The “Unreleased” Press Release

09/10/09

Most people remember their first love and Peter Barbosa is no exception! It wasn’t love at first sight but rather it happened during his first year at Bradford High when he got involved with a passion that is sure to stick with him for the rest of his life – it’s a love for computers, what makes them tick and learning the “language” that programmers use to make them run faster and more efficiently.

Since then, Peter has been called all sorts of names in jest that he jokingly welcomes because he realizes they come with the territory – nerd, geek and computer dweeb to name a few. But now Peter says he’s able to add one more, one that he’s proud of, entrepreneur.

After completing the second year of the three-year Computer Analyst Program at Barrie’s Georgian College, Peter decided to try his hand at running his own business, rather than working for someone else.

“People in the program spend a lot of time as interns or as a co-op students working for a variety of companies. I’ve done a stint at Future Shop and then I was recruited by CIBC, but I thought I’d try my hand at entrepreneurship this time out. I made a conscious decision to become a job owner rather than a job seeker,” Peter said.

So far Peter’s bet seem to be paying off. He recently completed a job for Fred’s Paving that included setting up a network, installing a back-up system and firewall to prevent security breaches. There are also a couple of works in progress, such as website development for the Bradford Print Shop and fine-tuning a flash animation site for Newmarket’s Kayak Pools.

Peter’s company, ITelligent, is based out of his parent’s home in Bradford. Although his business is based on knowledge and providing affordable solutions, he did need some start-up capital for additional hardware and upgraded software in order to turn his summer dream into a reality.

“It was a classic Catch-22,” Peter lamented, “I actually had business and customers lined up but I couldn’t deliver what they were looking for without the upgrades. All my money had been eaten up by tuition and school expenses. I had the skills but I couldn’t afford the tools to get the job done.

“Then I heard about a program called Summer Company. I looked into it and thought it might be just what I was looking for. I had to work on a business plan and prove that my idea was viable in order to qualify. I had never written a plan before, but they have great people and free resources to help, but only if you’re prepared to do the work.”

Summer Company is sponsored by the Provincial Government’s Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. It is targeted to enterprising students, 15 to 29 years old, who want to start and run their own summer businesses. Successful applicants receive hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local business leaders who volunteer their time. They also receive a forgivable grant of $1,500 to put towards start-up costs and upon successful completion of the program, an additional $1,500 to contribute towards their education.

Dan Ruby, a Business Consultant at York Region’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) administers the program for the area. He also acts as a mentor and business coach for the young entrepreneurs enrolled in the program.

Business consultants work with the young entrepreneurs though the duration of the program and instil best business practices that we hope will stay with them for a lifetime. The program certainly gives these young people a taste of entrepreneurship and it’s up to them if they want to pursue it after they’ve finished their schooling but interestingly, about 30 percent do continue with self-employment. The businesses run the gamut of products and services to both consumers and businesses.”

Peter admits that being on your own isn’t for everyone, but he says the best part so far for him is the people that he gets to deal with.

“My target market includes small businesses as well as on-site and in-home computer repair and support. So far I’ve focused mainly on businesses, but I’m hoping more customers will visit my website and see how affordable my in-home services are. My competitive edge is that my in-home rates are actually much cheaper than the big box stores and you don’t have to dismantle and carry your computers in. Customer service is a big part of my business model.

“So far I’m having a ball,” admits Peter, “it sure beats sitting in a back room or cubicle doing the same thing, day in, day out. The best part is I’m getting paid for doing something I love,” he jokingly added.

If you would like further information about ITelligent contact Peter anytime at XXX-XXX-XXXX or visit his website at www.beitelligent.com

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For further information, please contact Peter Barbosa at:
peter@beitelligent.com