MEERY project

Ministry of Higher Education
Ministry of Economic Development
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Proposal Format (Ammended) docx PDF
Guidelines for Idea Submission
Pitch-up awading ceremony booklet
Pitch-up results

Fostering technical and vocational skills development and promoting youth entrepreneurship in priority sectors is a key objective of the Maldives: Enhancing Employability and Resilience of Youth (MEERY) project. Financed by the World Bank, MEERY project is jointly implemented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Ministry of Economic Development.

MEERY project’s “Pitch-up: Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge”, is a business pitch competition open to all Maldivian young men and women, designed with a goal in mind: to promote entrepreneurship among Maldivian youth.

“Pitch-Up: Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge”, invites Maldivian youth to submit innovative, feasible and sustainable entrepreneurship ideas as solutions to local and global problems.

The competition aims to foster a culture of informed risk taking through innovation and entrepreneurship, and inculcate valuable skills essential to run a successful start-up.

Applicants whose ideas get shortlisted will be invited to complete a boot camp training where they will work with industry experts to learn essential entrepreneurship management skills and on developing their business ideas into full-fledged business plans.

Winners of the competition are eligible to receive financial grant assistance between MVR 150,000 to MVR 600,000.

The competition welcomes innovative entrepreneurship ideas that is aligned with the MEERY project objective and respond to government COVID-19 response priorities.

The Pitch-up competition welcomes proposals in the fields of
Information and Communication Technologies
Tourism
Tourism Related Construction
Agriculture
When is the competition?

The competition was launched on 05 April 2021 and is open for applications until 31st May 2021.

Meet the Judges
Rifaath Hassan
Rifaath Hassan is a graduate in agriculture science and a researcher. She is passionate about the transformation of food systems and local food movement and has been working in both the public and private sector contributing her expertise in the field of food security for island nations, organic farming and climate change adaptation on agriculture. Currently she is conducting a study on traditional crops (taro) in the southernmost islands of the Maldives in relation to sustaining island level food security. Rifaath is also the co-founder of an urban farming initiative (Sq.Ft) as a start up in ClimateLaunchpad.
Hilal Agil
Hilal Agil is the founder and president of The Eco Organization, an environmental non-profit organization founded in the Maldives focused on leveraging technology and innovation for climate action. Interested in technology and music from a young age, he has launched and led successful technology companies in London and California including Meanwise, Inc. and Squelo, LTD as the CEO and Co-founder. Hilal co-founded the Maldivian heavy metal band Nothnegal and has been honored with a National Youth Award by the president of the Maldives for his contributions to Maldivian performing arts. Hilal studied Engineering and specialized in Data Science - Artificial Intelligence from the University of Oxford.
Dr. Zia Uddin Ahmed
Dr. Zia Uddin Ahmed is a serial entrepreneur, private enterprise development professional, impact investment promoter and investor. Dr. Ahmed is the Founder Chairman & Principal Consultant of Terra Resources International, Founder Chairman of Venture Investment Partners Bangladesh Ltd. (VIPB), VIPB Asset Management Ltd (VIPB AMC) and Founder President & CEO of US-Bangladesh Investment Group Inc. Dr. Ahmed obtained Ph.D. in Economics from University of Virginia and B.A. in Economics from University of Oklahoma
Fareeha Shareef
Fareeha Shareef is a co-founder and director at FJS, a Consultancy, Tax and Assurance firm based in the Maldives. She has 20 years of experience in strategic management, financial and business planning, auditing, training and socio-economic research. Fareeha has worked with prominent public, private & international organizations including UNDP, FAO, IFAD, WHO, World Bank & ADB. She has served as Chairperson of Bank of Maldives PLC and on the boards of MPAO & HDFC. She is currently a Board of Director at Ooredoo Maldives PLC and CBM. Fareeha is a Fellow Member of the ACCA, UK and a Council Member of CA Maldives.
Naradha Rajakaruna
Naradha Rajakaruna is an experienced financial management specialist in various business dynamics including business planning & analysis, organizational re-engineering, merger & acquisition integration, performance measurement, resource management, growth strategy development and project management. He possesses multi-industrial exposure in oil & trade, travel & tourism, resorts & airport, IT & software, and telecommunications in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Based in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Naradha is a Fellow Member of IPA Australia and IFA UK. He holds an EMBA from the ICFAI University, India., along with CIMA UK qualification.
Who can apply?

Youth between 18 and 35 years of age (the applicant must meet the age category requirement by the date of competition launch).

Registration Process
Register Now

1. Register and Verify

Register and receive an email to verify your account.

Once account verified, proceed to login using your registered credentials.

2. Create Profile

Once logged in user would be asked to create the user profile .

Information Required to create the profile.

  • - NID and Name
  • - ID Card Copy
  • - Address

3. Create and Submit User Project Idea

User will be able to create a project with the user idea.

Information Required to create the project.

  • - Proposed Idea
  • - Nature of the Proposed Business
  • - Problem the business solves in the Maldives
  • - Need for Funding and how funding will be used
  • - Funding Required
  • - Estimated Timeline
  • - Project Category
  • - Team Members
Application Process

Applicants are required to submit their proposals via the Pitch-Up Portal: https://meeryproject.mohe.gov.mv/pitch-competition

Stage 1: Idea Submission

Applicants are invited to submit their ideas via MEERY’s Pitch-Up Portal. Individuals and teams whose ideas get shortlisted will be invited to complete a boot camp training focused on entrepreneurial skill development. Here they will also learn how to develop their ideas into a detailed business proposal.

Stage 2: Proposal Submission

Candidates who successfully complete the boot camp will be eligible to submit their detailed business proposals.

Stage 3: Business Pitch

Applicants who submit the best proposals will be shortlisted and invited to virtually pitch their business proposal to a Judging Panel. This will be followed by an interview with the Judges, who then make the final decisions on winners of the competition.

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MEERY project

by Ministry of Higher Education