The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) has launched a nation-wide entrepreneur search competition.
… the true potential of Pakistan’s skilled human resources, and the recent availability of capital for funding, is still not being utilized to its fullest potential. These untapped resources need to be channellized so that they contribute meaningfully in boosting the country’s economy. Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), acknowledging the lack of innovative solutions, and primarily with a view to fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in the country’s youth, is conducting a nationwide Entrepreneur Search Program relating to broad-based technology products and related services. This project will encourage young people to develop innovative new ideas, and promote indigenous product-based development in Pakistan.
The competition requires an initial 2 page concept business plan to be submitted before July 7th 2005. PSEB will select 25 top entries to be invited to a 5 day entrepreneurship workshop held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS). The selected teams will be required to submit a complete business plan and give a presentation to judges at LUMS at the end of the competition. More information about the agenda here.
Some interesting points about the competition:
- Age limit of 28 years as of June 30, 2005
- Only teams of 3-5 people are allowed to enter, with at least one student from business or commerce and one from technology (I am not sure whether they need to be current students)
- More emphasis on execution, rather than innovation: Plans need not be original, in order to qualify they must be successfully implemented in a competitive business environment
- Not mentioned on the website: a quarter page ad in the paper mentioned that the top 3 business concepts will be awarded Rs 500,000, Rs 300,000 and Rs 200,000 initial seeding money