In honor of celebrating his new book True Founder, Marc Lafleur has partnered up with various agencies to give away over $50,000 of agency credits as prizes to one small business owner. To enter all you have to do is submit a 2-minute video explaining why your company deserves it. Enter the giveaway here.

Being completely honest, as a team we were racking our brains trying to figure out the best way to help promote Marc’s new book, True Founder. Everything from traditional paid advertising to small giveaways of things like AirPods, Macbooks, and other random products seemed a little gimmicky. It was important to Marc that the marketing for the book be as authentic as possible, and specifically tailored to something that would resonate with founders.

We actually struggled for a while to find something until Marc asked the question, what is the thing I would have loved the most when I needed help building truLOCAL in the early days. That’s where the idea for the Ultimate First Time Founder Giveaway came from, and also what inspired the collection of agency credits as a prize!

Founders need help growing their business, not Airpods or giftcards. Organizing this giveaway became the perfect way for Marc to walk the walk after talking the talk in terms of wanting to create some specific for founders.

Taking it one step further, the original idea was to have people be entered into the giveaway by purchasing the book but Marc actually vetoed that by saying he didn’t want this giveaway to be gimmick to force people to buy the book. “If people resonate with what i’m about and what i’m putting together, they’ll buy the book. I don’t want to force them”. So Marc made it that anybody could participate in the chance to win by just submitting a video.

We’re proud and excited to host this giveaway, goodluck and keep building!

Founders will be able to enter the giveaway from January 8th 2023 to 11:59pm on February 19th 2023.

The winner will be announced and contacted on March 5th 2023.

Once the giveawau has closed on Feb 19th 2023, entries will be reviewed. The winner will be announced and contacted on March 5th 2023

1. All you’ve got to do to enter is record a 2-minute pitch as to why you deserve to win. Tell us who you are, what your business is, and over how $50,000 in agency credits will help your business.

2. Fill out the quick Google form and make sure to attach the link to your pitch! Upload your video to YouTube (you can set it to private) and attach the link in the submission form.

3. We’ll be personally reviewing pitches and be choosing a winner on Feb 20th. We’ll reach out to the winner directly via email and phone!

You can find the submission link here https://forms.gle/NHE1QKyqWtqWYbyJ6

Nope! This is not a popularity contest. Tip: In order to keep your video private you can make your YouTube video “unlisted”

“THE ULTIMATE FIRST TIME FOUNDER GIVEAWAY CONTEST” OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.

OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF QUEBEC) WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF MAJORITY AS OF THE DATE OF SUBMISSION. BY ENTERING THIS CONTEST, YOU REPRESENT THAT YOU SATISFY ALL OF THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN RULE 2 BELOW AND YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE READ AND TO AGREE TO BE BOUND UNCONDITIONALLY BY THESE OFFICIAL RULES. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

This Contest is sponsored by Black Mane Innovations (the “Sponsor”) and is open to any Entrant (as defined below) who has entered a Submission. Any violation of these Rules may, at Sponsor’s discretion, result in disqualification. All decisions of the Sponsor or judges regarding this Contest are final and binding in all respects.

1. PROMOTION PERIOD. Promotion begins at 9:00AM Eastern Time on January 8, 2023 and ends at 11:59 Eastern Time on February 19, 2023, when all entries must be received (the “Promotion Period”). To enter, Contestants must submit a two-minute long video to the Sponsor at the following link https://forms.gle/2iK6FQGunEK1jCdy7 (explaining why the Contestant deserves to win the Prize, defined below, and how the Prize will bring the Contestant’s business to the next level) during the Promotion Period and follow the instructions to complete and submit the entry form. All entries become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Entrants hereby waive all moral rights in and to any video entry. Limit: One entry per person during the Promotion Period. All entrant information, including names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, is subject to the Sponsor’s privacy policy, available at https://www.marclafleur.com/privacy-policy and the Sponsor’s terms of use, available at https://www.marclafleur.com/terms.

2. ELIGIBILITY. This Promotion is open to residents of the United States and Canada except:

a. anyone below the age of 18 at the date of entry

b. officers, directors, members, and employees and immediate family members of the Sponsor, the judging organization (if applicable), or any other party associated with the development or administration of this Promotion, and the immediate family (i.e., parents, children, siblings, spouse), and persons residing in the same household, as such individuals; or

c. anyone who fails to comply with these Official Rules or otherwise tampers with the entry process (eg. signing up twice under different names or aliases to increase changes of being selected).

At any time, Sponsor will have the right to request from any individual who has participated in this Promotion by submitting an entry (each an “Entrant”) proof of identity and/or eligibility to participate. Failure to provide proof within a reasonable time or the provision of false or misleading information could result in the Entrant’s disqualification. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any Entrants who, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, do not comply with these Official Rules or who otherwise tamper with the entry process.

3. WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION. The odds of winning this Promotion depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winner selection will be conducted by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor who will evaluate each Entry on or about [February 13] (the “Selection Date”). Any potential winner will be notified by email to the address provided on the contact form. If a potential winner: (i) cannot be contacted; (ii) does not respond within five (5) days from the date the Sponsor first tries to notify him/her; (iii) fails to return the Release as specified in Rule 5; (iv) refuses the Prize (as defined in Rule 4); and/or (v) the Prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, such potential winner forfeits all rights to win the Promotion or receive the Prize, and an alternate potential winner may be selected by the panel of judges. Sponsor is not responsible for any change in an Entrant's email address or for any failure whatsoever of Entrant to receive Sponsor’s notification or for Sponsor to receive a selected Entrant’s response. Upon contacting a potential winner and determining that he/she has met all eligibility requirements of the Promotion, including without limitation the execution of required waivers, publicity and liability releases and disclaimers, such individual will be declared the “winner” of the Promotion.

