Support network group launches awards for Vismin entrepreneurs

A strong support system helped more entrepreneurs survive, especially those that are badly hit by the onslaught of COVID-19.

Cebuana entrepreneur Julie AlegradoVergara said her active membership with EO (Entrepreneurs Organization) has helped her and other members to go through the devastating experience due to pandemic, especially in the tourism industry, which is one of the businesses her family is engaged in.

Alegrado-Vergara, who is the chief executive officer of Bluewater Resorts chain, said the strong community within EO worldwide provided several fora within the span of the pandemic especially in 2020 helping members from across industries how to pivot and even thrive amid the health crisis.

The EO is a dynamic, global peer-topeer network of more than 13,000 influential business owners in 55 countries.

Meanwhile, Alegrado-Vergara who is also the chapter president of EO Philippines South for fiscal year 2021-2022, announced the launching of EO VisMin Accelerator Awards.

“As a community, we are investing in the growth and success of entrepreneurs in our part of the country exploring another approach to provide the infrastructure and support for entrepreneurs in the Visayas and Mindanao to grow together,” she said during the virtual launch.

From the organization’s perspective, the VisMin Accelerator Awards is one more step in the direction of creating a huge positive impact on this part of the world.

the virtual event attended by business leaders and members of the media across the region, proponents of the program shared their objective of connecting with the most promising and most impactful entrepreneurs in the VisMin so they can help them accelerate their businesses, she added.

To qualify for the awards, a candidate must be an Owner or Founder of a business registered and operated in the Visayas & Mindanao. The business must have been operating for at least two full years and generating revenues of between P12M to P50M for the period ending December 31, 2020. The business must also be employing at least 10 staff, excluding the owner.

Initial screening will be completed within the month of November and the final screening will be completed before the year ends.

Depending on the COVID-19 situation next year, the organization will hold a live, virtual or hybrid Awards Ceremony in midJanuary.

The winners of the VisMin Accelerator Awards will all receive media recognition, access to exclusive EO events and the extremely valuable EO Mentorship Program. Under the EO Mentorship Program, winners will get the opportunity to be mentored by EO members over a period of 10 months.

The winner of the top prize - the VisMin Accelerator of the Year award - will receive 1 Full Year of membership to the EO Accelerator Program, a global program that enables firststage entrepreneurs to catapult their business to the next level, giving them access to the tools, community and accountability for scaling their businesses past the $1M mark.

The program was founded in 2005 and has over 1,200 participants worldwide. The program runs across 22 countries and has graduated over 750 participants to date.

EO Philippines South is the local chapter of the Entrepreneurs’Organization (EO) focused on supporting Entrepreneurs in the Visayas and Mindanao. EO is a high-quality support network of 15,000+ like-minded leaders across 61 countries, helping entrepreneurs achieve their full potential through the power of lifeenhancing connections, shared experiences and collaborative learning.

Founded in 1987 by a group of young entrepreneurs, EO is the catalyst that enables entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other, leading to greater business success and an enriched personal life.