Grade 12 business students at Portage Collegiate have traded in their textbooks for briefcases. PCI business teacher Sean Hopps outlines the project the class has been working on.

"Their task was to come up with a unique business idea, something that we haven't seen in Portage yet, take that idea and build it from the ground up. This ultimately lead to what we did on Tuesday night where they had to present their idea to a group of mentors who are a a group of local business people and who are successful in their own ways. They had to show why their business idea was going to be successful in the community and basically get to the point we are at now where two groups have shown that they have what it takes to be successful in our community. "

Grade 12 student Megan Anderson explains hearing from local mentors brought in by Portage Regional Economic Development's Big Sprout program had a great impact on the business she and her business partner, Allie MacDonald created.

"Our business is called Flawed, and we take old shoes and repurpose them with comic books to give them a new design. The meeting we had with them on Tuesday was really helpful just to see their ideas and we have already started putting some of their ideas into our plan."

Flawed, as well as Auto Living, a car part refurbishing business created by grade 12 student Bailey Jenezcko, were chosen as the top business ideas by the panel of mentors and will receive funding from Portage Regional Economic Development.

PRED Executive Director Douglas Barill notes he was wowed by the level experience and knowledge the students put into their projects, and looks forwards to supporting two more business in the community.

Both groups will have their start-ups seeded by PRED, who'll also assist them over the summer.