4. PRIZES. There will be one (1) winner of the Promotion. The prize contains the following:

a. A 3-month credit toward Commerce Garage services to run Facebook and Google ads (up to $27,500 CAD value);

b. A credit for V&CO – for PR services (up to $10,000 CAD value);

c. A 3-month credit towards working with Teitleman SEO services to run SEO and backlink services (up to $3,000 CAD value); and

d. A one-time credit towards PlayerTwo – Launch video/hero video creation services (up to $25,000 CAD value).

Collectively, all of the above will constituted the “Prize”. The total approximate retail value of the Prize is up to $66,000 CAD. Actual value may vary based on various factors, including fluctuations in price and the use of each applicable credit by the winner before expiry. All credits comprising the Prize must be redeemed by the winner within one (1) year after selection. For clarity, all unused credits will expire one (1) year after selection of winner and will no longer be redeemable. In order to receive the Prize, winner agrees to enter into the necessary service agreements with the applicable entities in order to receive the Prize credits. No Prize or any portion thereof is transferable or redeemable for cash. No substitutions may made for the Prize except by Sponsor, in which case a prize of equal or greater value will be substituted. All federal, provincial, state or other taxes that may apply due to the receipt of a prize are the sole responsibility of the individual who receives that prize. The Prize will be made available to the winner, the specific delivery method will be determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Sponsor shall not be responsible for any failure of delivery by email or other delivery method if factors beyond Sponsor’s reasonable control prevent the Prize from being fulfilled/awarded.

5. RELEASE. Before being declared the winner, the selected Entrant will be required to sign a declaration of eligibility and release form (the “Release”) indicating that the selected Entrant: (a) has complied and agrees to comply with these Official Rules; (b) accepts the Prize as offered; (c) will keep his/her winning notification confidential until notified by Sponsor; (d) releases Sponsor, its agents, employees, contractors and any other parties to be added to the Release in Sponsor’s sole discretion (the “Released Parties”) from any and all liability arising from his/her participation in the Promotion or his/her acceptance, use, misuse or awarding of the Prize; (e) indemnifies the Released Parties from any and all losses that Sponsor may incur arising out of any act or omission by him/her in connection with the Promotion or the Prize; and (f) except where prohibited by law, acknowledges Sponsor’s and its authorized representatives’ right to publish and/or broadcast the winner's name and/or statements without further compensation other than the Prize offered. The wording of the Release will be determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion. Sponsor may also add such other terms and conditions to the Release as Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may deem necessary. The selected Entrant must return the Release by the date indicated on the document. If the Release is not returned on time or is returned as non-deliverable the Prize will be forfeited and another Entrant will be selected by the panel of judges from the remaining eligible entries until the Prize is successfully awarded.

6. DISCLAIMERS. Sponsor assumes no responsibility for and under no circumstances will Sponsor, its agents, employees, contractors and assigns be liable to any person or business entity for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, consequential or other damages based on any Entrant’s participation in the Promotion, including for: (i) entries which are incomplete, unintelligible, lost, late or misdirected; (ii) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to failure of the Internet during the Promotion Period, any problems, failure or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, online or electronic systems, servers, access providers, computer hardware or software, incomplete, garbled or delayed Internet/e-mail computer transmissions on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof or other failures related to hardware, software or virus; (iii) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Promotion; (iv) technical or human error related to the administration of the Promotion or the processing of entries; (v) any injury, loss or damage of any kind which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from participation in the Promotion by any Entrant, use or misuse of the Prize or any part thereof; (vi) any use of the Website or any other website to which the Website is linked (including without limitation any injury or damage to an Entrant’s or any other person's computer relating to or resulting from participation or downloading any materials in this Promotion); or (vii) any Entrant’s failure to abide by the Official Rules. The limitations of liability set out in this Rule 6 apply, without limitation, to any lost profits, and will apply even if Sponsor has been specifically advised of the possibility of such damages.

7. GOVERNING LAW. By participating in this Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules. All decisions of the Sponsor with respect to any aspect of the Promotion and these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the eligibility of entries and the winners are final and binding on all entrants. The laws of the Province of Ontario, excluding its provisions on conflict of laws, shall govern this Promotion. All disputes arising out of or connected with this Promotion will be resolved individually, and without resort to class action, exclusively by a court located in Toronto, Ontario Canada with respect to any matter arising hereunder or related hereto. These Official Rules state all of the terms and conditions governing the Promotion.

8. CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS. Sponsor reserves the right without prior notice, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Promotion if, for any reason, the Promotion is not capable of running as planned or if the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of the Promotion is corrupted or adversely affected, including by reason of infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond its control. In the event of cancellation of the electronic portion of the Promotion, Sponsor may select a winning entry from all eligible Entries received prior to cancellation. Sponsor reserves the right to amend the Official Rules without prior notice if any factor interferes with the proper conduct of the Promotion as contemplated by these Official Rules. Should multiple users of the same e-mail account enter the Promotion and a dispute thereafter arise regarding the identity of the Entrant, the authorized account holder of said e-mail account at the time of entry will be considered the Entrant. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, on-line service provider or other organization which is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses or the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.

9. OFFICIAL RULES AND WINNERS LIST

For a copy of these Official Rules or for the name of the declared winner, send a request along with a self-addressed stamped envelope to: 151 Charles Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G1H6.