Believe- Begin- Become 2008: Tanzania’s National Business Plan Competition

The Believe-Begin-Become 2008 competition is designed to increase the quality and scale of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Tanzania by developing the business management skills of entrepreneurs and helping their businesses become more attractive to financiers and investors.

Entrepreneurs participating in the competition, will have the chance to learn how to write a business plan, develop strategy, manage financials, access finance and markets. Most of all, Believe Begin Become gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to jump-start their business expansion ambitions.
The Believe-Begin-Become 2008 in Tanzania is proudly funded by Google.Org as well as various local partners. The Believe-Begin-Become (BBB) is organized by Technoserve Tanzania and UDEC in collaboration with BiD Network. More than US$ 530.000 will be awarded among more than 80 entrepreneurs in Tanzania to be used as seed capital and business development services.

Additional information on the BBB programme can be obtained from
BBB Tanzania>>CLICK HERE
BID Tanzania site

BBB Tanzania Stages
• Application period Ended October 27
• Entrepreneurship Seminar was conducted on November 3rd to 8th in Dar es Salaa, Arusha, Morogoro and Mbeya
• Top 150 business concepts were selected and the entrepreneurs were invited to a 7 day training from Dec 01 - 07 2008 at the university of Dar es Salaam
• From Dec 08 to January 12, entrepreneurs will be matched with couches either online or offline who will mentor and assist hem in developing business plans

Investor Matchmaking
All business plans submitted during the application process will be considered for matchmaking – if eligible - during and after the competition. Business plan applications received after 17th October 2008 will be considered for assessment and for potential inclusion to BiD Investor Matchmaking services only and are not eligible for the prize money. Offline Applicants who are currently developing their business plan and who were not eligible for the top 150 are highly encouraged to submit their business concepts in the BID Network site for assessment and matchmaking if eligible. For more information >> click on Investor Matchmaking at the right.

How to Submit your Business Plan through the Internet?
To participate you must present your plan on the BiD Network by:

1. First, check if you are eligible to participate by reading the participation criteria click on the yellow box 'Who can participate' on the right.
2. Become a member of the BiD Network
3. Create a profile in the BiD Network
4. Complete the online business plan format

For a more detailed instruction click on the gray box 'How to present your plan' on the right. After you start writing your plan you will have 14 days to complete and submit it. You can submit your plan by clicking on 'submit your plan' at the top or bottom of your plan.

What happens after submission?
Your plan will be assessed by BiD Network assessment team. You will receive decision regarding your plan application through the internet. Should you success in this stage, you will be required to work on your business plan - with a coach, based on availability - to become eligible for BiD Network Investor Matchmaking.

Support to develop the business plan will be provided by business plan coaches from UDEC in association with BID Network.
If you have questions or need additional information, please click ‘Tanzania Staff and Contact Details’ top right.

All services of BiD Network for Tanzanian entrepreneurs are free of charge!

More information about about UDEC can be obtained from 'www.udec.udsm.ac.tz'