The Enterprise Gym Discovery Challenge Awards 2009/10 Semester 1 - 18.11.2009

At a ceremony on Thursday Night on the 18th of November at The Enterprise Gym, 12 teams of students gathered to learn who were to be the winners of this semester’s Discovery Challenge run biannually by the University of Dundee.

The Challenge is aimed at students of all disciplines to discover more about themselves in terms of their capacity and ability to be enterprising and entrepreneurial. Students who take up the challenge embark on a programme of 7 sessions delivered by senior local business people which takes them from knowing little about business to producing a business plan based on their own business idea. The final stage is a "Lions’ Den" which Craig McKirgan, President of The Enter prise Gym, describes as "similar to a "Dragons’ Den" but with more passion from the judges and the pitchers!"

"The competition was really close this semester," commented James Murray, VP of The Enterprise Gym, "this shows the high quality of entries and t he standard of business skills that The Enterprise Gym’s Trainers and staff produce from our students. We’re always grateful for the Trainers’ time and commitment to us, especially as they do all this for free."

Ken Edward, E-Gym Director, announced Learn to Smile as 1st place, Nano-Power as 2nd place, 3rd place went to Urban Waves, and joint 4th place went to E-Contact and Fasttracks. Prize money awarded was £1000, £400, £200, £75 and £75 respectively.

Learn to Smile provide seminars and dolls to help educate youngsters on the benefits of good oral hygiene and health diet. The Puppets which are available to buy too are hand made and contain REAL dentures, great for young ones to practice cleaning their teeth.

Nano-Power offer "Green" recharging solutions for mobile electronic devices, such as phones, and portable music players – although applications of the technology are unlimited because of the devices unique design and adaptability. They expect this to be the only application in the UK market.

3rd came Urban Waves is an indoor surf area featuring artificial free standing waves; regardless of weather conditions the passionate surfer can always surf a perfect wave.

E-Contact product and sell small devices which can be used to transmit contact information wirelessly, from one device to another essentially standardising the wireless data transfer industry.

Fasttracks utilised the idea of "music on the go" with download stations dotted around the UK in public places with universal connectivity so the public can download multimedia directly to their phone as they go about their day.

Mr Alan Dobson of Dundee City Economic Development presented all 12 teams completing the Challenge with certificates and wished the winners every success in the further development of their business ideas.

The Enterprise Gym would also like to thanks all the teams from this semester and an even bigger thank you to all trainers who helped bring their business ideas to life.

The Business Plan Competition will run again this semester, with another £1000 to be won.

James Murray

VP Enterprise Gym

07793211250, 18/11/09