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Do you think entrepreneurship is a pipe dream? If you do, I am going to make you change your mind!
Frankly, entrepreneurship is a choice that one takes in one’s career. I’ve been in the Indian IT workforce for 3 years and I really enjoyed every bit of it, but, there is nothing like going to work and pursuing your hobby. And yes! You get to be your own boss. So, let me tell you my story; If after reading this, you get a feeling that “if she can do it, I too can easily do it”, then I’ll consider my article to be successful.
Let me first set the context; let me take you back to 2010 when I was living with my cutest ever roommate, my dog. Fresh out of graduation, I got my first job and I was having fun going to work every day, but sometimes, the work-pressure was so high that I used to get really stressed and tired. But again, almost always, going home to my dog and spending time with her felt really refreshing and relaxing. This got me thinking, why can’t dogs be therapeutic, and why can’t all of us make use of this wonderful creature. This is precisely the foundation of my business idea, Pet Love.
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That said I got into S P Jain Global MBA. Along the way, I got a good opportunity to pitch an idea and incorporate a company around it if I could interest the investors. This was a student entrepreneur competition, The Big Start, by Al Tamimi Investments (ATI). The competition aims to cultivate, inspire and reward young people's interest in entrepreneurship within the U.A.E.
For season 3 of this competition, it received over 300 applications and after 3 grueling rounds, a winner was selected.
The Big Start, ran for almost a 6 months, and was split into the following 3 rounds:
- Round 1: Students submitted their business ideas to be reviewed by the ATI team. Based on feasibility, merit and personal characteristics of the participant, the ideas got shortlisted.
- Round 2: Shortlisted participants got to experience how a business plan is developed through an intensive business plan workshop, and a one-on-one mentoring session with the ATI team. After another round of review, finalists were selected for Round 3.
- Round 3: After tutoring finalists on business presentation skills, they got to present their business plans to the ATI team, and eventually the Chairman of ATI team. Thereon, the chairman got to decide which idea he would like to invest on.
It felt great to be announced as a winner. Personally, I think what I had that others did not have is the “personal attachment to the idea and clarity on how my idea will change people’s lives forever for the good”. I am looking forward to this life changing experience of working with the ATI team to bring my idea to reality. Once the business goes live, I’ll hold the position of Founder & CEO and be given an agreed structured shareholding in my company.
If you too feel very strongly about changing certain things around you, entrepreneurship is for you. I encourage you to explore The Big Start (http://www.thebigstart.ae/) competition and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/TheBigStart).
One very important tip to those who want to participate in this competition: your super-smart teachers and classmates are the key to you winning this competition. I am really thankful to all the help I got from my teachers and classmates. And I wish to provide all the mentoring I can to my fellow college mates.
Cheers,
Aditi Sen,
aditi.sen.412@gmail.com
To learn more about the event, please view the links given below:
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