Chivas Launches Global Startup Search, Names Judges for Nigeria

Chivas Regal recently announced the takeoff of Chivas Venture 2018, a global search to find and support the next generation of startups that want to succeed while positively impacting the world.

Since Chivas Venture first launched globally in 2014, almost 6,000 social entrepreneurs have applied for the chance to receive a share of the annual $1 million fund – and applications for the 2018 competition are already open in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Chioma Ukonu, COO of RecyclePoints, an incentive based recycling scheme emerged as the first runner-up for the 2017 edition, and received $200,000 to support her venture.
Twenty nine countries across five continents are taking part in the fourth edition, all of whom are looking to find their most talented local entrepreneurs to compete on a global stage.
A winner will be selected from each country and given the chance to take part in an exclusive Accelerator Programme – followed by three weeks of online voting where the allocation of the first $200,000 of the fund will be put into the hands of the public.

The Chivas Venture 2018 will then culminate in a series of high-stakes pitches at the Chivas Venture Final, where the remainder of the $1 million fund will be distributed.
Chivas Regal has continued its partnership with E.D.C – the Entrepreneurship Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University in Nigeria – for this years’ initiative, to find and support promising local social entrepreneurs across all sectors.

The top three participants will pitch their business plans at a finale session to a panel of seasoned judges which consists of Afua Osei, Shola Ladoja and Oluyomi Ojo.
The 2017 Chivas Venture Final in Los Angeles saw five enterprising grand finalists pitch to a panel of judges that included Oscar-winning actress and philanthropist, Halle Berry, in front of a live audience of business leaders, influencers and Hollywood stars including Javier Bardem, Josh Gad and Don Cheadle.
Thailand’s Siam Organic, which aims to end small-scale farmers’ poverty, walked away with the largest sum from the Chivas Venture fund, receiving $400,000 ahead of Ukonu.

The Chivas Venture champions entrepreneurs who believe the world can be better, and use business as a force for good. Previous finalists of the competition aspire to a future where waste is recycled into housing, furniture and fashion, clean water is accessible to the world’s population, and poverty tax is eradicated.
The $2 million given away over the first two years of the competition has been used to support startups that now have over 300,000 beneficiaries in more than 40 countries across the globe.
Richard Black, Global Marketing Director for Chivas Regal, commented:

“Through our annual $1m fund, we have been able to accelerate the growth of some of the world’s most socially valuable businesses – which are now demonstrating real impact across the globe.”
Craig Van Niekerk, Marketing Director for Chivas Regal Nigeria, added:
“We were incredibly proud of our local winner, Chioma Ukonu of RecyclePoints who won $200,000 for her business at the global finals and gone on to achieve more success. This year, we hope to find another Entrepreneur whose business is not only relevant locally but can solve a global need. I’m confident that such as venture exists here in Nigeria.”

To apply for the Chivas Venture 2018 or to discover more about the impact the competition is already having across the world, visit the Chivas Venture website.