JCI launches JuaNegosyante contest
A civic organization is seeking to aid entrepreneurs by holding a nationwide pitching competition.
“I personally believe that creating more entrepreneurs will push the Philippines to first world conditions,” said Rolan Garcia, Junior Chamber International ( JCI) Manila director.
Garcia’s vision pushed JCI to hold the first JuaNegosyante, a business pitch competition, that was launched last Saturday in ASPACE, Crossroads, Banilad.
JuaNegosyante is a nationwide competition for young entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas.
One aim of the project, according to Mikaela Pacubas, JCI Zugbuana director, is to help small entrepreneurs in the Philippines elevate their businesses.
“So the point of JuaNegosyante is we want to be able to elevate that, to be able to support young entrepreneurs in our country, and watch it (business) flourish,” Pacubas said.
She believes that Filipinos have the ideas and skills, but sometimes don’t have the venues to use these.
JCI is touring Cebu, Davao, and Manila looking for entrepreneurs and asking them to pitch their business ideas, and if they qualify, the top three will go to Manila for the final round.
In the final round, the business that will be chosen will be given resources such as funding, mentorship to guide the entrepreneur in proper decision-making, market entries so the business will be global, and incubation.
JCI is expecting to have 5,000 participants nationwide for the plenary sessions and 30 to 50 businesses that will pitch.
Participants’ pitches must contain the following: a definition of their company or their business in one declarative sentence; the problem (they must describe the problem of their target market and how customers try to address it); and how their service or product solves the customer’s problem. They must show their service or product, how it will be used, and how it works.
The JuaNegosyante competition Cebu chapter will be on July 28 in the JCenter Convention Hall.
Garcia encouraged entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting a business or those who already have businesses to pitch their ideas in JuaNegosyante. /