StartUp Cup, a featured event of the Global Entrepreneurship Week, has been launched by the Chairman of the Ghana StartUp Cup in Accra in the Capital.
This business model competition which is the first of its kind in Ghana was launched at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on the 25th of May, 2013.
It occurred on the platform of the Africa Youth Economic Forum (AYEF) which took place at the AICC to commemorate the Jubilee Celebrations of the Africa Union (AU) Day. The youth forum was organized by the Ghana Centre for Entrepreneurship, Employment and Innovation (GCEEI) in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ghana.
StartUp Cup, as it is the first time to hit the shores of Ghana is in well over 40 but in close to 50 countries across the globe.
Before the launch of the programme, a brief round-sitting discussion was held by the major players of the programme and they consisted of the StartUp Cup Judges, Mentors and some notable stakeholders in the entrepreneurial Ecosystem, some of whom are Mr. Stephen Gyasi-Kwaw who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Youth Enhancement International and Madam Leticia Browne, Investor Relations at Ghana Angel Investor network (GAIN) all of whom delivered their speeches during the discussion.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of StartUp Cup, Mr. Sean Griffin said, He is very excited that Ghana StartUp Cup has joined the StartUp Cup Community. He Challenged the Ghanaian community to support the diverse entrepreneurial climate.
He said StartUp Cup does not seek to glamorize the Startup process. Rather it moves beyond generation of ideas by focusing on the mechanics on what is required to design and build a business that can stand the test of time.
StartUp Cup is a global network of business model competitions designed to provide community-based and long-term support to participating local entrepreneurs during their early growth stages. This proven model to build businesses and create jobs can be replicated in any community.
StartUp Cup is a Featured Event of Global Entrepreneurship Week and an Official Partner of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Entrepreneurship Program. Partnering with Ghana StartUp Cup are, ColoJar, Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN), and Global Entrepreneurship Week- Ghana.
Other partners include MEL Consulting, Africa Youth Economic Forum, Growth Mosaic, HR Focus Magazine, Hub Accra, Startup Digest( Powered by Kauffman Foundation), Beauty Secrets Cosmetics, Dutch Lady Consultancy, myJCR, One Broadcast and DTE Group Inc.
According to Mr. Emmanuel Nyame who is Chairman of Ghana StartUp Cup “StartUp Cup is a great opportunity for Ghana’s entrepreneurial community”
Most important of all according to Mr. Nyame, “StartUp Cup is a proven model to grow an entrepreneurial ecosystem as it comes with an added value of being able to support entrepreneurs and arm them with skills which will propel them from ground levels to the heights in business”
He said StartUp Cup is a global network of locally driven business model competitions open to anyone with any type of business idea. He said, entrepreneurs will receive coaching and mentoring from local seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders throughout the competition.
He then stated that online submissions will be open until June 30, 2013 by 11:59pm. He further entreated all youth (students, graduates, workers, etc.) who have the interest and would want to take part in the business model competition to visit their website on www.ghana.startupcup.com.
Mr. Emmanuel Nyame later stated that entrepreneurs who would participate in the Ghana StartUp Cup business model competition would be required to design a viable business model, develop customers, and accelerate their startup into the marketplace through a comprehensive six-month judging, coaching, and mentoring process.
He said an award ceremony will be held in November to announce the winners during the Global Entrepreneurship Week and the grand prize winner will be eligible to compete in the World StartUp Cup in 2014. The winning company then gets an all expenses paid trip to the 2014 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Moscow, Russia. Over US$ 30,000 worth free services, prizes and specific awards would also be available to finalists. There would also be an investment structuring with the Ghana Angel Investor Network (GAIN).
Most important of all is the life-long support that StartUp Cup provides, said Mr. Emmanuel Nyame, Chairman of the Ghana StartUp Cup.
