Best innovative projects within project "From Idea to Business" in Ganja determined

The next startup tour within the framework of the project “I2B – From Idea to Business” took place in Ganja city. Some 100 young people from the Ganja-Gazakh region participated in the event, which was held at Heydar Aliyev Center in Ganja city.

Speaking at the interactive part of the event, head of the Department of Innovative Development of Information Society and Electronic Governance of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Rashad Azizov noted that this is the second startup tour has been held in Ganja within the framework of the project “I2B - From Idea to Business”, which has been implemented since last year with the view of supporting the expansion of the startup movement and the implementation of innovative ideas of citizens. He recalled that the projects “Healthy steps”, “Basket”, “Virtual Ganjabasar” that were winners at the last year’s startup competition in Ganja city, failed to take one of the main places in the Republican final.

“We hope that the current startup competition held in Ganja will be more successful. During the year, startup tours will be held in various cities and regions of the country, including Goychay, Nakhchivan, Baku, Lankaran, Zagatala, Tovuz, Shamakhy and Shaki. Additionally, the startup competitions have already been held in Mingachevir, Sabirabad and Sumgayit. After determining the winners in the above-mentioned regions, the National Finals will be held and winners of the first three places will be awarded. At the same time, the winners will be provided with financial support to turn their ideas into business,” – said Rashad Azizov said.

Representative of the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation Ramil Mammadov noted that his foundation carries out regular work on youth development, revealing their intellectual potential. He said that the grant competitions held by the Azerbaijan Youth Foundation also open up ample opportunities for young people to implement their ideas.

Then small business trainings were organized to prepare startups for the main competition and teams consisting of participants were formed. The schemes of these projects were developed separately according to the business model Canvas. It should be noted that this model is very important for the preparation of business plans in the field of entrepreneurship as it is simple and unique.

In the second part, the teams presented their ideas to the jury. After each presentation, the authors answered the questions and the projects were discussed.

At the end of the second part, the jury named the winners of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. The first place was taken by the project Biobone, the second - “Healthy food”, the third - P4Y (Plaform for Youth).

The winning projects have won the right to participate in the National Final to be held in Baku.

It should be noted that the project “I2B – From Idea to Business” is implemented by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies jointly with Regional Development Public Association of Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Azerbaijan Youth Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme and companies Azercell and Microsoft.