Nov. 12, 2017 CUD Business Incubator: Students in the Communication Department under the guidance of Ms. Sama Al Rasheed and Dr. Franziska Apprich have come up with a novel idea to help creative students overcome the difficulties associated with converting their ideas into tangible business opportunities for themselves such as lack of finance, peer pressure or absence of good advice.
Utilizing the facilities of the new Business Incubator initiative in CUD, in cooperation with Ryerson University, it is now possible to create a business with revenue generated by the incubator’s first venture set to be directed to students who want to advance their creative ideas.
Inspired by the success of the recent Scarf fashion show, the incubator’s first venture will be the creation of a scarf embroidered in real gold thread. The design will take the form of a horse’s head, one of the most potent images of a thriving UAE. This will be woven into the material intricately with a quotation from the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), which states “Goodness is tied to the forelocks of horses until the Day of Resurrection.” The embroidered material will then be enhanced with a real emerald representing the eye of the horse.
The scarf will then be auctioned to a selected audience of significant people whose faith, knowledge, and support will make this project sustainable. The proceeds are to then be used to start the “Innovation Fund.” As a one off exercise this will only have a limited value so it is proposed that the business will branch out into other products which can either be auctioned or sold thereby enhancing the fund.
Applicants who wish to be considered for funding will then be advised to submit their proposals under the guidance of a dedicated Business Mentor and the completed proposal will be considered by a panel of expert judges who will choose the best ideas for financial support.
Speaking of the students’ idea, Ms.Sama Al Rasheed, Lecturer in the Communications department stated that the horse symbolizes passion and appetite for freedom and the motivation required to persevere.
Dr. Franziska Apprich, Head of Learning Zones and Incubators, said that she hoped this idea would be a launching pad, and the first of many such initiatives for The Incubator, mirroring the very successful model developed by Ryerson.
Prototype is published here
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