Do You Dare...To Realize Your Dreams? Chance to WIN $50,000 USD...I Dare” Business Plan Competition

Recently, 25 aspiring entrepreneurs from eleven different countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia attended GISTech-I Finale in Istanbul, Turkey during the Second Presidential Entrepreneurship Summit 2011, hosted by the Turkish Prime Minister. They were trained by top US experts, had one-on-one mentorship sessions, and pitched in front of a top-tier panel of judges. Among the 11 winners, five were women who either led or were members of the team. Also, the best entrepreneur award was received by a young Egyptian woman, which highlighted the closing gender gap in entrepreneurship and the expanding opportunity that technology entrepreneurship presents for economic growth.


In an effort to continue building capacity for technology entrepreneurship globally, GIST Initiative has launched a Business Plan competition to encourage aspiring technology entrepreneurs to start and grow a successful business by providing funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. In addition, the “I Dare” Business Plan competition will coordinate visits to the U.S. for a selected group of entrepreneurs, who will gain direct access to U.S. market and connect with potential investors and partners.

WHY GET INVOLVED ?


Chance to WIN $50,000 USD with three other award categories (combined worth of $100,000)
Chance to Win a Trip to U.S. to meet with mentor, potential investors & partners
Chance to Win sponsored trip to Abu Dhabi, UAE to attend business training & mentoring workshop
Expand your Business Network by connecting with mentors, peers, and people with similar interest

IMPORTANT DATES:


Submission deadline: January 24, 2012
Semifinalists training in UAE: March, 2012
Final Pitch: June, 2012
U.S. Visit: October 2012

FOLLOW US ON:

www.facebook.com/GISTInitiative
@GISTinitiative

APPLY: www.gist.crdfglobal.org/gist-programs/business-plan-competition

The Apex Consulting Group (http://www.apex-cg.com/) is the local GIST partner for Indonesia.
 
To find out more go to http://gist.crdfglobal.org/

Fundamentals of Business Success and Simplification (Part One)

As one of the key note speakers at this year’s NVI Investor Forum, Simon G. Bell, Partner and Senior Consultant with The Apex Consulting Group discusses the fundamental principles of business success and the guiding principles of business simplification in order to Build a Scalable, Sustainable Business with high impact that pays the bills and grows in size and impact. Simon’s presentation was delivered to an audience of over one hundred SME owners, bankers and green investors on 22 October 2009 at the Grand Candi Hotel, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.

To find out more about the Firm and how we may be able to assist your organisation visit our website at http://www.apex-cg.com/.

Visit our Simpler Business Online Information Page at:

www.apex-cg.com/simplerbusiness.

The Apex Consulting Group

Fundamentals of Business Success and Simplification Part Two

As one of the key note speakers at this year’s NVI Investor Forum, Simon G. Bell, Partner and Senior Consultant with The Apex Consulting Group discusses the fundamental principles of business success and the guiding principles of business simplification in order to Build a Scalable, Sustainable Business with high impact that pays the bills and grows in size and impact. Simon’s presentation was delivered to an audience of over one hundred SME owners, bankers and green investors on 22 October 2009 at the Grand Candi Hotel, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.

To find out more about the Firm and how we may be able to assist your organisation visit our website at http://www.apex-cg.com/.

Visit our Simpler Business Online Information Page at:

www.apex-cg.com/simplerbusiness.

The Apex Consulting Group

EXPERT SUPPORT TO FACILITATE YOUR 2010 BUSINESS PLANNING SESSIONS

To find out more about our offsite business planning facilitation services please visit our online information page at:

www.apex-cg.com/sbusplanning

From The People at The Apex Consulting Group

Is Complexity Destroying Your Profits?

“Apex’s Business Turnaround Workshop”

Are you are frustrated with the current state and results of your business? Or, even worse, is your business in crisis or on the verge of a crisis position?

Has this situation destroyed your profits or is your very survival at stake?

Apex’s one-day Business Turnaround workshop is designed to assist companies and individual business units turn around the performance of their business. We can assist your management team to:

• Understand and implement an effective and proven improvement and turnaround method;
• Implement the few key tools to help you make the right business decisions; and
• Develop the step-by-step actions necessary to put your decisions into practice.

The process will drive your team to:

• Think 80 / 20 to always look for the most from the least;
• Take the initiative to solve problems consistently and simply;
• Remove complexity;
• Focus on your core competencies;
• Clearly identify issues and trends in your business;
• Make the right decisions based on business trends;
• Effectively involve your internal and external accountants and financial advisors in the process; and
• Develop the step-by-step actions necessary to put your decisions into practice.

