Rock the vote for British Columbia finalist in quest for $100,000 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award grand prize

Max Jenke set to gain traction for Endeavor Design Inc. south of the border

VANCOUVER, May 22, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) announced today that the turning point project, "Brand Endeavor", submitted by local businessman Max Jenke will represent British Columbia in the finals of the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award.

Max's project aims to put Endeavor Design Inc. on the fast track in the U.S. to maintain profitability and ensure continued growth for the company's three brands. To capture the contest's number one spot and win the $100,000 grand prize, he needs voters from across the country to give his project the thumbs up!

Max is set to gain more ground in the U.S with two products his company developed—Endeavor Snowboards and Airhole face masks—as well as the Swedish line of Colour Wear outerwear he is now licensing. Despite reaching customers in some 30 countries through direct sales in North America and distributorships abroad, the company has yet to make major inroads in the U.S. To capture a bigger piece of that market, Max needs to beef up sales and marketing south of the border and to balance time spent on all three brands.

"To reach each brand's full potential going forward, we need to invest in marketing and technology improvements," says Max. "Successfully penetrating the U.S. market will punch up our sales and profitability, and will also improve our growth potential internationally."

A former professional snowboarder, Max founded Endeavor in 2002 to create a snowboard business that reflects the lifestyle he's lived since age 13. Working with employees who practise and understand the sport, he set out to build the perfect board, and then took it further by developing and marketing complementary brands. With global reach and one of the industry's only R&D labs, he sees great potential for his brands in the U.S.

An adrenalin shot in the form of time management and customer service systems, a U.S. sales team, and an effective marketing plan will help Endeavor pick up speed south of the border. "I chose the name Endeavor because it means an earnest effort to accomplish your goal," Max says. "Like anything I've ever done, I am determined to reach my goal of making our company a top performer in the U.S."

"All the finalists competing for the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award presented sound turning point solutions that could provide a solid springboard for future growth and success," says Michel Bergeron, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs at BDC. "Max has built on his knowledge of the snowboarding lifestyle to create a vibrant brand and carve out a substantial niche in the industry."

"When you look back, it's exciting to see that we have been able to get to this level," says Max. "It's now time to inspire Canadians to rally behind our project. Give us your votes to help us reach new heights in the U.S.!"

Voting for the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest runs from May 22 to June 11. To support your favourite project, log into the contest microsite and vote once a day. Follow the contest through updates on Facebook at "BDC Entrepreneur", Twitter at @BDC_News and LinkedIn. The BDC Young Entrepreneur Award winner and runner-up will be announced on June 17. The runner-up will receive $25,000 in consulting services.

About the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest
Created by the Business Development Bank of Canada in 1988, the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award contest pays tribute to remarkable Canadian entrepreneurs between 18 and 35 years of age. Nine finalists were short-listed to compete for a $100,000 grand prize. The winner will be selected by public vote and the contest runner-up will receive a second prize of $25,000 in consulting services. The Financial Post and La Presse are the media partners of the 2013 BDC Young Entrepreneur Award. www.bdc.ca/yea

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 financing, subordinate financing, venture capital, securitization and consulting services to more than 28,000 small and medium-sized companies. Their success is vital to Canada's economic prosperity. www.bdc.ca

SOURCE: Business Development Bank of Canada

For further information:

Maria Constantinescu
Senior Advisor, Public Relations
Business Development Bank of Canada
[phone]
[e-mail]