QSB launches new venture

Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development targets high-growth, tech companies

2001-02-06 - Fast growing technology companies that are facing some of the many hurdles of the post-start-up stage can now find help at Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development (QCED Inc.) which launches in Toronto today. The recently incorporated centre, based at Queen’s School of Business, has assembled a team of leading experts in the management of emerging companies to provide a broad range of services to clients — from mentoring to venture capital coaching to interim management.

“New technology-based firms are critical drivers in our economy, but they face unique challenges that make it difficult to transition and sustain growth,” said Niraj Bhargava, managing director of Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development. “At QCED, we’ve coupled the powerful Queen’s School of Business knowledge base with an army of advisors who have done it all before and are keen to share their hand-on experience with the next generation of success stories. Together, we’ve developed services that are specifically designed to help high-growth, early-stage companies successfully navigate the challenges and pit-falls of growth.”

In addition to being able to call upon the talent and expertise within the faculty of Queen’s School of Business, the centre has recruited over 50 high-calibre business advisors, known as Knowledge Angels™, from across Canada who offer clients an unparalleled depth of knowledge and hands-on expertise. QCED also draws on the expertise and support of its corporate sponsors, which include Gowlings law firm, Deloitte & Touche, and CIBC. Further, QCED manages a multi-year Queen’s School of Business research project on high growth firms supported by the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund (ORDCF).

“QCED is addressing a critical need in the marketplace because technology-based companies can be most vulnerable when they are gathering momentum, ” added John Eckert, president of the Canadian Venture Capital Association and managing partner of McLean Watson Capital. Mr. Eckert, among others, will be speaking at QCED Inc.’s launch event at the Capitol Event Theatre in Toronto this evening.

Service offered to clients of Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development include:
- Enterprise mentoring and advising: periodic “sounding board” discussions with founders and business leaders
- Interim management: hands-on, part-time management in key functional areas
- Business planning: enhancing to current business plans
- Venture capital coaching: reviews, coaching and advice for the VC process
- Business tools and implementation: guidance and access to tactical management approaches

“At Queen’s School of Business, we aim to provide the most forward-thinking and outward-looking management education and research in Canada,” said Dr. Margot Northey, dean of Queen’s School of Business. “Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development is a shining example of our mission coming to life.”

Queen’s School of Business (www.business.queensu.ca) is Canada’s leading business school and one of the best in North America. The school’s programs include: an undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce, with the highest entry standards in Canada and a 100% success rate in placing students in the job market; Queen’s MBA for Science & Technology, ranked #1 by Canadian Business magazine for four years in a row; the market-leading Queen’s Executive MBA, Canada’s first MBA program delivered by videoconference to sites from coast to coast; the Queen’s Executive Development Centre, Canada’s most popular university-level executive training facility; and the new MSc in Management and unique double-major PhD programs.

General inquires about Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development:
Web: www.qced.com
E-mail: info@qced.com
Toll free: 877-955-1800.

Media inquiries:

Josh Cobden, Environics Communications, (416) 920-9000 ext. 275, jcobden@pr.environics.ca
Niraj Bhargava, Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development, (613) 533- 6785, niraj@qced.com