The Winners of the “These Young People Have the Potential!” Project are announced

The winning business projects of the competition organized within the scope of the TÜSİAD “These Young People Have the Potential!” Project received their prize with a ceremony at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel, on October 10th, 2012. ODTÜ Biology students Beliz Bediz and Yunus Can Esmeroğlu won the first prize with their project titled “Heavy Metal Sweepers”. The ceremony was opened with a speech of Ms. Ümit Boyner, President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD; the Project Coordinator Mr. Mehmet Akman and distinguished business leaders who provided guidance to the competing students in the context of the project were also present.

The “These Young People Have the Potential!” project launched by TÜSİAD to encourage young entrepreneurs has been concluded. The first prize went to the “Heavy Metal Sweepers” projects. The first and the second runners-up were the “Environment Friendly Plastics” project and the “Youth Radio Crew” project respectively. Ms. Ümit Boyner and Mr. Metin Akman presented the prizes to the winners at the ceremony at the Ceylan Intercontinental Hotel, on October 10th, 2012. In addition to the cash prize, the winning student were awarded with virtual offices, e-trade internet services, financial consultancy and accounting support and legal counseling to assist their business development plans.

Ms. Ümit Boyner, President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD made the opening speech of the meeting, and the “These Young People Have the Potential!” Coordinator Mr. Mehmet Akman made a presentation on the project.

The distinguished business people who provided guidance and mentorship in the context of the project, Mr. Mehmet Aktaş, CEO and Member of the Board of Directors of Yaşar Holding A.Ş., Mr. Mustafa Aydın, President of the Board of Trustees of Istanbul Aydın University, Mr. Mehmet Ali Berkman, CEO of Akkök Sanayi Yatırım Gel. A.Ş., Mr. İsmail Cenk Çimen, President of the Automotive Group of the Koç Holding A.Ş., Mr. Cemal Kişmir, CEO of the BNP Paribas Cardif Sigorta A.Ş., Ms. Ebru Özdemir, Member of the Board of Directors of Limak Holding A.Ş., Mr. Mehmet Nurettin Pekarun, President of the Industry Group of the H.Ö. Sabancı Holding A.Ş., Mr. Okşan Atilla Sanön, Vice President of the Eczacıbaşı Holding A.Ş. at the  Corporate Communications and Sustainable Development Group, Mr. Mustafa Sayınataç, Executive Director of Cargill Gıda A.Ş. were also present in the meeting.

“We believe in our youth with their innovative and creative business ideas”

In her opening address, Ms. Ümit Boyner, President of the Board of Directors of TÜSİAD made the following remarks:

“As you all know, TÜSİAD is an NGO established by a number of distinguished entrepreneurs of Turkey; it is an association of entrepreneurs, in short. Therefore, as TÜSİAD members, one of our principal contributions to our country, next to our direct economic contribution, is sharing widely our entrepreneurial experience and hence contributing to the economic and social development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of our country. This understanding constitutes the basis of this project. We believe that the Business Ideas Competition of the “These Young People Have the Potential!” Project is a very befitting project for TÜSİAD members and for the institutional character of TÜSİAD.

This activity open to all university students all over Turkey with the support of our universities, has become a great project bearing on the “entrepreneurship”, the concept which define TÜSİAD the best, and shining out among many projects and activities of TÜSİAD aiming all to contribute to the economic and social development of Turkey. To succeed in this relay race, it is crucial that the new generation embrace the entrepreneurship as a profession, as a freely chosen way of making a living, as a revolutionary force of innovation, as a social responsibility for creating employment, and then transmit this mindset to the following generations.”

154 Projects from 48 Universities

The project attracted attention of the university students to a great extent and 154 interesting new business ideas from 48 Universities were submitted for the Project. Following a quite difficult screening process, 15 projects were determined as finalists, and the students developed their projects with the coaching of TÜSİAD members. The process taught the students that having a good idea is not enough and implementing these ideas is as important as that.