The Student Leadership Program of the Office of Student Affairs at American University of Sharjah (AUS) in collaboration with Al Tamimi Investment (ATI) held an introductory session for the Big Start Competition, a search platform for commercially viable start-up business ideas, on Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

The 2012 Big Start Competition is the third edition of this annual program, which aims to cultivate, inspire and reward young people's interest in entrepreneurship within the UAE. The competition hunts for ideas that could be commercially viable business plan(s). The successful student(s) will be mentored throughout the business start-up phase by an experienced team from Al Tamimi Investments. When the business goes live, the successful student(s) will hold the CEO position and an agreed structured shareholding in the company.

The competition goes through four phases. The first round starts with a simple questionnaire to be answered by the participants on the Big Start Competition's website. Successful applications will then advance to the second level in which candidates are invited to a one-day workshop session where they learn how to write their business plan and meet with professionals to refine the business plan and the commercial idea. The third phase requires a further refinement of the commercial idea and preparing a professional presentation to the judges. The winner(s) will be announced in an award ceremony in Dubai on June 4, 2012.

"It is my last year at AUS and I have always waited for entrepreneurial opportunities in order to facilitate my dream of forming my own company. Now, with The Big Start Competition, I can see myself moving an extra step to make my dream come true. I hope to see more and more of such events that empower the youth at early stages," said Youssef Chehade, a senior majoring in chemical engineering.

"The Big Start Competition is a great opportunity for our final-year students to present their creative ideas, which could eventually turn into a viable business in which they combine their AUS education with a real business experience. Participating in such a prestigious competition helps students broaden their experience and interact with professionals in different fields," said Dr. Moza Al Shehhi, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.