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Budding local ICT entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to showcase their talents and pursue their business as iCentre has officially their launched fifth Ignite Business Plan Award in Kg Anggrek Desa yesterday.

The event was launched by YM Dato Paduka Awang Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohammad Taha, Permanent Secretary of Minister of Communication. Also present to witness the event was Dr Lily Chan, Chief Executive Officer of NUS Enterprise.

In his welcoming speech Hui Kwok Leong, Director of iCentre, spoke of iCentre’s call for more involvement of youth in entrepreneurship and urge for student bodies in colleges and institutions to be actively engaged in entrepreneurship awareness.

“We are happy that there has been a marked increase in participation especially in the younger entrepreneurs and we hope to see an increase again this year,” he said. As an enticement for this, he further announced that the college and university category cash prize has been doubled this year.

“In line with our objectives to increase participation of our youth, it is my great pleasure to announce that the prizes for this year’s College & University Category are now doubled for 2012; with a new 1st prize of B$4,000; 2nd prize of B$2,000 and 3rd prize of B$1,000,” stated the director. Kwok Leong also mentioned that to involve more youth, iCentre will be conducting a 2-day intensive business plan bootcamp at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. They will also be having mentorships of the university students in hope that this will make a difference in the variety of ideas and quality of submissions.

He went on to say, “With these new efforts, we hope that more students will take the path that Hiro from Social Deal and Khairi from PHMD publishing have taken. That is; while they are still students in UBD they started companies that are creating impact to the society.”

YM Dato Paduka Awang Haji Alaihuddin delivered his welcoming remarks and he even spoke of instagram 😀

Stuart Kemp, CEO of Asia Inc Forum speaking to the Shavon Hon, the winner of the Business Plan Award 2011, for BruInnovEdu

Allen Shim of RTB with Lai Pei-Si, CEO of and Head of Consumer Banking, Standard Chartered Bank Brunei

Coming into its fifth consecutive year, the Ignite Business Plan Competition, having grown bigger and better over the years and having built a community of ICT entrepreneurs in the region, is now focusing back into its roots to drive the participation of the youth.

And this year, this is done by bringing more excitement to the young and raw business talents to the world of entrepreneurial possibilities.

Shavon Hon, the winner of Ignite Business Plan Award 2011 shared her remarkable experience of being part of the competition and the grand prize winner, “Joining the Ignite Business Plan competition is a life-changing event for me, it is such a privilege and honour to be the grand winner. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to BEDB, iCentre, all the sponsors and the panel of judges for their valuable advice and support. For all the potential winners out there, just give it your best shot, you may surprise yourself on what you can achieve.”

Since its official launching five years, Ignite Business Plan Award 2012 has received a well-response with an increasing submission of business plans over the years. Last year the additional international category was introduced which sees participation from East and West Malaysia and Indonesia.

This year iCentre has added a new award dubbed the ‘Most innovative award’ to recognise potentials with the most outstanding and creative business plans.

iCentre continues its proud tradition of preparing the participants prior to finalizing their business plans before submission by providing workshops to gain insights and groom their entrepreneurial skills.

The $20,000 grand prize of Ignite Business Plan Award is the biggest prize money for a business plan competition in Brunei Darussalam. This year the award has attracted the partnership withUniversity of Brunei Darussalam and AITI as partners along with the support of Brunei Economic Development Board, Microsoft and Asia Inc Forum.

For more information, interested participants can visit ignite.icentre.biz or follow their Facebook page iCentre Brunei and Twitter iCentre_Brunei.

Ambrose Nathan withHui Kwok Leong, Director of iCentre

Two years back, our LoveFoodHateWaste team participated and we came as co-winners of the competition

The grand winner of Ignite Awards 2011