VIRTUAL TOUR
2014
25 JulUCSI students learn to launch start-ups with the Entrepreneurship Building Project
KUALA LUMPUR: The unique concept of custom-made sneakers with luxury additions such as gold plating and having your photo printed on them emerged as the winning idea for the Entrepreneurship Building Project (EBP). The EBP Finale Dinner was held at UCSI University.
Organised by the Department of Management Studies, under the Faculty of Business and Information Science, and the Management Student Association, the EBP aimed to provide students with the exposure and platform to launch their own startup companies.
The competition began in June and the teams underwent three workshop sessions that focused on equipping them with practical skills needed to run a business. The workshop topics included the globally acclaimed Blue Ocean Strategy, the legal aspects of business ownership and registration, as well as tips on digital marketing.
Talks by entrepreneurs on how to start a business while in university and encouraging entrepreneurship were also held. Mr. Syukran Idris from What Achievers Wear – who was also a judge during the finale – were among the speakers.
The Companies Commission of Malaysia also showed its support by setting up a mobile business registration van on campus to encourage students to apply for their business license.
Out of the 16 participating teams, with five team members each, five were selected as the finalists. These were Great Fitness, Lucrative Business Solutions, Superstar, Nano, and The Extraordinary.
They then pitched their ideas during the EBP Finale Dinner to the panel of judges. The judges were Mr RJ Liow, founder and CEO of AYS Sdn Bhd and author of “Marketing Halal: Creating New Economy, New Wealth”; Kashminder Singh, co-founder of pitchIN –a crowd-funding platform; Syukran Idris, founder and CEO, What Achievers Wear – a entrepreneurship inspired clothing brand; Eddie Tai, director, A-Saloon; and Michael Tan, Campio Resources.
According to Liow, the thoroughness and thought processes of all the participants were very impressive.
“I know it is not easy to do a five minute pitch and credit goes to the teams and their lecturers,” he said.
As a seasoned entrepreneur and respected name in halal marketing, Liow shared that aspiring entrepreneurs must be realistic and that being one’s own boss is not reason enough to sustain them in the challenging journey.
The judges selected Lucrative Business Solutions as the winning team due to their unique product idea, clear business pitch, well-thought-out business strategy and sound costing.
According to Vanessa Meghann @ Ang Man Xuan, 22, who presented the team’s pitch, the competition was a wonderful opportunity to learn and plunge into the world of entrepreneurship.
Her other team members were Liew Wye Yaw, 21; Jason Yau Ching Huat, 19 and Vijayaletchumy A/P Murthy, 24 and all are currently pursuing the Diploma in Management at UCSI.
As the champions, Lucrative Business Solutions won RM1,000 in cash, a 12 month ambassadorship stint with Campio Resources, and two months of coaching from Liow.
Three Most Valuable Presenter awards were also given out to Syamimi Saiful Anuar of Nano, Meghan of Lucrative Business Solutions and Yong Suk Khuan of The Extraordinary. The three won the book “Marketing Halal: Creating New Economy, New Wealth” by Liow as well as internship opportunities from the judges.
Additionally, the five finalists also qualified to join the Shell Fuel Save College Competition, which offers a chance to win RM15, 000 as well as possible employment at Shell.
