TikTok In Search For UK’s Next Great Entrepreneur

KUALA LUMPUR, 4.6.2021 – Dubbed the Dragon’s Den for Generation Z, TikTok is using its globally popular platform to scout potential entrepreneurs.

TikTok has partnered with investor and CEO of The Purposeful Project, Simon Squibb, to bring the contest to life. It has since gained more than 20 million views.

Squibb was driven to launch the competition after witnessing how the pandemic has created a generation of unemployed youth.

Image Source: Unsplash

Launched on May 28, the contest calls out to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18 and above to submit their business pitch. Using TikTok as their platform, applicants must submit a short video between 30 and 60 seconds with the hashtag #BeYourOwnBoss. The competition closes on June 30, and the winner will be announced on July 7.

The winner will receive:

£5,000 in prize money
A full year of mentoring from the competition’s judges
Free marketing on TikTok

The organizers believe that the positive growth of views reflects the people’s initiative to start their own business since Covid-19 hit.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the pandemic has caused a job loss in almost two-thirds of people aged under 25, and 74% have been unemployed for at least 6 months.

However, Squibb believes that there is a solution – by becoming one’s own boss.

“Don’t wait for a job, create one for yourself,” he said.

“I believe anyone can learn how to start and run a business – but you need to break free from the system that teaches you a job is safe and being an entrepreneur is risky, it’s the opposite. With the right mindset, training, tools and confidence anyone can be an entrepreneur.”

Squibb added: “With the #BeYourOwnBoss competition we’re encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs to seize the moment and share their brilliant business idea so it can grow wings. What better place to do that than on TikTok, where there’s already a thriving community of creative young people sharing new ideas.”

With this competition, there are hopes of seeing more potential businesspeople rise and take the initiative to explore a new possibility in their career.

Jocelyn Cheng

Jocelyn Cheng (JC) is an INFP writer seeking to spread inspiration and spark connections through her words. Her dedication to writing has gifted her with an ability to write for multiple platforms (e.g., website, social media, newspaper, magazine, etc) in different fields, namely Education, Travel, and Healthcare. JC personalizes her works by adding a touch of her own experience into the mix whenever she can to relate to her readers. A self-proclaimed poet and currently a freelance writer, she's working on an untitled poetry book at home while juggling between writing for Eduloco, dancing, and keeping her only plant alive.