Aspiring entrepreneurs, cricket enthusiasts and curious onlookers are all invited to attend the Prize Giving event of the 2006 New Business Challenge on March 23.

Time and date: Thursday 23 March, 18.00 – 20.00
Location: Square Lecture Theatre, LG Floor, Tanaka Business School, South Kensington campus

Correctly guess the winners of the competition and you could win a Woodworm cricket bat signed by Freddie Flintoff, presented by entrepreneur Joe Sillet, who founded this growing sports equipment brand. 

The New Business Challenge is the second stage of the Imperial College £55k Entrepreneurs’ Challenge, the yearly business plan competition organised by Tanaka Business School for all Imperial students.

This exciting, high-profile competition helps budding entrepreneurs develop their business ideas and enhance their CVs whilst competing for top prizes: £25,000 in cash and services will be awarded to the overall winning team, £5,000 each for the two runners-up teams and £1,000 for the remaining seven finalists.

The 2006 Prize Giving caps off another successful year for the Challenge, and is an invaluable opportunity to network with others who are interested in entrepreneurship and learn more about the competition.

Our Guest speaker will be Joe Sillett, Founder and Managing Director of cricket equipment maker Woodworm, the brand endorsed by Freddie Flintoff as far back as 2002. Woodworm cricket bats sprang to notoriety after Flintoff spearheaded England's win at the Ashes in 2005, and the company has since been hailed as the UK’s fastest growing sports brand. Fellow England player Kevin Pietersen now endorses the brand, as do the West Indies' Dwayne Bravo and Sri Lanka's Russell Arnold.

The Challenge's 10 finalists will give 1-minute presentations of their businesses, followed by an audience ballot.

Imperial College rector  will announce the winner and two runners-up chosen by the New Business Challenge judging panel.
A Woodworm bat, signed by Freddie Flintoff, will be awarded to an audience member who has correctly guessed the winners.

Drinks in the Tanaka Business School foyer: the Challenge organisers will be on hand to answer any questions, and you will have the opportunity to network with fellow students whilst having drinks and snacks.

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP by emailing . 

About the Entrepreneurs' Challenge

The ‘Challenge’ is open to all Imperial College students, undergraduate and postgraduate, and is run by the Entrepreneurship Centre in Tanaka Business School. Entrants do not need to have prior commercial experience or have been educated in business to enter. Previous winners have come from a variety of departments, e.g. Physics, Medicine, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Design Engineering and Biological Sciences, taking their initial steps in entrepreneurial activity through our learning support and mentoring programmes.

Our teams have been successful in London-wide as well as international business plan competitions, proving Imperial’s students to be among the best at developing and presenting ideas. 

More information about the Challenge is available on our website on

We look forward to seeing you on March 23

The Challenge Team
 
Entrepreneurs' Challenge
Entrepreneurship Centre
Tanaka Business School
Imperial College London
London SW7 2AZ
 
T: + 44 (0) 20 7594 9138
F: + 44 (0) 20 7823 7685
E:challenge@imperial.ac.uk