Leigh Meadows,  a UK immigrant who came to Canada in 1995 wowed the CBC Dragons with her concept of a cost-effective advertising platform using recyclable cardboard hangers won second place.

The Smart Hanger is  functionally superior and aesthetically more pleasing than wire or plastic hangers.  It  is completely recyclable through major city’s blue bin recycling program, whereas plastic and other paperboard hangers do not meet recycling standards, and along with more than 90% of wire hangers about 300 million a year end up in landfills across Canada.

It’s really cute that the sample Leigh Meadows handed to the Dragons bear the CBC Dragons Den advertising. The Dragons were visibly impressed with the her powerful concept to the extent that they struggled over the decision as to who should win the greenvention grand prize of $100,000.  The Smart Hangers have a big potential to send the “Save the earth” message because of its very practical application.

Related Articles:
1.  The Smart Hanger – A Canadian Invention
2. The CBC Dragons Den Greenvention Special Episode

During GEW Canada 2009, CYBF engaged hundreds of organizations to champion and celebrate youth entrepreneurship that reached millions of Canadians through grass roots and national GEW initiatives. For this contribution, CYBF was nominated the “Country of the Year Award”.  The announcement was made at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where CYBF represented Canada. CYBF competed against more than 100 countries, including the United Kingdom, Russia and the United States of America for the “Country of the Year” award.

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) is a national charity dedicated to growing our nation’s economy one young entrepreneur at a time. CYBF looks at character not collateral, when providing youth, age 18-34, with pre-launch coaching, business resources, start-up financing and mentoring, to help them launch and sustain a successful entrepreneurial business.

Founded in 1996, to date, CYBF has invested in more than 3,500 young entrepreneurs in communities across Canada. These businesses have generated over $92 million in tax and export revenues, and have created more than 16,900 new jobs.  Through its national network of community partners, CYBF was able to deliver its program coast to coast with more than 3,100 volunteers across Canada.

There is an increasing number of workers from different professions – artists, designers, videographers, computer programmers, hair stylists, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, accountants, bookkeepers, architects, photographers, consultants….. who are starting their own business.

They do so, not because they want to run a business, but because they want to continue doing what they do best, on their own terms, by being their own boss.

A classic entrepreneur, on the other hand, usually is interested in running a business.  A classic entrepreneur looks for a good business opportunity, and does not discriminate on the type of business as long as the business is viable, legal and has the potential to make a good profit.

On the other hand, the propreneur is not interested in a business for the purpose of making a profit.  Instead, a propreneur looks for a viable way to pursue his/her career or profession by being his/her own boss.

As an example, in our own marketing network, an Accounting Troubleshooter Associate is a propreneur, as he/she is more interested in being an independent associate working in the profession.   If a propreneur hires outside help, it is likely to be a salesperson, to free up the propreneur to do what he/she does best.  An Accounting Troubleshooter Franchisee on the other hand, is interested in running a business and will hire other bookkeepers and accountants to work for his organization.