The competition is on for around 50 teams of students and young professionals that attended the Workshop for Esquire Financing Inc.’s Fueling the Dream: Business Model Competition at AIM Stephen Fuller Hall on Saturday, August 15.
Launched to encourage creativity, passion, and entrepreneurial aspirations of the youth, Fueling the Dream will award a capital-based funding of up to Php 1 million, aside from Php 100,000 cash prize and features from various media channels: broadsheets, magazines, and social media.
Schools participating are Asia Pacific College, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle – College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University – Manila, Enderun Colleges, Far Eastern University, Lyceum of the Philippines University – Manila, Makati Science High School, Manila Tytana Colleges, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Sacred Heart College – Lucena, San Beda College – Manila, The One School, University of Asia & the Pacific, University of Sto. Tomas, University of the Philippines – Diliman and University of the Philippines – Los Baños.
The Workshop was attended by EFI’s President & COO, Navin Uttamchandani, and CFO, Sandeep Chandiramani. There was also a series of talks from event partners and invited guests: “Financing the Missing Middle” by Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc. Executive Director, Jay Lacsamana, “Ecological Footprint & Sustainability” by WWF Philippines VP for Sustainable Production & Market Engagement, Dr. Ria Lambino, “Entrepreneurship Development” by UmakeX Owner and DTI-GIZ Consultant, Dr. Ed Canela, and “Business Model Canvas” by Asian Institute of Management core faculty member, Prof. Richard Cruz. Lastly, the competition mechanics was explained. All presentation files will be available in the microsite: www.efifuelingthedream.com.
Fueling the Dream is also brought to the youth by advocacy partners: WWF Philippines and Foundation for a Sustainable Society Inc., endorsers: Young Entrepreneurs Society and Global Entrepreneurship Week Philippines, with Entrepreneur Philippines, WhenInManila[dot]com, MoneySense, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, and The Manila Times as media partners. AIM hosts the Workshop and Final Presentation. Submissions will be done in two stages: the Video Presentation and the Business Model Canvas. Final Pitch happens on November 21, where finalists get to present their business model in front of a selected panel of judges.
Esquire Financing Inc. is the country’s leading financing company that caters to the needs of SMEs. It was incorporated in 2011 and has since served more than 4,000 businesses around the country. It aims to fuel the dreams of entrepreneurs by providing fast, flexible, hassle-free, and non-collateral business loans from Php 100,000 to Php 10 million to small and medium enterprises.
Learn more about Esquire and its services at www.esquire.com.ph or by calling 811.8888.
