Pythons’ Pit is an entrepreneurial Dragons’ Den type of contest developed by the Rotary Clubs of Halton to give aspiring entrepreneurs and students an opportunity to pitch their business ideas for cash prizes. Pythons’ Pit is supported by presenting sponsors RBC and MNP LLP and several community sponsors, partners and rotary clubs.
Jordan Wickett, from Georgetown, On, is a father of two, an entrepreneur, a marathoner, an environmentalist and very passionate about making great products that are good for the environment and good for your health. Jordan is a finalist for Pythons’ Pit. When his second child was born he quit his corporate job and decided to do something entrepreneurial and founded Naturally Dapper.
Naturally Dapper is a line of all-natural men’s grooming products. Currently the line stands at a shaving cream, after-shave balm and face scrub. When asked how he came up with the idea, Jordan says “I switched over to natural products a few years back and I was going through all sorts of different natural products and I couldn’t find anything that worked as well as a conventional product that had those nice clean ingredients that I was looking for, so it finally kind of clicked and I thought, I can do a better job than this and that’s how the idea came about – standing in the washroom shaving.”
Jordan has been mentored through the Pythons’ Pit process and credits his mentors for providing a fresh perspective on his idea, relevant feedback and knowing and communicating effectively to your target audience. When asked by his mentor, Dieter in a recent interview what his learning lessons have been from Pythons’ Pit, Jordan says “Persistence. Jim Chagnon, one of the partners for MNP Consultants said at our mentoring event which I really liked, that a lot of the very successful entrepreneurs that he works with are extremely persistent and I found that very encouraging. For anything you do, just to keep trying, eventually, you’re going to make it work and you’re going to be successful. “
Will Jordan be the lucky recipient of the $20,000 first place prize at Pythons’ Pit? Come and find out as well as witness pitches from the high school division on Mon May 4th at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Doors to the theatre open at 6:30pm and seating is FREE. More details are available at www.PythonsPit.ca
Interviewed by Dieter Staudinger – Mentor