Mona School of Business and Management, launched the 2024 staging of its flagship entrepreneurship initiative, the Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition on September 25, 2024 marking a significant milestone in fostering innovation across diverse academic disciplines.
Entrepreneurship, traditionally the domain of business students, is now being revolutionized through the Vincent HoSang Entrepreneurship Programme (VHEP) which is managed by the Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM).
In his remarks at the launch event which brought together, students, faculty and members of industry, Executive Director, Dr. David McBean emphasized the strategic approach taken by the programme as he stated “… as we push Entrepreneurship we must not make entrepreneurship the enemy of paid employment…” hence this programme brings together industry leaders and corporate Jamaica to create a unique learning experience for students from all faculties of the UWI Mona. The competition, a beacon of innovation, facilitates capacity development, marketing research, investor matching, and mentoring to catalyse the creation of tomorrow's business leaders and innovators.
Key supporters for this year’s competition include Caribbean Food Delights (CFD) through the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF), JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, Baymac, Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC), and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC).
Mrs. Celia Alleyne Ebanks, Programmes Manager of JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, a Gold Sponsor, emphasized the competition's impact: "The tangible results we've witnessed over the years align perfectly with our mission to foster social responsibility and community engagement. This competition connects us with the next generation of innovative leaders."
As part of the preparation of the teams, a series of Boot camps were held during the months of October and November 2024 to cover the fundamental areas of business. These included the following:
Introduction to the Business Model Canvas –Mrs Ashli Rose-Davis, Programme Coordinator
Marketing - Mr. Mark Chisholm Executive Vice President, Sagicor Life
Finance- Mr David Mullings, CEO, Blue Mahoe Capital
Corporate Social Responsibility, Celia Alleyne-Ebanks, JMMB Programme Manager
Presentation Skills and Storytelling, Ms. Deon Dewar-Gray and Mrs Ashli Rose-Davis
Following the developmental stage, 32 teams submitted executive summaries and business model canvases, with 28 teams advancing to the Semi Finals which were held on November 28, 2024. After two days of presentations, eight teams were selected to advance for the finals— Artel, One Pot, Tae's, Justice Link, Genesis Career Centre, Fresh Ja, Pzylo, and CNC Hydroponics.
These top teams represent diverse business sectors including career development, application development, agriculture, and law. They will participate in additional developmental sessions to prepare for the final presentation on January 24, 2025, ensuring they are fully equipped to impress the judges.
The distinguished judging panel included representatives from key organizations: Jacqueline Lloyd-Carter and Melissa Barrett from Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC); Hodari Sewart and Shanalee Hylton as MSBM Alumni program supporters; Sharon Smith and Colin Fuller-Bennett from Mona Entrepreneurial and Commercialization Centre (MECC); Helon Whittaker and Giovanni Maddix from the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ); and Ramon McLaren, a UWI Venture Competition Committee Member.
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