Startupper of the Year Challenge 2018-2019

Total Fiji has chosen a jury of professionals, during a pitch session to narrow down a field of 10 finalists, selecting three winners of the “Startupper of the year challenge.”

The “Startupper of the year” by Total challenge 2018-2019 is designed to support and reward young entrepreneurs from 18 up to 35 years of age.

The reward will go to those who have a project or have created a company in the past two years, regardless of their business sector. In each participating country, a local jury made up of Total Fiji experts, leaders of business incubators, company chief executive officers and prominent local actors will select three winners.

The projects will be judged on three criteria. They include:

• Their innovative nature

• Their social and community impact • Their feasibility and development potential

Each winner will receive the “Startupper of the year by Total” label and will be eligible to receive financial assistance, professional support and an advertising campaign to boost the project’s visibility.

The new thing this year for each category is there will be an award for top female entrepreneurs.

With this special prize, supplementary to the three others, Total Fiji is encouraging women to participate in greater numbers in the “Startupper” challenge. Applications can be submitted from, October 9 to November 13. Winners will be announced in February 2019.

Photo: Pravikash Naidu From left: vice president sales and marketing Total (Fiji) Limited Epironi Tulele, dean of Fiji National University college of engineering science and technology Salabogi Mavoa, vice president commercial and business-to-business Total Fiji Shuhila Lal, Australia New Zealand Bank (ANZ) Fiji country head Saud Minam, managing partner PKF Aliz Pacific Nur Bano Ali, ambassador for the ‘Startupper’ of the year Ajay Amrit, managing director Total Fiji Kazi Rahman, head of school and MBA programme director graduate school of business the University of the South Pacific Raghuvar Dutt Pathak and vice president finance Total Fiji Eriwin Budojo during the launch of the Startupper of the year on October 3, 2018.