Ryerson MBA

(From left to right): Arvin Peter, Dean Ken Jones, Dejan Markovic and Professor Dave Valliere celebrate ZelenTech's win at the Standard Broadcasting Business Plan Competition reception.

Smart water meters for multi-residential units have earned Ryerson MBA students $25,000 as winners of the annual Standard Broadcasting Business Plan Competition. ZelenTech founders and MBA candidates Dejan Markovic and Arvin Peter’s launch product is appealing as it can be integrated into existing gas and energy systems, further managing energy usage and resource consumption.

“We care about the environment, and we really wanted to make an impact in the business community via an entrepreneurial venture by monetizing our education and idea, and (ZelenTech) fit the bill,” Peter said.

Five other teams of innovative Ted Rogers School of Management and Ryerson University students were also shortlisted for the chance to win the award to start-up their innovative businesses in late May 2008. More than 100 spectators, which included students, faculty, staff and industry leaders, gathered at the Ted Rogers School of Management for the competition, organized by Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Ryerson.

The esteemed judging panel included Albert Behr, President and CEO of Behr Associates Inc., Daniel Mothersill, President, National Angel Organization and Dr. Steven Gedeon, Entrepreneurship Professor, Ted Rogers School of Business Management.

The advice the judges had for most teams, whose business ideas ranged from classic dog garments to natural laundry soap, was to go big or go home. This included ZelenTech who Behr told to “sell it in the United States – you will get a better return on investment.”

Mothersill was so impressed he plans on introducing ZelenTech to Clean Tech Angels, an angel investor organization for clean companies.

ZelenTech will use the $25,000 towards “legal services surrounding intellectual property, licensing and corporate structure” says Peter, at the advice of the judging panel.

“Being part of this competition really forced us to review our assumptions and foundation of our business plan and directed us to go back and iron out those critical factors,” said Peter. “All the ideas presented are viable businesses and we are honoured to have been amongst such great competition.”

“This year's competition was the biggest and best ever,” said Dr. Dave Valliere, Associate Professor, Entrepreneurship & Strategy and Chair of the competition. “We hope that all of the students who entered will go on to launch their new businesses and we are looking forward to continue helping them on their way.”

Twenty-eight teams entered this year, and six were chosen as finalists to present before the judges. Every team of finalists is automatically approved for a $15,000 loan from Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) as well as three years of mentorship.

In 2001, Mr. Allan Slaight of Standard Broadcasting donated more than $250,000 to the Ted Rogers School of Business Management. Until 2011, one concept per year will receive $25,000 to help implement a business plan developed during the student’s time at Ryerson.

2008 Standard Broadcasting Business Plan Competition finalists:

eFloorplan – website for builders, real estate agents and buyers that showcase condominium floor plans
Hush – mobile social network with mobile advertising by leveraging location of user
The Nature’s Soap – distributor of all-natural laundry detergent (www.thenaturessoap.com)
Open Water – distributed, collaboration and content enterprise service for small and medium sized businesses
Rover – classically tailored garments for dogs (www.roverboutique.com)
ZelenTech – clean tech firm managing energy usage and resource consumption