The Government of Guinea-Bissau, through the Private Sector Rehabilitation and Agro-Industrial Development Project (PRSPDA), and the DESAFIO GB  (GB CHALLENGE) Implementing Consortium, constituted by CESO International, EXPERTISE, INOVISA and PD Consult, instituted the September 23rd to honor people, companies and institutions which are dedicated to the innovation of products and services.

Now that we have reached the end of the competition and we are starting the period of incubation and acceleration, we took the opportunity to remember how it all began! In this VIDEO we explain what the DESAFIO GB is and we show the launch event and the information sessions.

For this first year, the celebrations were summed up to two great moments:

• End of the DESAFIO GB Selection Process
  

The DESAFIO GB aims to provide young Guinean entrepreneurs, aged between 20 and 40 years, with initial capital and management skills, in order to boost business ideas that demonstrate innovation potential, job creation and wealth generation.

On 20, 21 and 22 September 2017, at the Lusophone University in Bissau, the finalists presented, in 10 minutes, their Business Plan to a national and international jury. The jury selected the best 50, which will receive not only financial support in materials and services up to 5 million CFA francs, but also tutoring during 18 months.

The 50 winners of the DESAFIO GB to whom we present our congratulations are the following:

Abulai Sissé, Adulcina Costa, Aissatu Chantre, Anssumane Silla, Areosvaldo Silva, Armandinho Queita, Aurora Almeida, Benedito Yalá, Carina Alves, Carlitos Pinto, Carlos Cabral, Djaé Seide, Dulceneia Jandi, Eli Ié, Elizabete Punguram, Epifanio Gomes, Ernesto Tchuda, Eugeménio Mendes, Felisberto Cá, Glória Intchami, Iama Costa, Ibraima Baió, Ietana Danfa, Ilka Vieira, Infamara Dabó, Jackline Martins, Jorge Ié, José Paquete, Júlio Siga, Juscelino Olegário, Juviliano Mendes, Kirenia Sosa, Mamin Baldé, Maria Vaz, Marito de Almeida, Mikhai Malaca, Nabilai Djassi, Nailde Lopes, Natacha B.M. Có, Rosário Biaguê, Salimato Sanha, Samira Reis, Samora Té, Satam Injai, Sérgio Gomes, Shamira Biaguê, Simone Pereira, Sumaira Vaz, Suzitiany Moreno e Yamireth d Almeida.

All competitors who have reached this stage received a 2-day Business Management training, during which they produced their Lean Canvas or Business Model Canvas. They then received a 10-day training in business skills, thus obtaining the necessary skills to prepare their own Business Plan.

• Central Act (Conferences and Lectures)

The celebration of the commemorative activities allusive to the date was made last September 23 rd.

Provision was made by government authorities, mainly from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Minister for Youth and Employment, from the PRSPDA and the Implementing Consortium of DESAFIO GB.

The audience was able to attend some of the presentations of the Desafio GB 50 winners and benefited from a space to share and learn about themes related to entrepreneurship. Depending on the interest of those who were presented, visitors attended the following panels and lectures:

- Starting a Business: From Idea to Success.
- How to promote entrepreneurship in Guinea-Bissau?
- Female entrepreneurship: perspectives and constraints;
- The myth of idea and resource-based entrepreneurship;
- Finance for small businesses;
- How to define strategy in a new business;
- Opportunities and the importance of entrepreneurship based on new technologies.

September 2017.