Numerous organisations have benefited from participating in this workshop. Here’s what some of them have to say…

• “We’re making profits again!”
• “We have a better feel for problems with staff and customers”
•  “Our employees are more confident in making decisions”
• “It seems that change is easier now”
• “There is more innovation when the business is simple”
• “We can respond more quickly to opportunities and threats”

 The Facilitators:

Dr. Ian Dover, BSc MEng PhD CMP FAICD. Based in Australia, Ian’s work often involves looking for cost reductions through simplification of business processes including projects for Alcoa and General Motors in the US, alloy and process development for Norsk Hydro in Norway, and several production improvement projects in Australia. He has worked as a general manager, business advisor and board-member to increase the performance of a range of businesses in the manufacturing, IT, telecommunications, healthcare, professional services, resources, utilities and education sectors.

Simon G. Bell, Senior Consultant and Business Coach. Based in Jakarta, Simon has nine years management, consulting and coaching experience in the Indonesian business environment. He has led a number of turnarounds and has advised the Indonesia operations of several Multinationals. Sector experience includes oil, gas, mining, energy transmission and distribution, banking, government, publishing, F&B and not-for profit. Simon is fluent in both the written and spoken forms of the Indonesian language.

More Information:

Visit our information webpage at www.apex-cg.com/simplerbuisness

To find out more about how Apex’s Strategic Focusing Workshop can assist your organisation contact our Jakarta office +62 21 515 7792 or email simplerbusiness@apex-cg.com.

PT. The Apex Consulting Group: Jakarta Stock Exchange Building, Tower 2, 17th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta 12190, Indonesia.

Telephone: +62 21 515 7792. Email: enquiries@apex-cg.com

From the People at the Apex Consulting Group

Is Complexity killing Your Profits?

“Apex’s Strategic Focusing Workshop”

Are your business teams focused on the strategic priorities of your organisation?

Is your management team on the same page, focused on achieving a set of aligned targets and goals?

Does your organisation have a clear, concise strategic action plan that is easily communicated to key stakeholders?

Is a lack of focus (or trying to do too much) costing you profits?

Apex’s one-day workshop and facilitation assists companies and business units to regain focus with simplicity. We help your management team to:

• Better understand your current business situation;
• Develop simple, effective goals and targets to design your future position; and
• Create a step-by-step attainment and action plan of how to get there.

 The process will motivate your team to:

• Think 80 / 20 to always look for the most from the least
• Take initiative to solve problems consistently and simply
• Understand the real current state of your organisation
• Develop practical strategic goals that build on your attractive business
• Remove unnecessary, costly complexity
• Focus on your core competencies
• Understand and create the processes to deliver true customer value
• Create simple, meaningful business targets that align with your strategic goals
• Develop a focused one-page strategy and action plan

Numerous organisations have benefited from conducting this workshop with their management teams. Here’s what some of them have to say…

• “We’re making profits again!”
• “We have a better feel for problems with staff and customers”
• “Our employees are more confident in making decisions”
• “It seems that change is easier now”
• “There is more innovation when the business is simple”
• “We can respond more quickly to opportunities and threats”

The Facilitators:

Dr. Ian Dover, BSc MEng PhD CMP FAICD. Ian has 20 years experience as a general manager, business advisor and board-member to increase the performance of a range of businesses in the manufacturing, IT, telecommunications, healthcare, professional services, resources, utilities and education sectors. His work often involved looking for cost reductions through simplification of business processes including projects for Alcoa and General Motors in the US, technical process development for Norsk Hydro in Norway, and several production improvement and value chain projects in Australia.

Simon G. Bell, Senior Consultant and Business Coach. Simon has nine years executive, consulting and coaching experience in the Indonesian business environment. He has led a number of turnarounds and has advised the Indonesia operations of several Multinationals. Sector experience includes oil, gas, mining, energy transmission and distribution, banking, government, publishing, F&B and not-for profit. Simon is fluent in both the written and spoken forms of the Indonesian language.

More information:

Visit our information webpage at www.apex-cg.com/simplerbuisness

To find out more about how Apex’s Strategic Focusing Workshop can assist your organisation contact our Jakarta office +62 21 515 7792 or email simplerbusiness@apex-cg.com.

PT. The Apex Consulting Group: Jakarta Stock Exchange Building, Tower 2, 17th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 52-53, Jakarta 12190, Indonesia.

Telephone: +62 21 515 7792. Email: enquiries@apex-cg.com

From the People at the Apex Consulting Group

S i m p l i c i t y : The Next Big Thing? Published by The Jakarta Post

An abridged version of our complete article on Simpler Business was published by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday 21 October 2009 in the Management Section on Page 17.


You can view this article online at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/10/21/simplicity-the-next-big-thing.html

To find out more about our Simpler Business Pathway Program for businesses looking to improve their business results as well as the additional coaching and consulting services we deliver to leading organisations, visit our services webpage at:

http://www.apex-cg.com/eng/mainservices3.php

We look forward to connecting with you soon.

The People from the Apex Consulting Group