website. The Organizing Committee will appoint a jury (the “Jury”) who in turn will select up to 25 applicants (the “Semi-finalists”) to advance to the next phase of the Competition and to receive free Business Development Workshops presented by the Win This Space Western NS partners. In order to qualify, the Semi-finalists must attend all three Business Development Workshops and the Jury will be advised of semi-finalists’ attendance. The Business Development Workshops will take place on the following dates and be offered virtually:

Workshop dates are subject to change. Semi-finalists will be notified of any changes in dates and locations by email provided in submission.

Immediately following selection of the Semi-finalists all other applicants will be informed of their elimination from the Competition. The Organizing Committee strives to provide support to any viable business entering the Competition, whether or not that business wins the Competition. Applicants are encouraged to contact Competition partners to inquire about support available to them including but not limited to educational tools, funding streams, business/entrepreneurship organizations, etc.

The Semi-finalists can obtain further assistance with their business plan submission from other business assistance services during the Competition if they choose. Any/all additional services utilized will be at the applicant’s own expense and not reimbursed for by the organizers of the Competition.

Following the free Business Development Workshops, the Semi-finalists must submit a business plan and any supporting documents, by 4:00 pm on Monday January 4th, 2021 to winthisspace@gmail.com

The Jury will review all completed business plans, and other supporting documents submitted by the applicants and choose five finalists (the “Finalists”) who will be expected to participate in a live virtual finale presentation to be held on January 28th, 2021. The Jury will provide feedback to the finalists on their business plan, and finalists will have the opportunity to submit additional documentation. Addendums must be received by Friday January 22nd, 2021 at 11:59 P.M in order for the Jury to review before the Grand Finale.

If financing is required, it is advised that Semi-finalists start applying for financing pre-approvals as early as possible in order to have confirmation by the finale.

Any existing business, corporation, or society must provide proof of being in good standing in accordance with the provisions of the relevant Act.

The Finalists will present their respective business plans to the Jury and be asked to demonstrate, via a 5- minute business plan presentation, how the business will be displayed, marketed, etc. Following this appearance, the Finalists must be prepared to answer impromptu questions from the Jury and demonstrate product and business acumen as well as discuss financial planning for the purpose of sustaining a minimum one-year commitment to lease. Following the live finale presentation, the Jury will select one Finalist as the Grand Prize Winner (see below for details). The Jury will also select a second-place winner.

The Prize Package

The Jury will use all documentation provided throughout the Competition and live presentations at the finale to select one business concept as the Grand Prize Winner. The winning entry will be awarded the Grand Prize, which includes a one-year $1000 per month rent contribution made directly to the landlord of the location of their choice, to be selected from the list of participating spaces,; an Ignite Lab Resident Membership for one year; and a website with e-commerce platform included.

The Second prize winner will receive an Ignite Lab Resident Membership for one year plus a website.

There is no guarantee that participating locations on the Competition website will still be available when the Grand Prize Winner is chosen and not all locations may be suitable for the proposed business. The Grand Prize Winner shall use best efforts to negotiate and execute a lease agreement with a potential landlord no later than February 22nd, 2021 (the “Lease Agreement”).

If selected as the Grand Prize Winner, the applicant agrees to accept the Grand Prize from the Organizing Committee. The Western Regional Enterprise Network will make lease payments directly to the landlord on behalf of the Grand Prize Winner. The Grand Prize Winner will not receive money towards the lease payments directly. The Lease Agreement, including the term which must be no less than 12 months, will be agreed upon by the landlord and the Grand Prize Winner and will not involve the Western Regional Enterprise Network, the Organizing Committee or its partners and sponsors. Any disagreements will be resolved between landlord and the Grand Prize Winner and will not involve the Western Regional Enterprise Network, the Organizing Committee or its partners and sponsors.

The amount to be paid by the Western Regional Enterprise Network as lease payments shall only include the base rental cost plus any common area fees and will be no more than $1,000.00 (the “Western REN’s Contribution”). The Western REN’s Contribution shall not include any other costs including but not limited to internet, telephone, cable, or other utilities. The Grand Prize Winner is responsible for any lease payments or other costs associated with the Lease Agreement not covered by the Western REN’s Contribution.

The Grand Prize Winner must make every reasonable effort to achieve a grand opening by April 5th, 2021.  This must be outlined in the winner’s business plan start-up timeline. Following the Grand Opening, the Grand Prize Winner must operate during all normal/customary business hours for the period that the lease payments are being covered, unless otherwise indicated in the business plan.

The Grand Prize Winner may not sublet any part of the leased space during the entire 12 month period that lease payments are being covered unless outlined in the business plan submitted and approved by the Organizing Committee on the winning entry.

In the event the Grand Prize Winner fails to meet any of its obligations under these Rules and Regulations, the Western Regional Enterprise Network may determine that the Grand Prize is forfeited by the Grand Prize Winner and offer the Grand Prize to another finalist, at the absolute discretion of the Western Regional Enterprise Network and the Organizing Committee. If the Grand Prize Winner closes the business prior to the end of their first year of business, the remaining prize amount may be offered to one of the Competition’s additional Finalists.

By accepting the Grand Prize, the winner releases and discharges the Western Regional Enterprise Network, the Organizing Committee, their partners, participating sponsors, information providers, content providers, advertisers, advertising agencies, promotional and marketing agencies, and any other legal entity involved with or otherwise providing services related to the Competition and all their respective employees, officers, directors, representatives and agents from any liability or damage due in whole or in part to the award, acceptance, possession, use or misuse of the Grand Prize or from participation in the Competition.

Properties are active listings. As such, if a property is leased during the Competition, it will be removed from the inventory of participating properties.

Information regarding the Grand Prize Winner will be posted on www.westernren.ca/winthisspace and will be released to the public through media alerts and other written and oral venues.

Any additional prizes will be made available to the Grand Prize Winner and second place winner as available. The distribution of prizes is at the discretion of the Western Regional Enterprise Network and the Organizing Committee. In-kind prizes (including gift certificates) are not transferable and may not be redeemed for cash. In-kind prizes must be redeemed by the date indicated by the provider. Prize winners shall not request extensions or substitutions.

At the discretion of the Western Regional Enterprise Network and the Organizing Committee, if any of the winners chooses not to claim a prize, or not follow through with their business plan, the remaining prizes will be offered to the next ranked finalist until all available prizes have been claimed.

All prizes are subject to the terms and conditions set out in these Rules and Regulations. All prizes are subject to change without notice, are not transferable, and may not be redeemed for cash. A complete list of prizes will be kept up to date by the Organizing Committee.

Agreement by Participating

By participating in the Competition, each applicant agrees to these Rules and Regulations and to all decisions, selections and judgements of the Organizing Committee and Jury, which are final and binding. Any complaints can be directed to winthisspace@gmail.com

The Western Regional Enterprise Network, the Organizing Committee and its partners reserve the right to use all participants’ names, likenesses, pictures, portraits, voice, biographical information, written submissions, and written or oral statements, for advertising and promotional purposes related to the Competition or future competitions without additional compensation to participants unless required by law.

These Rules and Regulations are subject to change without notice.