Smart Enterprise and PLDT SME Nation unveil first ever BOZZ AWARDS

Smart Enterprise and PLDT SME Nation unveil first ever Bozz Awards to recognize new generation of digitally savvy entrepreneurs

           

Two days ago, August 5, 2015 at The Brewery at The Palace, Smart Enterprise, under PLDT SME Nation, has unveiled its latest initiative to empower the new breed of Filipino entrepreneurs.

The Bozz Awards is a social media crowdsourcing search for the new generation of entrepreneurs who are harnessing digital tools to grow their businesses.  These entrepreneurs are known for spearheading a revolutionary change in business platforms through their use of technology.

In partnership with Rappler, a pioneer in embracing online platforms for news generation and distribution, the Bozz Awards hopes to inspire more entrepreneurs with success stories of those who have boldly embraced the challenges and opportunities of the digital era.

Rappler will house the main site for the Bozz Awards, and will facilitate the crowd sourcing aspect of the campaign which will carry the online handle #BeTheBoss.

As PLDT First Vice President and Head of SME Business Kat Luna-Abelarde explained, “For years now, PLDT SME Nation has been known for our MVP Bossing Awards which celebrate Filipino business titans whose stories of success embody perseverance and continuous innovation.  They are the industry icons start-up entrepreneurs look up to.”  She furthers, “The Bozz Awards is all about the new breed of entrepreneurs, who are just as persevering and innovative, albeit faced with a different set of challenges and opportunities in the digital age of doing business.”

The Bozz Awards is part of the line-up of activities for PLDT SME Nation’s recently launched Small Business Month celebration which is a pioneering initiative aimed at empowering small businesses to embrace the digital revolution.

Rules of Digital Engagement

To qualify for the Bozz Awards, entrepreneurs must be 45 years old and below, based in the Philippines, and must be business owners for at least two (2) years.

Nominations, which will officially open on August 10, 2015, must be done online via the microsite on Rappler.  Those who want to nominate their own bozz can also “Tweet-pitch” a 140-character nomination using the hast tag #BeTheBoss.  More details will also be announced on August 10, 2015 via the official Bozz Awards site.

A shortlist of 15 nominees will be chosen by a panel of judges with three (3) each under five (5) categories – The Boss for Mobile Readiness, The Boss for E-commerce, The Boss for Social Media, The Boss for Customer Service, and The Boss for Social Responsibility and Entrepreneurship.

The public will then have a chance to cast their votes and these votes, together with the results of the panel deliberation, will determine the final five Bozz Awardees (one from each category).  The finalists will be honored in a grand celebration and post-awards culmination party to mark the end of the first ever run of the Bozz Awards.

The first batch of Bozz Awardees will each receive a full-powered Smart Enterprise Biz Kit which consists of business-enhancing tools and gadgets, including year-long data subscription, to help keep them always connected to their customers and updated with their operations, even while on the go.

As a fitting tribute to game-changing entrepreneurs who are leading the digital revolution in business, the final five Bozz Awardees will also be give a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world’s melting pot of technology via an exclusive Silicon Valley tour.

Abelarde added, “We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again –there’s nowhere to go but digital. We’ve seen a lot of budding and progressive entrepreneurs who’ve managed to revolutionize the traditional ways of doing business through online presence or ground-breaking use of digital tools and platforms.  This new breed of movers and shakers paved the way, and we want to recognize and empower them so they can inspire more entrepreneurs.”

For more information on how to #BeTheBoss,visit rappler.com/betheboss.

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