Mr. Chatchai Payuhanaveechai, President & CEO of the Government Savings Bank (GSB), discloses that the Government Savings Bank opens GSB SMEs Startup Contest under the concept of SMEs Startup Wow! "Get Started, Fast & Possible," which is held for the 6th consecutive year. It is a stage of opportunities to support new generations, SMEs or startups aged below 35 years old to introduce their outstanding, different and creative business idea to win prizes worth a combined over 3 Million Baht. Applications are open today until 10 August. Presentation and announcement date of the winners will be held by the end of October. Besides the higher initial fund or more prizes, the contest this year will include Best SMEs Startup by business categories comprising Innovation Prototype and Innovation Idea.
"GSB SMEs Startup Contest under the concept of SMEs Startup Wow! "Get Started, Fast & Possible," is a stage of opportunities that GSB aims to support new generations who have creative, outstanding and different business idea to showcase their works. It is a channel to enlarge opportunities in business extension. GSB is ready to offer all supports including an entrance to business incubation process, knowledge from business seminar, business matching which can lead to business partnership as well as joint venture through the bank's venture capital and loan. This is in line with the government's policy which needs government agencies to help and support SMEs to access to sources of fund which can strengthen them to compete in the market. From the statistics collected annually during the past 5 years, there were a total of 6,127 teams nationwide applying for the contest with a combined 13,342 participants and a total of over 107,000 people following up the programme and these figures keep rising," GSB President & CEO says.
The 6th-year GSB SMEs Startup Contest has an initial fund of over 3 Million Baht in total comprising: 1,000,000 Baht for the winner; 500,000 Baht each for the first runner up; 200,000 Baht each for the second runner up; and 100,000 Baht each for 7 honourable mention prizes (up from formerly 50,000 Baht). The 100 finalists will also receive 5,000 Baht each. Additionally, there will be extra prizes this year which include Best Innovation Prototype for 3 winners with 50,000 Baht each and Best Innovation Idea for 3 winners with 30,000 Baht each.
Besides fund and business seminar for the 100 finalists and intensive training for the 10 finalists (one guru coaching per one team), the 10 finalists will have a chance to participate in Outing Startup Programme to enhance experiences and get ready to be entrepreneur through a study trip in overseas.
Those interested can visit or download application at www.gsb100tomillion.com or www.facebook.com/gsb100tomillion. Call centre 092 247 0426-8.