A group of high-profile venture capitalists yesterday offered the nation's budding entrepreneurs the chance to earn a total of NT$4 million for their business ideas.
Three winners will be chosen from a group of 50 semi-finalists who will take part in a five-weekend entrepreneurship program in September, at a cost of NT$10,000 per person.
The program's organizers -- the Lien-Ho Foundation (聯合工商教育基金會), the Taiwanese Academy of Banking and Finance (台灣金融研訓院) and other venture capital companies like the China Investment & Development Co (中加投資) -- yesterday invited all potential entrepreneurs with creative business plans to enter the competition.
"Individuals or groups aged between 23 and 45 are welcome to enter their business plans before July 31 for possible admission into the program," said Maa Shaw-chang (馬紹章), executive-director of the Lien-Ho Foundation.
Maa said that, after undergoing review by a panel of business pundits, the 50 selected candidates will participate in a business training program held in the Taipei suburb of Tienmu for five weekends between Aug. 24 and Sept. 29.
Business plans can be submitted in English or Chinese by participants from all nationalities, but the training program will be delivered in Chinese, the organizers said.
The NT$10,000 fee will cover lectures, meals and weekend accommodation. The top three creators of the best business plans will walk away with NT$2 million, NT$1.4 million and NT$0.6 million, respectively, with which they can start up their own businesses, Maa added.
"The three most creative, yet feasible, business plans will be selected from the 50 candidates' presentations," said the foun-dation's chairman Hsu Li-teh (徐立德), who also heads one of the program's co-organizers -- Prudence Capital Co (誠宇創投), a Taiwan-based venture capital firm.
Hsu, a former vice premier, added that, while "business savvy is an inbred talent, it can also be learned."
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