WASHINGTON, Feb. 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation announced today its 2018 NextGen in Franchising Global Competition winners, who will be recognized at the IFA Annual Convention in Phoenix from Feb. 10-13, 2018. The Annual Convention culminates a year-long campaign and global competition with individuals submitting their franchise business plans for a chance to be among the top 20 winners selected. Open to entrepreneurs ages 21-35, the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition is a worldwide program that engages millennial entrepreneurs seeking to grow their businesses through the franchise business model.
Shark Tank star Daymond John will lead a panel of judges for the final round of the Global Competition on Tuesday, Feb. 13, when the top three finalists pitch their concepts for cash prizes and potential investments from judges and attendees.
“This year’s NextGen in Franchising Global Competition was the most competitive yet, with nearly 900 applicants from around the world vying for the chance to attend the IFA Annual Convention and to pitch their business,” said David McKinnon, CFE, Foundation vice chair and chairman of the NextGen in Franchising Committee. “We continue to be impressed year after year with the quality of submissions we receive and the high caliber of these young entrepreneurs that represent the future of franchising. We’re excited to meet this year’s winners and provide them with unmatched mentoring and support from the world’s top franchise business leaders.”
Since the program’s inception in 2015, nearly 2,000 millennial entrepreneurs from more than 50 countries have applied. Many NextGen winners have been featured in top business publications such as The New York Times, Inc., and Fast Company, among others.
The 2018 NextGen in Franchising winners are: Andrew Cameron, Donutology (United States); Bazil Mwotta Biddemu, MoBFIT (Uganda); Danny Park, RoboThink, LLC (United States); Devan Kline, Burn Boot Camp (United States); Dillon Orr, Johnny On The Spot Mobile Wash (United States); Ernie Beltz, Jr., Little Land Play Gym & Pediatric Therapy (United States); Gerardo Escudero Samara, Chillout Lounge (Nicaragua), James Chege, Usalama Tech Group Limited (Kenya); Jeremy Dyer, Total Fitouts (Australia); Jerod Evanich, A Place At Home (United States); Kennedy Lamwenya, SunPoynt Energy (Kenya); Landon Eckles, Clean Juice Franchising, LLC (United States); Ma Jonalyn Sison, Skinpotions Inc (Phillippines); Marko Kasic, Football for Life Academy (Phillippines); Matej Varhalik, SPEEDFIT (Australia); Milan Szabo, Anjuna Ice Pops (Hungary); Neran De Silva, Cryo Australia (Australia); Robert Bruski, Ctrl V (Canada); Stella Sigana, Alternative Waste Technologies (Kenya); and Wyatt and Aiden Booth, Hopscotch (Canada).
“Hopscotch was founded out of the desire to get more from our food, while doing so with conscious thought about our environmental and social responsibility,” said 2018 NextGen in Franchising winner Wyatt Booth, co-founder of Hopscotch. “While it has always been a dream to expand our passion through franchising, bringing chef-inspired and farm-driven dishes to neighbourhoods across the globe, the NextGen in Franchising opportunity allows us to gain the tools and network we need to make this dream a reality. It is truly a honour and pleasure to take part in the summit, connect with incredible people, and learn what to implement into our business for continued success.”
NextGen winners receive a spot at the NextGen in Franchising Summit, a two-day educational and networking program for next generation entrepreneurs at the IFA Annual Convention, an accelerator program with industry leaders and CEOs; an opportunity to participate in the final round of the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition for a chance to win cash prizes and potential investments to continue building their businesses; and opportunities to network with leading franchisors, franchisees and suppliers and with other young entrepreneurs. Winners of the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition also will have the opportunity to learn within The Shark Group’s entrepreneurial training program called “InnerVation Lab,” which is led by a world-class expert in entrepreneurship.
As part of the Global Competition, which is sponsored by the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation and Subway International, three finalists will pitch their businesses to a panel of industry judges and 4,000 convention attendees for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $5,000 – $10,000. Last year, Jennifer Turliuk, CEO of MakerKids in Canada, took home first place.
The NextGen in Franchising program is made possible due to the generosity of its donors and sponsors, which include David McKinnon, the founding sponsor; the Stewart & Jane Bainum Fund; Lawrence “Doc” Cohen, Doc & Associates; Stephen P. Joyce Fund; Choice Hotels Foundation; J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation; Tariq Farid, Edible Arrangements; Charlie Chase, FirstService Brands; Aziz Hashim, NRD Holdings; Joe Bourdow, Valpak; the Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation/Subway; Tony Valle, ELM Perform; Dave Mortensen, Anytime Fitness; and Melanie Bergeron, Two Men & A Truck Intl.
#IFA2018 will feature more than 50 educational sessions, as well as 350 supplier partners in a cutting-edge Exhibit Hall, offering the latest tools and resources needed to develop a thriving franchise business. Attendees can expect to find numerous networking opportunities, including the International Reception and the Business Solution Roundtables. To register, please visit https://www.franchise.org/convention.
For more information about the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition, please contact Ashley Davidson at rel=”nofollow”>adavidson@fish-consulting.com or +1 305-298-8022.
About the IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation
Founded in 1983, the International Franchise Association (IFA) Franchise Education & Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and supported through the generous contributions of IFA members and others. The Foundation’s mission is to advance franchising and the free enterprise system by increasing the knowledge and professional standards of all members of the franchising community; educating the next generation of franchise practitioners; increasing recognition of franchising’s key role in the free enterprise system; and providing comprehensive information and research about important developments and trends in franchising.
About the International Franchise Association
Celebrating 56 years of excellence, education and advocacy, the International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the more than 733,000 franchise establishments that support nearly 7.6 million direct jobs, $674.3 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy and 2.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology and business development.
Contact:
Chelsea Bear
Fish Consulting
cbear@fish-consulting.com
954-893-9150
Gionne Jones
IFA Franchise Education & Research Foundation
gjones@franchise.org
202-662-0772
SOURCE International Franchise Association Franchise Education & Research Foundation