Alex, we are so very proud of you! Way to go!
click here to see the video of his pitch!
Halifax, N.S (February 10, 2016) -
Alex Gillis, a grade 12
student at Fountain Academy of the Sacred Heart School of Halifax has secured a
$50,000 business deal with the Dragon’s Den moguls.
The offer was made on Dragon’s Den Next Gen. The show is an
online version of its television predecessor Dragon’s Den. The only real difference is Next Gen focuses on launching start-ups or early stage businesses
and the deals are all under $100,000.
In May of 2015 some local
business owners suggested Alex apply for the chance to present his company, Bitness to the Dragons. Alex heard back
from CBC in September and it took only a quick phone interview to secure his
spot on the show.
At only 17-years-old, Gillis
was the youngest burgeoning entrepreneur to enter the den.
“It was pretty scary going
in. There were 30 companies being interviewed over the course of the few days.
On my day, there were 9 other companies in the room. It was very nerve
wracking.”
Those nerves didn’t hold him
back from impressing the three-person panel of experienced business tycoons.
They were not only in awe of his savvy but shocked to find out he still attends
high school while managing an up and coming business.
By the end of his sales
pitch, Gillis managed to win over not only one but two of the dragons. Harley
Finkelstein and Nicole Verkindt paired up on the $50,000 buy in for 20% of the
company.
Bitness was
founded in June 2014. Gillis and co-founder, Aristides Milios, a fellow student
at Sacred Heart, were sitting in a coffee shop one day and noticed a severe lull
in customer traffic but a high number of employees working.
“We thought about basic
business fundamentals. How could this be sustainable for their bottom line? We
thought maybe they could better schedule staff if they knew how many people
were walking by or how many people were in their store.”
Out of that logic, Bitness was born. The company uses
smartphone signals to collect data that helps retailers track customer behaviour.
Bitness can track the number of
customers to a single location on any given day, as well as the target market
passing by who could become potential customers. The technology offers a huge
aid in marketing efforts as well as staffing for the businesses that use it.
With this new financial
backing and the guidance he will receive from his new mentors there really is
no slowing down this young thriving entrepreneur.
For more on Dragon’s Den Next Gen or to watch the
episode go to
Media Contact:
Barb Martell - Communications Manager
cell 902-488-8581
Miriam Regan - Director
of Advancement Sacred Heart School of Halifax
(902) 422 4459
