The Startup Malta Foundation is, and has been for the last four years, taking
a leading and active role in the promotion of entrepreneurship in the Maltese
islands.
In December 2000, Startup Malta became the first organisation in Malta to
promote and run a business plan competition. Since then, entrepreneurship and
innovation have become buzzwords, but how much do we really know about the
"entrepreneur species" and, more importantly, what does it takes to be one?
At its most simple, the word entrepreneur defines a mind-set and an inclination
to be forward thinking and innovative. Easier said than done many will say, but
at Startup Malta we believe that the talent, drive and will to be creative and
to succeed is latent in everybody. So the problem is reduced to one of providing
an environment in which one can explore his or her creative potentials. The
Startup Malta attitude revolves around this concept and we aim to give our
participants and members the opportunity to develop ideas and stretch their
limits in a controlled yet challenging environment.
During the Startup Malta Awards Ceremony last April, Alfred Triganza from APS
Bank summed up this idea during his keynote speech: "I am after supporting doers
not astrology followers. This organisation has the willingness to make it
happen". And indeed Startup Malta has made quite a lot happen in the relatively
small period of time it has been in existence... and our willingness to achieve
more is as strong as ever.
Once again we are giving the opportunity to students, youth, and young
entrepreneurs the opportunity to express their talent in the Get BIZZY! Business
Plan Competition. The competition offers the exciting opportunity of taking part
in a realistic business game, networking with some of Malta's finest business
professionals while competing against other teams to win several cash prizes,
among them that for Best Business Plan carrying a cash award for Lm1,000.
The Get BIZZY! Competition is the only competition that takes its participants
through the various stages involved in coming up with a new business venture:
The creative process, the business planning stage and presentation. Participants
in the competition automatically participate in the unique Startup Malta
Entrepreneurial Training Course, which this year has been totally revamped with
a particular focus on sustainable design, creative management and interactive
workshops.
The course will include a four-day seminar and boasts the participation of
accomplished trainers and entrepreneurs such as Winston J. Zahra (Island Hotels
Group), Malcolm H. Ross (Merlin Consulting, UK), Dr. Sandra Dingli (The Edward
de Bono Institute), Rosanne Galea (MAWB), John Varney (Centre for Management
Creativity, UK), and Paul Hughes (BatteriesIncluded, Netherlands).
Top representatives from our major partnering organisations such as APS Bank,
Malta Enterprise, Island Hotels and Ernst & Young will also be participating in
panel discussions to share and discuss their entrepreneurial experiences and
specialised business skills.
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