A team of Executive MBA students from Bond University will travel to Texas, USA to represent Australia at the prestigious Global Moot Corp Competition, after winning the national titles on the weekend.
Richard Brimblecombe, Craig Duncan and Alexander Healy won the third annual John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge on Saturday [December 8], beating out stiff competition from Swinburne University and QUT in the final round.
Australia’s premier business planning competition, the John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge (JHEC) is a forum for MBA students to experience the real venture capital raising process as they launch and manage their own businesses.
The Bond University team presented the business plan for Amiellen Pty Ltd: a wholesale and distribution company selling a range of non-irritant, antibacterial, hand sanitising products through a network of proprietary vending machines.
Their core strategy is to place the product for sale at the point of use, including public restrooms and eating facilities.
“The company’s first product, Cleanspray, is an atomised low-alcohol sanitiser, providing a convenient sanitisation solution in public places.
Academic Advisor to the team, Mr Baden U’Ren from Bond University’s School of Business, said that the judges complimented the team on their professionalism and expertise.
“They were particularly impressed with the enthusiasm and thirst for learning the team showed during questioning and feedback sessions."
“This is further reinforcement that Bond University's personalised approach to learning and real world application is enhancing its students' educational outcomes,” he said.
“Along with the Amiellen business model, the students themselves are exceptional and will represent Bond University and Australia with energy, enthusiasm and expertise,” Mr U’ren said.
Managing Director of Amiellen Pty Ltd and Executive MBA student, Mr Richard Brimblecombe, said it was ‘truly an honour’ to win the JHEC as part of the Bond University team.
"Out of all the MBA students in Australia this year, I have to be getting the best value out of my MBA!” he said.
"I contemplated completing an MBA program for over ten years. When I finally made the commitment I chose Bond over some other prestigious business schools because I was impressed with its personalised approach and commitment to quality demonstrated by the Executive MBA leadership group.
“I've found the MBA program to date thoroughly rewarding and challenging. I only wish I would have committed to the Bond EMBA earlier - who knows how much more I could have achieved over the past 10 years!
“My learning experience at Bond will have a profoundly positive impact personally & professionally throughout the rest of my life. I encourage anyone considering an EMBA to firstly, do it now and secondly, do it through Bond," Mr Brimblecombe said.
As Overall Winners of the John Heine Entrepreneurial Challenge the team received $10,000 in seed funding to assist in developing the business, $3,000 in legal services from McCullough Robertson Lawyers, plus $15,000 in airfares and accommodation to attend the Texas finals.
The Global Moot Corp Challenge is held annually at the University of Texas, USA, and attracts entries from 30 of the world's best business schools. It is touted as the “The Super Bowl of World Business-Planning Competitions”, and offers a $100,000 USD prize package - the largest guaranteed prize of any student contest in the world.
This won’t be the first time Bond University will represent Australia in the prestigious contest. The university has a reputation as the most consistent performer in the international challenge, having previously championed over the likes of the Harvard, Stanford and UCLA to be record three-time Global Champions.
For further information on the Bond University Executive MBA program visit bond.edu.au/EMBA.