It’s good to know that the guest of honour is very aware of how social media is a powerful tool in spreading information and he mentioned in his welcoming remarks during the launch of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge (a new refreshing name) this afternoon at the iCentre. Abdul Mutalib, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications highlighted how complicated in terms of the issues that can be challenges if social media is used in the wrong way.

“There will always be D.R.U.M.S. ” said the Permanent Secretary, “Distortion, Rumours, Untruth, Misinformation and Smears. The implications of DRUMS can be far-reaching, destabilizing and chaotic. Impacts of such irresponsible use of ICT can also be harmful to vulnerable members of our society, particularly among the youngsters.”

The guest of honour hinted that mobile industry is very ideal for entrepreneurship as they are millions of adaptors of the social media such as instagram, twitter and Whatsapp. He applauded AITI on their research for the Networked Readiness Index (NRI) and Brunei has improved by 12 ranks in 2012 in terms of usage of ICT and also AITI’s latest initiative which is the AITI Inspire Program, funded by the HRD Fund under the National Development (RKN10).

He then shared an example of MeSixty in tapping into mobile apps and he hopes for more companies doing the same. He will look forward to new and intriguing ideas for the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2013.

Guest of honour Abdul Mutalib, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications and also the chairman of AITI delivering his welcoming remarks

A book that he recommended (during his speech) for us to read where human interaction is still relevant in our digital world

It was a packed house during the launch

Coming into its sixth consecutive year, the Ignite has evolved tremendously over the years and having built a community of ICT entrepreneurs in the region. This rebrand brings exciting changes to the competition, with the title renamed to ‘Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge’ which puts more focus on bringing in quality business plans.

In his welcoming remark, Brian Koh, director of NUS Enterprise and KR Consulting spoke of how the Ignite has evolved over the past years “from Ignite Business Plan Competition to Ignite Think Big, to Ignite, and now to the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge – this is not just semantics. It is no longer just a business plan competition, but rather a greater emphasizing on ideas that have been given some commercial validation.”

Among the invited guests was Javed Ahmad, Managing Director of BIBD, High Commissioners, David Kay CEO of Telbru, Haji Osman bin Ladis Deputy Chief Executive of AITI, directors, deputy permanent secretaries and senior government officials.

For Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge this year, iCentre will conduct a two-day bootcamp after the first round of executive summary submission has been carried out. The selected participants will then be entitled to undergo intensive training and provided the toolkit on the know-hows of launching a startup. They will also receive individualized coaching from experienced mentors.

Brian Koh stated that “The bootcamp approach will ensure that participants produce a robust business plan after two intensive days refining their business idea and potential.  This process provides a learning journey beyond the prize money.”

Brian Koh, Director of NUS Enterprise and KR Consulting

Dr Hjh Mona Yati Dato Seri Laila Jasa Hj Mohd Kassim, iCentre’s Manager

Launching Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge

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.

One of the main sponsors of Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge Award prizes is Innovative Award is Authority for Info-Communications Technology Industry (AITI) including the Most Innovative Award which rewards the participants with the most unique business plan. Universiti Brunei Darussalam is also a sponsor for the college and student category prize award.

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 total cash prize is just above BND 55,000 and I am remember the first time when it was introduced back in 2008 and it was called Think Big Business Plan Competition and the total cash prize then was only BND 45, 000. The inaugural winners then were Rafiqun WDSI, Expansys Technology (now MeSixty) and Outsource Contact Centre by 24-7 Assist. Ah, those were the days, aye?

If you have the opportunity, do join this competition. I have the privilege to enter the competition a few times and I can tell you that it’s never an easy journey but it builds who you are and your confidence at the same time. So don’t focus too much on winning but gain something that you never knew that you had in you. That is more priceless than anything else.

Good luck, guys!!

The winners in last year’s edition

Winners in the tertiary category last year

The launch of the competition back in 2009. Classic!!

 

New and bigger things at ICON Design Store. Click to enter

 

Grand Raya Package at Peugoet and promotion ends 15th September. Click image to enter website.

 

Click image to enter facebook page

 

Click image to enter website

 

Click image to enter flyroyalbrunei.com

 

The competition is back!! Last year Hj Khairul of Cinematicpro won the AITI Animasi competition. This year it will be a collaboration between AITI and iCentre with the title “iMMerse Next Innovation and Multimedia Award for Sustainable ICT Industry (ANIMASI)” and it must relate to the Brunei culture and tradition. This is also supported by Brunei Economic Development Board as it involves iMMerse, a series of competition that unveils the talents in the arean of business and IT. So far this is the first edition of iMMerse and it’s no surprise that iCentre’s project iMMerse is being collaborated wtih AITI’s Animasi.

There are two categories: Open and Professional. This is open to citizens and PRs. As for the Professional categories, it is open to established local ICT companies, studios and production houses registered in Brunei.

