The plenary for the business model competition launched by Esquire Financing, Inc.(EFI) was held last September 27 at the Asian Institute of Management. Called “Fueling the Dream: Business Model Competition” the project aims to stimulate creativity, passion and entrepreneurial aspirations among college students.
At the plenary, Dr. Eduardo Canela, a freelance development consultant and member of SERDEF’s Special Projects Committee, handled the session entitled, “Start Up 101” where he discussed modern concepts and fundamentals of business start ups, both in the local and international settings.
Other speakers in the plenary included the chairman and president of EFI; a young entrepreneur who shared his experience while starting his fast food business; and a professor from AIM who talked on the business model canvass.
Attending the plenary were over 100 participants, grouped into about 40 teams, and representing the following schools: Asia Pacific College, Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Manila University, Colegio de San Juan de Letran, De La Salle-College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University-Manila, Far Eastern University (East Asia College, Manila and Makati campuses), Lyceum of the Philippines University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, Raffles Design Institute, San Beda College-Manila, The One School, University of Asia and the Pacific, University of the Philippines Diliman and University of Santo Tomas.
EFI will award to the winning team a capital-based funding of up to PhP1 million, in addition to PhP100,000 cash, and a feature in Entrepreneur magazine.
Fueling the Dream is a collaboration between Esquire and its advocacy partners, Go Negosyo and SERDEF; and its media partners Inquirer.net, Rappler, WhenInManila.com, Entrepreneur, and Money Sense. The AIM hosted the plenary and will host as well the final presentation in December.
Esquire Financing, Inc. is a leading financing company in the Philippines that caters to the needs of SMEs. Since 2011, it has served more than 3,000 businesses around the country.