Campus entrepreneurs have something to smile about after consumer goods giant Unilever unveiled a competition for viable business ideas.
Dubbed Ideatrophy, it is a campus youth development initiative designed to create an “out-of-the-classroom” learning experience that focuses on the development of personal and entrepreneurial competencies amongst Kenya undergraduates.
Unveiling the programme at Norfolk Hotel, Unilever Managing Director for East and Southern Africa (ESA) Mr Yaw Nsarkoh said that this is a learning avenue aimed at triggering creativity among university students.
“This is a challenging and creative experience, where students from different universities figure out how business works in real life while developing their own skills and competencies. This is where university students figure out how business works in real life,” said Sarkoh.
The initiative, one of Unilever’s plans to double its business while making potential entrepreneurs grow, targets undergraduate students with untapped talents and plans to offer them a platform for actualization of the ideas.
“This will grow leaders with business acumen through our graduate trainee programme and conduct campaigns in campuses to encourage students participate in the Ideatrophy,” according to Ellen Bvekerwa, HR Director Unilever (ESA).
Bvekerwa said that the project will be undertaken in three phases, with the first one dealing with idea generation, online submission of the idea and preparation of business plan, which should be submitted to the website (www.ideatrophykenya.co.ke) and should be related to Unilever’s Rexona brand only. Timelines range from 22nd May to 6th June, with no limit in number of ideas.
The second phase comprises of zonal competition for those who have edged competitors in phase one, as well as preparation of execution of the business plan, with a time frame between dates 14th June to 4th July.
The final phase, known as boot camp and grand finale will deal with awarding the winner who will also enjoy a trip to the regional headquarters in South Africa.
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