Final 2014

After six weeks of preparation, consultations and meetings, the final day of the presentation of the business plans to the jury had come. Venue: the Netherlands Embassy in Accra.

Prior to the presentations, all participants had the opportunity to rehearse their presentation and finish the two-pager in which the teams explained their business plans to the members of the jury.

After moderator Ama van Dantzig had officially opened the final event, the Dutch Embassador mr. Hans Docter welcomed all participants and attendees.  Subsequently, professor Gosky Alabi of UPSA university explained why the New Business Challenge Ghana was an extremely important contribution to the curricular programme of the university. The NBC has given students an unique opportunity to gain experience on real business cases on the Ghanaian market.
Finally, the jury was presented: Hielke Venema (Netherlands Enterprise Agency), Samuel Waterberg (Ghanecc) and Elsie Appau (Netherlands Embassy in Accra).  Furthermore representatives of Philips (Felix Darko) and Dijkstaal (Joris van Dijk) attended the final event.

The Dijkstaal teams were the first to present their proposals of business case of Dijkstaal. Dijkstaal 1 presented aself-financing  PPP- system by making use of ADD-ons to the bridges and by realizing local commitment. In the Dijkstaal 2-plan future turn-key contracts between Dijkstaal and local contractors were presented.

Next, the Deltares teams presented their solutions for the increasing damage caused by invasive water plants. Deltares 1 presented an incubator to bring together technology, funds, network  and knowledge sharing.  Deltares 2 offered another solution: turning the water hyacinth into biogas, using a purification and bottling vessel.

Lastly, the Philips teams explained their solutions to replace kerosene lanterns with solar lamps for all households in Ghana. Team Philips 1 proposed a business model  that consists of the recycling of the old lamps into new raw materials and gain profit, using local enterprises. Team Philips 2 came up with a new distribution chain to the regional areas, using local salesmen and rural banks who know their target groups.

After a short jury consultation, the jury proclaimed their unanimous decision: Team Philips 1 wins! The team presented the most innovative and achievable solution, turning into account the needs of the target groups and local companies.

The event ended with drinks and fingerfood to celebrate all achievements.