British Council Announces Winners of the ‘Creative Spark’ Big Idea Challenge 2020
The British Council joined forces with London Metropolitan University (UK) to run its largest video pitch competition in 2020: the Creative Spark Big Idea Challenge.
The competition provides thousands of young people aged between 18 and 35 years with the opportunity to develop their own business ideas and enterprise skills. The platform also helps young entrepreneurs to raise their profile and improve their career prospects, at a time when youth unemployment is a growing concern and the COVID-19 health pandemic has disrupted economies around the world.
The winners were announced on 29 July.
Country Champion for Georgia: Zero Effect (Ana Kveladze, Tako Baramidze, Ana Chkoidze)
Creative: Albavar Toons (Demuri Dangadze, Giorgi Svanidze, Mikheili Medzvelia)
Digital Technology: Beauty Lab App (Mariam Kobiashvili, Ketevan Bagashvili)
Social Impact: Zero Effect (Ana Kveladze, Tako Baramidze, Ana Chkoidze)
People’s Choice Award: Miscusi (Mariam Kemoklidze, Elene, Rukhadze, Tamta Gogiashvili)
The winners were selected by a panel of national and international judges experienced in enterprise education and creative entrepreneurship. The general public voted for the ‘People’s Choice Public Vote Winner’, with over 50,000 people choosing their favorite idea. Each country champion team will receive 2,000 GBP to help develop their business idea. The other winners will get mentoring from London Metropolitan University to develop their business ideas further.
The competition ran in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan from 2 March to 19 July 2020. Almost 500 new business ideas were shortlisted, supported by 110 higher education and creative institutions. Young entrepreneurs competed across three categories: digital technology, social impact and creative ideas. In response to COVID-19, the British Council introduced an additional part to the competition: the ‘Pandemic Response Innovation Award’.
“There has never been a greater need for innovative business ideas to help boost economies around the world and tackle youth unemployment,” said Richard Everitt, Director of Education Wider Europe. “At the British Council, we’re pleased to be supporting students, graduates and entrepreneurs who have the potential to make a huge difference to our world.
“With over one fifth of ideas responding to COVID-19, we’re excited to provide funding to the winners to kick-start new businesses and help them to achieve their dreams,” Everitt added.
About Creative Spark
The British Council designed and launched Creative Spark in 2018. Since then, it has supported thousands of students, graduates and young entrepreneurs to break new ground with innovative business ideas. Another main aim of the program is support new collaboration opportunities that can develop the creative economy in countries where there is great potential and where youth unemployment is a key issue. To do this, the British Council provides funding to higher education institutions and creative institutions to develop partnerships across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and the UK.