E-Business Competition Comes To A Close

Mar 30, 2007—Mozcom, together with Unionbank, set the stage for the first Entrepreneurial E-Commerce Excellence (E3) competition on June 2006. Open to all university and post-graduate students nationwide, the contest brought together some of the brightest e-business ideas.  The contest involves not only the creation of a business plan, but also the execution of the business idea prior to the final judgment.

Leading the pack is BEADA.com, a retailer for customized jewelry. Through a click-and-drag interface, users can create their own necklaces, bracelets, anklets, and other fashion accessories. The group is composed of Karl Satinitigan from the Ateneo de Manila University, Eliel Sarmiento from De La Salle University, and Jed Cagalawan from De La Salle-College of St. Benilde. In second place is eAgribusiness, a B2B portal that matches farmers and farming cooperatives with businesses. The team is composed of Melvin John Sedano, Elric Dayanghirang, and Archie Riva, all from the Ateneo de Manila University.

The results of the first E3 competition showed a lot of promise that Mozcom is considering making it an annual event. Indeed, it was a fine showcase of what today’s Filipino youth has to offer. Unionbank Head of e-Channel Solutions Management Ramon Duarte says, "It’s very clear to me that the spirit of entrepreneurship is alive and well among this crop of students". His co-judges share the same sentiment. "If they represent a microcosm of future entrepreneurs in the country, then surely the Philippines is well on the road to progress. What is heartening, too, is the fact that these budding entrepreneurs are not motivated by profit alone…but also by a sense of social responsibility," Mozcom Chairman Beta Gan shares.

Know more about the competition by visit www.payeasy.ph/e3.asp.