@Echo Introduction to pitching:
From Shark Tank to Dragon’s Den, business ideas are everywhere. However, not everyone has the ability to channel their ideas into a reality. Therefore, competitions like these assist young entrepreneurs by inviting them to pitch their ideas in front of a group of potential investors to gain exposure and learn from industry experts.
Star’t Pitching Sunway Business Competition 2021 was a one-month-long event organized by Sunway University Business School Student Concilium (SUBSSC) collaborating with CPA Australia that took place from the 8th of May 2021 until the 19th of June 2021. The contestant pool consists of 17 teams of university students across 12 various Malaysian Universities who competed against one another. Winners of the Star’t Pitching Sunway Business Competition 2021 will be receiving cash prizes as recognition for their display of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, the contestants would be able to gain valuable insights from various industry experts on their respective corporate world through workshops and mentorship sessions.
The main objective is to provide a platform for youth business leaders to develop their entrepreneurial skills through this competition. Other objectives include:
- Nurture young talents
- Increase exposure to the business world
- Increase the quality of future leaders
- Increase cross-university networking
- Generate innovative business ideas
Timeline of the event:
Event details:
What the teams went through
- Virtual Workshops
Workshops were held by various professional speakers to assist the contestants in certain aspects of their pitch which included design thinking and ideation, financial projection, distribution channels, promotional strategies and presentation skills.
- Mentorship sessions
Each team was paired up with a mentor who provided guidance throughout the screening session and Grand Pitching Finale. The mentors are well respected and are experts in their respective fields.
- Screening Sessions and the Judges
6 out of the 17 teams were selected based on their creativity, innovation and practicability. The judges were there to exert their expertise to fairly and reasonably assess the team’s effort in the various components of the competition.
- Grand Pitching Finale & The Judges
On the last day of the competition, which was the Grand Pitching Finale, the top 6 finalist teams pitched their ideas to the panel of judges. It was streamed on Facebook live where it reached out to a total of 2,400 viewers to witness the final stage. Giveaways and live voting sessions were conducted throughout the broadcast.
Overview of the Grand Pitching Finale
Winners of the Star’t Pitching 2021
Champion: Team Weeners
Product: Companyon (communication device and app integration)
Targeted Customers: Elderly, family members and doctors.
Problem raised by the team: Parents’ difficulties in connecting with their offspring resulting in them feeling neglected and social isolation. The lack of care and love might lead to serious consequences if left unnoticed.
Solution given: Elderly Companionship System through both hardware and software integration which involves devices such as a wristband, Bluetooth speaker and smartphone application. The app is utilised to monitor the physical status of the elderly while the wristband and Bluetooth speaker allows recording playback to have a sense of connection and remind the elder on their daily necessities.
1st Runner Up: Team Okay
Product: Kerjalah (job employment app)
Targeted Customers: Job seekers and employers
Problem raised by the team: Malaysia’s common phenomenon of being qualified but unemployed causes an increase in unemployment rates amidst the pandemic.
Solution given: An app to bridge the gap between both job seekers and employers through their app features which can improve employment quality and the experience of job searching.
2nd Runner Up: Team Samday
Product: Kicksify (environmental friendly kid-size shoe)
Targeted Customers: Parents
Problem raised by the team: Incorrect shoe size affects the health of youths which might lead to serious complications. Besides, the lifespan of kids’ shoes does not last long due to their rapid growth resulting in an unsustainable environment.
Solution given: The importance of wearing properly sized shoes through the adjustable shoe straps around the shoes. Shoe sole made by compressible rubber to expand and fit the current size of the wearer. Lastly, the shoe is also made from weatherproof materials to increase its durability.
Despite the technical difficulties, the event was massively successful with strong engagement from the audience and had gained publicity from various institutions and industry experts. Congratulations to the organizer, SUBSSC and the main collaborator CPA Australia and most importantly to all the contestants. Kudos to SUBSSC! They went out of their comfort zone and organized a well-thought-out event. Looking forward to any of their future events! Please check out their webpage to be informed of any future events!
Links:
Written by: Alex
Edited by: Maki
