(11 September 2006) The winner of the R40,000 grand prize in the Bob Shop/Gauteng Business online competition is Alan Fleming of Milnerton, Cape Town! While details around the winning idea cannot be disclosed at this time, to protect the winner's business proposal, his initiative is centred on the mobile world, in particular cellular phones.
"With a total of 139 hopeful entrepreneurs entering the competition, which was run over a two-month period, the judging panel had a hard time selecting a winner due to the calibre and innovation of the entries," says Andy Higgins, MD at Bob Shop and a member of the judging panel. However, as the criteria for the competition included aspects such as the business idea that is most likely to succeed as well as being online-based, according to Higgins; "It was the originality - and simplicity - of the winner's idea that caught our attention".
Alan Fleming, a project manager by trade, is ecstatic about being awarded first prize in this competition. "I have had this idea in the back of my mind for months now, but never knew how to execute it," says Fleming. "Bob Shop and Gauteng Business has given me the incredible opportunity to turn my idea into reality and get my first online business off the ground."
According to Higgins; "The response has been unbelievable and we are really pleased with the quality and quantity of entries that we have received. There were so many good ideas that have the potential to become very successful online businesses, but unfortunately there can be only one winner and we believe our candidate has what it takes to succeed in our growing economy."
The two runners up that have been identified by the judging panel include:
1st runner up: Online training centre on various topics and with different courses
2nd runner up: Online directory for the 2010 Soccer World Cup
However, the following two entries receive honourable mentions - for their originality and innovative business ideas:
Submissions were evaluated based upon key criteria, by a committee constituting; Andy Higgins, MD at Bob Shop, Arthur Goldstuck, MD at World Wide Worx and Lynda Gibson, MD at Core Concepts. The competition is also supported by respected media partner and local SME-read, Gauteng Business. The winner will be profiled by Gauteng Business once his idea is put into practice and his online business registered, so look out for further details.
The competition winner will receive the following prizes:
The two runners-up will also each receive R5 000 worth of advertising space on the Bob Shop Web site, as well as a profile interview in Gauteng Business.