Beedie hosts TYE Vancouver and Surrey

Restaurateur Vikram Vij, the most recent addition to the “Dragons” on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, receives an airbrush tattoo at the launch of the 2014-2015 TYE Surrey and Vancouver programs at the SFU Surrey campus.

The Beedie School of Business and Simon Fraser University’s Surrey campus partnered with TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) to host the launch of the 2014-2015 TYE Surrey and Vancouver programs.

TiE (Talent, Ideas and Enterprise) is a not-for-profit B.C. organization committed to fostering entrepreneurship, and showcasing the best business minds Vancouver has to offer. Its TYE program seeks to inspire, challenge and empower top students across the globe to become the next generation of business and community leaders and entrepreneurs.

The unique program, held in 23 cities around the world, helps high school students learn about the challenges and rewards of becoming an entrepreneur. It utilizes experienced entrepreneurs and mentors to coach high school students in grades 11 and 12 based on a business-focused curriculum.

The 2014-2015 program launch was held at the SFU Surrey campus on November 1 and sponsored by the Beedie School of Business. It featured a guest panel of established entrepreneurs from Vancouver who imparted knowledge and wisdom related to their own entrepreneurial careers upon the gathered students.

The panel of guests included restaurateur Vikram Vij, digital communications expert Sharad Kharé, Nina Corrie, co-founder of Tattoos for Now, and Aileen McManamon, founding partner of sports marketing consultants 5T Sports.

In an opening speech, Vij, who recently became the latest “dragon” on CBC’s reality television show Dragon’s Den, offered some sage advice to the assembled aspiring entrepreneurs.

“Don’t become an entrepreneur because you want to make money – do it because you are passionate about something,” said Vij. “Remain focused, find a target and go for it. Money and fame will come as long as you put your head down and study.”

Other speakers at the launch included Vik Khanna, President of TiE Vancouver, Sarah Lubik, lecturer in entrepreneurship and innovation at the Beedie School of Business, and Beedie alumna Ravneet Dhaliwal, co-founder of Math4me and a previous participant in the TYE Vancouver program.

“We are delighted to partner with TYE to help instill entrepreneurial passion, skills and behaviors in students across the educational spectrum, especially in Surrey,” said Lubik. “Surrey is where many of our most entrepreneurship and innovation programming and partnerships occur, so integrating with such a high quality program will be great for Beedie, SFU, and the region in general.”

The partnership with TYE underscores the Beedie School of Business’ commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship. The School hosts RADIUS, a social innovation lab and venture incubator, and recently launched a new interdisciplinary concentration open to students from across SFU.

Learn more about entrepreneurship and innovation at the Beedie School of Business, or visit http://tyevancouver.com/ for information about TYE.