So what do you have to do? Well, you will be given task to produce a 3D animation clip of up to 60 seconds for open category. For professional category, you can have up to 5 minutes. You can submit in the format of .AVI .MP4 .MOV and don’t forget to include your raw files and footage of the final draft too.

Prizes for Open Category:
First prize: $5,000
Second prize: $3,000
Third prize: $1,000

Prizes for Professional Category:
First prize: $10,000
Second prize: $7,000
Third prize: $3,000

All of the top three will also get one year license to Houdini Apprentice HD from Side Effects Asia Pacific.

Each applicant for the Professional category is allowed two entries, one solely for the company, while the second can be a collaboration with another company. A collaborative entry however, only allows a maximum of two businesses, and only the primary company of the two will be credited and awarded.

There will be workshops as well for 3D animation and it’s highly recommended for participants to attend them. The deadline for the submission is 10th November 11:59pm for Open category and 6th December 4pm for Professional category.

You can download forms for Open here and Profesional Category here.

 

Teng Chin Ying Motors Sdn Bhd’s Teng Chee How (R) presenting a donation to Masjuwita Hj Abdul Hamid, a representative from the Brunei Breast Cancer Support Group during yesterday’s Audi quattro Cup Brunei 2013 Charity Golf Tournament at the RBA Golf Club in Berakas

Golfing in the spirit of charity. It’s not about winning but contribution to society. Last weekend T.C.Y Motors Sdn Bhd, the sole dealer of the Audi Brand, organised the The Audi quattro Cup Brunei 2013 Charity Golf Tournament which ended over the weekend. The prize presentation was held at the RBA Golf Club in Berakas, during which cheques totalling $16,500 were presented to local charity organisations.

Present as the event’s guest of honour was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah, who awarded the top trophies to the winners of the tournament. Coming in first place were the team of Dato Razak and Pengiran Haji Johari who won the exclusive right to represent Brunei at the World Final in October at the Trump National Golf Club, Los Angeles, USA, in the world’s largest amateur golf tournament. The Runner ups were Pengiran Mohd Joanda and Hj Amir Osman, while the 1st Runner ups were Ali Hj Abd Rahman and Mohd Afiq.

As a charity event, funds raised from all golfers’ registration fees were donated. Mr. Teng Chee How, presented the donations to Pusat Ehsan, the Community Development Department (JAPEM) and the Brunei Breast Cancer group on behalf of T.C.Y Motors.

Pusat Ehsan received $8,250, the Community Development Department (JAPEM) received $4,125 and the Brunei Breast Cancer Support Group received $4,125. To date, the event has donated $60,000 in total to local charities and non-governmental organisations since its start in 2010.

Prizes were also given for the nearest to the line hole on hole 18 and nearest to the pin hole on hole’s two, five, 12, 14 and 16 during last week’s tournament.

Donation to Community Development Departmetn under JAPEM

Runner ups were Pengiran Mohd Joanda and Hj Amir Osman

 

The teams from Deloitte and Daikyo Industrial Gas in a group photo during Impact Day 2013, celebrated yesterday at St George’s School in BSB with the theme, ‘Education and Youth’.

Auditing firm Deloitte Brunei visited St.George’s School in the capital to hold an “Impact Day”, which was aimed at raising environmental awareness and to inspire the students to recycle. It was also a means for their employees to give back to the community as their Corporate Social Responsibility. Daikyo Enviromental Recycling Sdn Bhd collaborated to provide a recycling bin for the school. Smaller bins were also given for individual classrooms.

Around 30 employees joined in the activity. The students were given talks on recycling by Deloitte Supervisor, Zulfariq Zainuddin and also by Daikyo Manager Jeffrey Hung, citing importance of recycling and the environmental impact of the growing waste and rubbish in Brunei.

Deloitte Brunei Audit Manager, Wong Li Len also delivered a talk on the accounting profession and careers that the students can pursue in the future.

A signing ceremony was also held for an Environmental Recycling Agreement between Daikyo Industrial Gas and St George’s School, where the materials collected from recycling would be purchased by Daikyo which would fund school activities.

Deloitte also presented scholarships to St George’s Principal Janidi Jingan, who received them on behalf of the recipients.

 

The Immigration and National Registration Department hosted a blood donation drive last weekend

The Immigration and National Registration Department hosted a blood donation drive as part of department’s celebration of 55 years in operation. The drive was organised in collaboration with the blood bank of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, and is held annually as a community initiative to help raise reserve levels of blood.

About 46 civil servants and members of the public rolled up their sleeves to contribute to a blood donation drive, which included the Senior Chief of the National Registration Department, Hj Sofri Hj Abidin.

The drive was organised by the Senior National Registration Officer, Ampuan Azami Ampuan Hussin. All the donors were given pins from the Immigration and National Registration Department to commemorate their donation and the occasion.