Economist Businesswomen innovative business idea winner receives prize
Hilja Amvula, winner of the 2018 New Business Idea Competition, run by the Economist Businesswomen Club, received her prize worth N25,000 this week.
Her idea, ‘Green the Dessert’, helped her bag a laptop with Microsoft office suite and internet connection from Telecom Namibia, N$5,000 start up fund from Standard Bank Namibia and assistance from Namibia Business Innovation Institute (NBII), with a formal business plan that can be presented to a financial institution for funding
Desere Lundon-Muller, Partner and Marketing Manager at the Economist said the objectives of the competition are to promote the concept of innovation, engage women entrepreneurs on innovation, capture potential entrepreneurs and motivate women to establish a viable business.
Fortune Kangueehi, Marketing Manager at Standard Bank said no meaningful economic development can ever take place in Namibia without the involvement of women who are the bedrock of our society.
“So as a bank that prides itself in helping develop and moving Namibia forward, we are delighted and honoured to have been part of this competition that seeks to unlock the entrepreneurial potential in women,” she added.
According to the Manager of Innovation Marketplace at the NBII, Silas Newaka, his team which was responsible for doing the evaluation of the final business ideas, used a specific criteria that determined the winning idea.
“We looked at how innovative the idea was, its technical feasibility, its creativity, its physical appeal and will it be commercially viability,” he said.
Felicitas Kakoro-Gowases, Senior Manager: Marketing Communication at Telecom Namibia said they have seen time and again how a good idea with the right support can change lives, not just of those that initially developed it but the people involved in its continued growth and success.
“We believe in the potential of Namibian women and girls and believe that with the right networking, exposure, mentorship and guidance they can develop their ideas and create a great, long lasting contribution to the society,” she added.
Amvula won the competition at the 2018 Economist Northern Businesswomen Conference in Ongwediva. The competition aims to create an opportunity for women to share their expertise and skills, make new contacts, support one another and to create worthwhile business relationships whereby they can be held accountable for their region.
Caption: From left to right: Justine Tujendapi, Coordinator Marketing Communications at Telecom Namibia, Desere Lundon-Muller, Partner and Marketing Manager at the Economist, Fortune Kangueehi, Marketing Manager at Standard Bank Namibia, Hilija Amvula, winner of the New business Idea competition, Felicitas Kakoro-Gowases, Senior Manager: Marketing Communications at Telecom Namibia and Silas Newaka, Manager of Innovation Marketplace at the Namibia Business Innovation Institute.
