On Tuesday March 25^th, The Elevator Project hosted its very first Big Show! And it went fantastically! So many people came out in support of all 52 ideas and everyone left with more contacts and investments which they can use to further better their idea and further better the city of Guelph.

After an hour or so of mingling between companies and placing tokens worth $5.00 into the projects of their choosing, guests went into the Co-Operators Hall to watch video presentations (skillfully made by REfilms) about the top 15 ideas. Each of the 15 top ideas received specific investments in the form of money, services, supplies and/or mentorship that each catered to their group’s needs. Opening comments were made by the Mayor herself, Karen Farbridge, and The Elevator Project’s own Gabrielle Clermont was our Master of Ceremonies

The top 15 ideas (and what they got!) go as follows:

3D Printing Lending Lab
$3000 cash from the City of Guelph
$1,350 in-kind mentorship with Gabrielle Clermont
Botanical Gardens that Reclaim Guelph’s Wastewater
$1,350 in-kind mentorship with Innovation Guelph
$1,000 in-kind website donated by MyParisApartment.ca
Introduction to the City of Guelph Water Treatment team
CLIMB 2014 (Community Living IS my Business)
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with Gabrielle Clermont and Innovation Guelph
Community Connector Initiative
$8,000 cash from the City of Guelph
$2,000 Guelph Community Health Centre
$1,350 in-kind mentorship with David Thornley of the Guelph Community Health Centre

Ed Video Micro Tiles
$8,100 cash from the City of Guelph
Help with solicitation of further donations

Farm to Fork
$8,000 cash from the City of Guelph
$2,000 cash from the Guelph Community Health Centre
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with Innovation Guelph and the Guelph Community Health Centre

Farming in Urban Neighbourhoods (FUN!)
$15,000 cash from the City of Guelph
Assistance in getting a permit for the end of season market

GNSC Dream Bus
$1,000 cash from the Guelph Community Health Centre
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with David Thornley and Heather Callum

Guelph Pollinator Garden
Donation of materials from the City of Guelph
$300 worth of plants donated by Tin Roof Rusted Farm and Plant Nursery

Guelph Wellington Time Bank
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with James Doran and Christine Oldfield of the Volunteer Centre of Guelph Wellington

Knit a Knot
$1,350 in business mentorship

Music Lives!
$1,350 in-kind mentorship with Darrell Kane from six2one

Re: Mediate
$1,050 cash and in-kind resources from the City of Guelph

The Golden Bus DIY Album Factory
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with Gabrielle Clermont and James Doran

Yorklands Green Hub
$2,700 in-kind mentorship with Mark Goldberg of Innovation Guelph and David Thornley
2 minute animated video donated by HandOnAWhiteBoard.com

But that’s not all these amazing ideas received. In fact, one of these top 15 ideas received the “People’s Choice Award” for being the top voted idea during the Community Vote process. This idea was, in fact, Yorklands Green Hub! In addition to their mentorship and video, they will also be receiving $500 cash donated by 10 Carden.

This was definitely a very exciting process and it was amazing to see all the groups interact and meet more investors and future contacts. Everyone left with smiles on their faces.

So the final verdict: The Big Show was a tremendous, stupendous success!