Boot camp beckons for start-up entrepreneurs
The organiser of Web in Travel has put together a one-day boot camp for entrepreneurs in the digital travel space to fuel innovation in the industry.
Organised in conjunction with the WIT Conference this year, WITovation: The Entrepreneur Bootcamp will run on October 18, the day before the main Web in Travel conference, and is now open for entries.
Details at http://www.webintravel.com/events_ovation.php
The boot camp initiative is aimed at those with business ideas in the digital travel space, who want to be mentored by a specially assembled panel of experts, and need access to funding channels.
WITovation’s mentors include Andrew McGlinchey, Head of Products, Southeast Asia, Google; Brett Henry, Vice President Marketing, Abacus International; Hrush Bhatt, Founder, Cleartrip, India; Loh Lik Peng, hotelier and restaurateur, Singapore.
Martin Symes, CEO, Wego; Morris Sim, Co-Founder and CEO, Circos Brand Karma; Timothy Hughes, Vice President Commercial, Orbitz Worldwide and HotelClub; Timothy O’Neil-Dunne, CTO, Lute; William Bao Bean, Partner, Softbank China & India Holdings; and Wu Hai, Founder & CEO, Orange Hotel Group.
Details at http://www.webintravel.com/events_ovation_mentor.php
Those shortlisted by the panel of mentors will have the opportunity to attend the Bootcamp in Singapore (at own travel expenses) and have their ideas and business plans workshopped with our mentors who come from a diverse range of backgrounds, interests and markets.
The winners of the Bootcamp will then go on to pitch their business plan to a panel of investors at the WIT Conference on October 19-20.
“In starting a business, even more important than funding, is being able to have personal time with experts who have either started their own business and gone through the school of hard knocks or who are specialists in technological innovation,†said Yeoh Siew Hoon, producer and editor of WIT.
“Our mentors come from a diverse range of backgrounds – some run their own start-ups, others drive innovation within their corporations. One thing they have in common – a mission to encourage innovation and drive entrepreneurship in Asia.
“We are grateful to them for giving their time to WITovation and to share their expertise with the budding entrepreneurs who will be short listed for our competition.â€
WITovation is open to start-ups from zero to three years old.
Entries should be submitted to WITovation@webintravelcom.
The deadline for submission is Aug 1, 2010.
Ian Jarrett
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026