A Fleetwood resident has some big dreams for her cloud-based business, thanks to some additional start-up cash earned during a Dragons鈥� Den-style competition held at KPU鈥檚 性视界传媒 campus.
Kathie-Lee Pugsley is the top winner of this year鈥檚 , which comes with $5,000 in funding for her fledgling company, (focusedinteriors.com).
Pugsley, a recent grad of the interior design program at KPU鈥檚 Wilson School of Design, aims to design the future of real estate marketing by offering services exclusive to realtors.
She uses 3D modeling computer technology to create interactive 360-degree tours of properties, and tries to keep pricing affordable as part of her business strategy.
鈥淎bout 90 per cent of buyers and owners can鈥檛 visualize the potential of a space,鈥� suggested Pugsley. 鈥淐reating photo-realistic images enables potential owners to envision what鈥檚 possible, regardless of the current state.鈥�
Pugsley, a Semiahmoo Secondary grad originally from Regina, said she鈥檒l use the $5,000 to upgrade the computer software program she currently uses, for faster turnaround times.
鈥淚 want to make sure that the moment I鈥檝e done the design, the client can get the final product,鈥� she told the Now-Leader on Tuesday.
In addition to the funding, Pugsley will also be given time with a business mentor, and Coast Capital will waive one year of monthly fees on a small-business account.
She was told about the award late last month, following the event at KPU鈥檚 性视界传媒 campus.
鈥淚 got a call at the end of the day, on a Tuesday, from the award presenters saying they were very impressed with my business model,鈥� Pugsley recalled.
鈥淚鈥檝e been working on the business over the last year and really worked to develop it, getting feedback from realtors and clients and other people,鈥� she added. 鈥淚t feels incredible to be known as an entrepreneur. I took a leap of faith to leave a static nine-to-five job to do this.鈥�
The Youth Entrepreneurship Award () was created to recognize KPU students and alumni who show excellence in the start-up phase of their entrepreneurial ventures. The award will be offered again in 2018.
Don Coulter, president and CEO of Coast Capital Savings, said the award combines two things the company is passionate about 鈥� 鈥渂uilding a richer future for youth and helping small business owners achieve what鈥檚 important in their lives. We are excited to partner with KPU to help innovative young entrepreneurs on these crucial early steps toward success and financial well-being.鈥�
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