Dubai, UAE - March 14th, 2013. The Big Talk, an inspiring and buzzing event at the Make Business Hub, Dubai, gathered CEOs, entrepreneurs and students to share their expertise, views and success stories as part of the annual entrepreneur competition The Big Start.   

The event, The Big Talk, is part of The Big Start Student Entrepreneur Competition Season 4 www.thebigstart.ae, which serves as a spring board for aspiring young business leaders. The event brought together a diverse mix of business owners and successful entrepreneurs from all industry sectors in the region. Sheena Khan, Knowledge Manager of The Change Initiative led the discussion with a panel of inspiring entrepreneurs and founders of FitYou, Kcal Healthy Fast Food, My Metro Talk, Shoreditch Muse and URSOM.

The evening offered a perfect setting for networking, Rachael Wunsch, CEO of Al Tamimi Investments and judge of The Big Start Competition was there along with her team to connect, discuss and engage with the students. Also present to speak and network was AEISEC, the world's largest youth-run organization with experience in developing high-potential youth into globally minded responsible leaders.

The diverse audience was engaging and curious to learn from the panel of experts, who encouraged to think as an entrepreneur and to have the confidence to start up their own business. The panel also shared their expertise and stories about how they conceptualized their business ideas, their of the business plans as well as the lessons learned along their journey to success. It was a very personal and intriguing dialogue among the panel participants.

Shereen Mitwalli, Founder of The Female Network was speaking during the evening about the importance of entrepreneurship. She commented: "Entrepreneurship is the backbone behind any successful economy. Whether here in the region or internationally, we don't need more 'jobs', we need more entrepreneurs that will drive innovation, create jobs and lead people to do amazing things".

This message was shared among the other entrepreneurs and as well reflected on the buzzing atmosphere of the evening. The previous season's winner Aditi Sen was spotted in the crowd. "It's amazing to see all the students here today, it reminds me of when I attended The Big Talk last year, and I could never then have imagined that a year later, I would say that I was the winner of The Big Start Season 3. I'm now in the process of launching my business PetLove, a first-of-its-kind facility here to treat psychologically-ill patients using animal assisted therapy in the UAE. This would never have been possible without the support and funding from Al Tamimi Investments. I would like to wish everyone participating in Season 4 good luck and enjoy the experience and expertise that you will gain during this journey" said Aditi Sen, Founder of PetLove.    

The annual competition run by Al Tamimi Investments (ATI), gives UAE-based final year under graduate and post-graduate university/college students, which are under 30 years of age, a chance to become CEO of their own business with full funding and support from Al Tamimi Investments. Interested aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their application online at www.thebigstart.ae. The registration for this season opened on 17th February, 2013 and close on 31st March, 2013. ATI will select Round 1 Student entries to progress to the second round of the competition where students will be mentored individually to develop their business ideas into workable business plans.

The Big Start was launched in 2009 and forms the core CSR activity for ATI. Focused on fostering the next generation of entrepreneurial talent in the UAE, the competition is the only one of its kind in the country to actively guide, mentor and facilitate the development of each entrant's business plan, and to support the winner's idea, both operationally and financially to make it a reality. Today the competition has full support from many of the universities across the UAE including American University of Sharjah, Middlesex University Dubai, Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus and SP Jain Centre of Management.

Final year undergraduate and postgraduate students from any UAE university, aged 30 years or younger, qualify to participate in The Big Start Season 4. All academic disciplines are encouraged to submit their ideas at www.thebigstart.ae by 31st March, 2013 to stand a chance to win full funding and support in making their business idea a reality.

About The Big Start
The Big Start is an initiative that provides students in the UAE the opportunity to turn their business ideas into a reality. Launched in 2009, The Big Start is an annual event which aims to encourage entrepreneurship and is open to all final year undergraduate students currently studying in the UAE. The initiative focuses on creating opportunity for students and the development of core business skills. The successful student(s) will be developed and mentored throughout the business startup phase by an experienced team of high profile entrepreneurs, industry consultants, CEOs and the Al Tamimi Investments team. Once the business goes live, the successful student will hold the position of CEO and an agreed structured shareholding in the company. Al Tamimi Investments will provide full funding and support for the new business.

To find out more about The Big Start visit: www.thebigstart.ae

About Al Tamimi Investments
Al Tamimi Investments (ATI) is a diversified Dubai-based holding company with an extensive investment portfolio of successful businesses and partnerships that operate across the Arabian Gulf, the wider Middle East region and the United States of America. ATI is a dynamic company with a range of significant competencies, including Early Education, Support Services, Healthcare, Development Properties and Retail.

CSR and Social entrepreneurship are a key focus for ATI. As an impact investing company, ATI ranks social benefits and environmental sustainability as high as financial profit, in turn offering a unique answer to the problem of sustainability. Al Tamimi Investments fosters mutually beneficial and long-term partnerships with other strategically focused companies and institutions, with a primary intention of creating a measurable social impact, with the potential for financial upside.

Established in 2006, ATI's focus is on maximising each business opportunity that is presented to it, and creating mutually beneficial partnerships with like-minded companies and entrepreneurs, both in the Middle East and around the world. ATI works with its partners to create long-term business relationships, utilising their expertise, professionalism and networks. ATI also adopts an active, personal and dynamic approach in managing its business portfolio, and in this sense transfers its expertise, resources and practices to each business. Collectively, ATI companies generate over 1,200 jobs within the UAE.

For more information, please visit www.tamimiinvestments.com

Media Contact
Ms. Lindi Malm, PR & Communication
Al Tamimi Investments LLC.
Mobile: +971 56 765 7193
Email: lindi@tamimiinvestments.com

© Press Release 2013