Ignite your ideas

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Been there, done that. And yes, it was a great experience and you can only get better and better when you participate in this kind of competition. Sometimes it’s not about winning the competition but to fully test your capabilities, your resounding ideas, your vision, your marketing plan and so on. It has been two years since I joined the competition and I don’t intend to this time round. But this is the best way to spearhead your dream or your venture into the business world with your creative ideas.

So it’s good to see the competition is back year after year and the standard gets a big tougher too. The great thing about iCentre’s 2014 IGNITE Entrepreneurship Challenge is that they provide bootcamps, workshops and mentoring sessions which was highlighted by Brian Koh, Director of NUS Enterprise & KR Consulting. I mean, where else can you get all these benefits that can guide you and it’s free *lol*

The launch of the 2014 IGNITE Entrepreneurship Challenge took place last Tuesday and the guest of honour was Dr. Haji Abdul Manaf Hj Metussin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

It seems like a long time indeed as this competition was first introduced back in 2008 under the name of THiNKBIG Business Plan. You will see that some of the winners of the past competition have used this platform to make their ideas into reality namely Malppy, Social Deal and DotRoot Technologies. Sometimes the winning ideas may not translate into success but it will spur on other ideas and Keeran the founder of Expansys and MeSixty showed that success doesn’t really mean on just building one idea. He is now on a great journey as a “technopreneur” where his latest project Chrends is now based in the Silicon Valley (my kinda of dream that has faded years ago).

Dr. Haji Abdul Manaf Hj Metussin, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB). Image courtesy of The Brunei Times.

Dr. Haji Abdul Manaf Hj Metussin receiving memento from Brian Koh

Asri Razak, Corporate Communication of iCentre briefed through the guidelines of IGNITE

Ladies and gentlemen, don’t wait. Do take this opportunity and you will have nothing to lose. I don’t mind to mentor if you need some help especially when it comes to presentation. Content wise, I might be a bit weak especially on the financial side.

Anyway, below are some of the guidelines that you might need to be aware of if you plan to join the competition.

1) Submit your EXECUTIVE SUMMARY by 28th September through ignite.icentre.biz website

2) Bootcamps on 10th and 11th of October and 17th and 18th of October (teaches you on team make up, financial soundness, investment and quality of presentation.

3) Final submission of business plan – 9th November 2014.

4) Award presentation will be 26th November 2014.

So that’s just a brief run down of what to expect from this year’s competition. As for the prizes, refer to the categories available.

ICT Open Business Plan Category

• 1st Prize will be awarded BND$20,000

• 2nd Prize will be awarded BND$10,000

• 3rd Prize will be awarded BND$5,000

College and University Category

• 1st Prize College category will be awarded BND$4,000

• 2nd Prize College category will be awarded BND$2,000

• 3rd Prize College category will be awarded BND$1,000

International Category

• 1st Prize International category will be awarded BND$8,000

• 2 Consolation winners will be awarded BND$1,000

Most Innovative Award

• Special Price will be awarded up to BND$5,000

Ambrose Nathan and Pg Aki were among the invited guests during the launch and later on, iCentre hosted open house

iCentre open house last Tuesday

Representing the associates of iCentre

Kebab was sold out