IDEA Centre Welcomes Growing Cohort
MONCTON – The entrepreneurial spirit is growing in Moncton, with 20 students enrolling in Moncton’s IDEA Centre co-op program.
This semester saw 10 student enrollments–which matches the 10 enrolled last semester–in the local entrepreneurship program.
Jenna Bastarache, co-owner and founder of Trendy Soul, is prepping for the second semester and her second round with IDEA Centre, an entrepreneurial program that coaches high school-aged entrepreneurs.
The self-directed, experiential business program partners with NBCC, providing resources and guidance for students to draft up business plans with the help of mentors and sponsors and immersing them in the business world. The program features the mentorship of speakers from New Brunswick’s business community on a variety of topics.
“It’s experiential learning, so basically what that means is it’s not a stereotypical classroom setting,” Bastarache says. “There are outcomes you have to meet but you make your own success.”
The program is a means for students from local high schools to earn credits, in addition to building their enterprise.
Bastarache is happy that admission is steady, noting the program is intensive and wouldn’t work with a full-fledged, classroom-sized cohort.
“It’s a very hands-on program and not a normal classroom where there are around 30 students,” she says. “We’re in the process of ideation right now.”
So far this year, the IDEA Centre has welcomed guests that include entrepreneurs Jeff Wilson with Brilliant Labs and Yves Boudreau, co-founder of Alongside – with more on the way this semester.
Bastarache says this semester’s IDEA Centre schedule will also entail more pop-up markets and more speakers to be announced – along with the big year-end event: Pitchfest.
“We get a lot of Atlantic Canada’s CEOs and business leaders and it’s a huge event,” says Bastarache.
Pitchfest is the culmination of all participants’ efforts at the IDEA Centre, where they pitch their business plans before a panel of judges from New Brunswick’s business community for the opportunity to earn prizes.
“It’s a fun day and important for all the students. It’s so amazing to have so many important people come in from their businesses to come and support youth leaders, so it’s a huge day for us,” Bastarache says.
Origins and Business Plans
After acing an assignment–an infographic on why young people should stay in Moncton–in a marketing class, Bastarache’s teacher encouraged her to join the Idea Centre.
“I was scared to approach and [my teacher] was like, ‘I think you’re meant to be in this program,’ so my friend and I took a leap of faith and started our own hobby business. It went really well, and we started an online thrift store.”
From that venture, Bastarache and her co-founder and fellow Harrison Tremble High School senior Morgan Arbeau, launched a fashion show and Trendy Soul, selling repurposed clothing.
“We decided to come back this semester and with that, I’m in charge of bringing guest speakers in and director of social media. Once we have our pop-up markets, I’m in charge of doing all that.”
Business-wise, Bastarache says she and Arbeau hope to grow sales for Trendy Soul and bring more attention to the brand.
“We made a big impact last year but we want to focus on getting a better website and more promotional material, more sales and stuff like that. Nothing too crazy, but you never know what’s going to happen in three or four months.”
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].