Dedicated Winnipegger wins BDC Mentorship Award 2015

Award-winner Jeff Ryzner is renowned for helping companies commercialize technology

TORONTO, May 14, 2015 /CNW/ - BDC and Futurpreneur Canada are pleased to name Jeff Ryzner of Winnipeg as the winner of the 2015 BDC Mentorship Award. The award was presented at Futurpreneur Canada's annual Action Entrepreneurship cocktail reception.

Ryzner has helped companies commercialize technology for nearly 20 years and is renowned for his involvement in the start-up community. He is President of The Eureka Project, Manitoba's technology accelerator, and a founding partner of three tech start-ups. He also founded the consultancy Endgame Business Strategy.

"Mentoring entrepreneurs has been the most rewarding personal experience," said Jeff Ryzner, President of The Eureka Project. "While giving back to the start-up community comes naturally to people who have been involved with it, winning an award for something you feel so passionately about is an honour and certainly a career milestone of which I am especially proud."

The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of State (Small Business and Tourism) (Agriculture), congratulated Mr. Ryzner, adding: "Entrepreneurs who contribute to the success of businesses and give freely of their time and experience to inspire others, are truly remarkable. The BDC Mentorship Award delivers on Canada's Economic Action Plan commitment to build a stronger entrepreneurial culture by recognizing the positive impact that Mr. Ryzner and others have on Canada's next generation of business leaders."

"Jeff Ryzner is an outstanding mentor and a natural choice for the 2015 BDC Mentorship Award," said Julia Deans, CEO, Futurpreneur Canada. "Mr. Ryzner mentors well and mentors generously, sharing his expertise and network with young entrepreneurs who speak to the critical role he's played in their growth. He is also a community builder who is doing his part to grow Winnipeg's vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem."

"We know that being an entrepreneur is a very demanding and sometimes lonely journey and mentorship can play an important role in entrepreneurial success," said Michel Bergeron, BDC's Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Marketing. "Congratulations to Mr. Ryzner for this much-deserved award, which recognizes his years of sharing his knowledge and experience with entrepreneurs."

The BDC Mentorship Award recognizes an outstanding Canadian business mentor credited by their peers for providing valuable advice and support through a significant commitment of time and effort that has led to the creation and growth of Canadian companies by building their mentees' professional skills and abilities.

More details can be found at www.bdc.ca/awards or http://www.futurpreneur.ca/en/microsites/bdc-mentorship-award/2015-finalists/

About BDC
Canada's business development bank, BDC, puts entrepreneurs first. With almost 2,000 employees and more than 100 business centres across the country, BDC offers loans, consulting services, growth and business transition capital,  securitization, as well as venture capital to more than 30,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity. www.bdc.ca

About Futurpreneur Canada
Futurpreneur Canada (formerly the Canadian Youth Business Foundation, or CYBF) has been fueling the entrepreneurial passions of Canada's young enterprise for nearly two decades. We are the only national, non-profit organization that provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39. Our internationally recognized mentoring program hand matches young entrepreneurs with a business expert from a network of more than 2,800 volunteer mentors. Futurpreneur Canada is a founding member of the G20 Young Entrepreneurs' Alliance, the Canadian member of Youth Business International, and the Canadian host of Global Entrepreneurship Week. www.futurpreneur.ca. Facebook: Futurpreneur Twitter: @Futurpreneur

SOURCE Business Development Bank of Canada

Image with caption: "Jeff Ryzner, President of Winnipeg-based The Eureka Project accepts the 2015 BDC Mentorship Award. (CNW Group/Business Development Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150514_C7186_PHOTO_EN_16656.jpg

Image with caption: "Sharon Connolly, Vice President, Financing and Consulting at BDC (left) and Julia Deans, CEO, Futurepreneur (right) present the 2015 BDC Mentorship Award to Jeff Ryzner, President, The Eureka Project. (CNW Group/Business Development Bank of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150514_C7186_PHOTO_EN_16657.jpg

For further information: Maria Constantinescu, Senior Advisor, Public Relations, BDC, [e-mail], [phone]; Meghan Paton, Manager, Public Relations & Social Media, Futurpreneur Canada, [e-mail], [phone]

Related Links

http://www.bdc.ca