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Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition (UWIVC)

 

The Programme begins with the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition (UWIVC) which is open to all registered students and researchers of The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona Campus. The Competition is used as an introduction to the overall Programme to prepare the students for a meaningful entrepreneurial journey.

The process of the Competition is as follows: 

(UWIVC) flyer

 

Participants of the Competition are able to not only win cash prizes and an all-expense paid trip to New York in the United States, but have the ability to participate in the National Business Model Competition (NBMC) and possibly the International Business Model Competition (IBMC).

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UWIVC

Competition Rules

  • Teams with a maximum of five (5) persons are invited to enter
  • Entries must be the original work or independent ventures in the startup phase
  • If a team member of your business is a student of another university, that team member cannot represent the team/business either in the UWI Venture Competition (UWIVC) or National Business Model Competition.
  • Ideas/businesses entered in the UWIVC cannot be entered in any other competition representing another university within the same year.

 


 

Post Internal Competition

Four teams from the UWIVC are then offered a chance to participate in the National Business Model Competition which provides an opportunity to participate in the International Business Model Competition. Students are offered another chance to tap into even more funds to assist with getting their businesses off the ground. 

National Business Model Competition (NBMC)

 

The NBMC is one component of the Development Bank of Jamaica's (DBJ), Jamaica Venture Capital Programme (JVCP) that is geared towards building an entrepreneurial ecosystem. The objective of this annual Competition is to foster and promote entrepreneurial spirit, creative thinking and collaboration on the campuses of Jamaica’s universities and includes participants from all local universities. This Competition allows start-ups to vie for a chance to win a cash prize to be invested in their businesses and the winner is automatically entered in the International Business Model Competition (USA).

International Business Model Competition (IBMC)

 

The IBMC is a unique student start-up competition focused on the inputs, not the outputs, of the entrepreneurial process. This is also the first and largest lean start-up competition in the world. The Competition requires active identification and validation of crucial business model hypotheses rather than the writing of a static business plan. This Competition allows for start-ups to win cash prizes to be invested in their businesses.

Leading Edge Accelerator Programme (LEAP) 

The VHEP Leading Edge Accelerator Programme (LEAP) is a 12-week comprehensive programme that seeks to support early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship and preparation to access financing. The objective is to help students scale and grow their businesses exponentially. During the 12 weeks, the entrepreneur group will undergo a series of trainings and mentorship to support both their company’s growth and their own as a business leader.

 

Objectives:

The LEAP Accelerator seeks to give participants invaluable connections to:

  • Potential Customers
  • Strategic Partners
  • Potential Investors 
  • Industry Thought Leaders

The Programme is also aimed at facilitating support in building strong bonds with fellow entrepreneurs which will aid in expanding their networks.

 

Benefits:

  • We will help teams expand their knowledge of entrepreneurship techniques and frameworks through our webinar series to include presentations from various industry experts and thought leaders.
  • Throughout the period we will support the teams’ progress via one-on-one coaching sessions and meetings with external mentors who are carefully matched to the needs of their ventures.
  • Participants will also get the benefit of introductions to relevant industry experts, investors, and other entrepreneurs throughout the Programme.