Millennial Entrepreneurs Showcase Innovative Approach for Endless Business Possibilities
August 27, 2019
Noelle Pang from Hong Kong and Kenneth Tee from Singapore clinched top spot at the 2019 FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific Finals. (From left to right: Vivian Lau, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific; first prize winners Kenneth Tee and Noelle Pang; and Brian Tee, Managing Director, Sales, South Pacific, FedEx Express)
A team of student entrepreneurs from Hong Kong and Singapore were named winners of the 2019 FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge (FedEx/JA ITC) Asia Pacific Finals in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. This year, the finalist teams presented market entry strategy plans for a medical device product in Germany. Team Prost comprised of Noelle Pang from Hong Kong and Kenneth Tee from Singapore beat 29 teams from across the region with their remarkable invention of the ‘Prost Watch’ to tackle the health issue caused by alcohol consumption in Germany and promote safer drinking. The Prost Watch uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor and regulate alcohol consumption, with the goal of improving long-term health by avoiding liver and chronic health diseases.
"We are so excited we won this competition, especially given the amazing business proposals put together by the other talented teams," said Noelle Pang of Hong Kong and Kenneth Tee of Singapore. "This challenge has been an incredible learning experience. With the skills and tools we learned, we feel ready to take on the business world with confidence and pursue our dreams of becoming leading global entrepreneurs.”
Team Pioneers – made up of Shamita Sheetal from Malaysia and Trang Hoang from Vietnam – came second with their idea of ‘The Cardiator’ which is designed to curb cardiovascular diseases by detecting elevated cardiac enzymes 5 to 6 hours before a potential heart attack.
Team Rife – made up of Nydia Lee from Hong Kong and Shveenita Alyza Kanapathy from Malaysia – came third with their idea of ‘Eartaps’ which is a convenient hearing aid equipped with auto-sensation, automatically changing its settings to adapt to the varying noise level of surroundings in real time, designed for the elderly.
"FedEx is committed to connecting people and businesses around the world,” said Karen Reddington, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. "We are pleased that FedEx is part of the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge program that cultivates youth entrepreneurship and empowers our business leaders of tomorrow. We hope to inspire young entrepreneurs to think big – to think globally. A brilliant business idea may start small, but with a global network, the possibilities are endless.”
"This is an exciting milestone for our young entrepreneurs from around the Asia Pacific region,” said Vivian Lau, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific. “FedEx/JA ITC has provided these young entrepreneurs not only with the necessary business knowledge and real-life skills but also the global connectedness to unleash infinite opportunities and pursue life-long dreams.”
The FedEx/JA ITC program is jointly organized by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and JA Asia Pacific, a member of JA Worldwide. To date, the FedEx/JA ITC has inspired and benefitted more than 22,800 young people across the region, allowing them to learn more about entrepreneurship and introduce them to the world of business, economics and international trade through classroom learning and practical teamwork exercises.
Now in its 13th year, the program has grown considerably: just 295 students from three markets took part in the 2007 program. This year, more than 2,716 students from 10 markets took part.
About FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific (FedEx/JA ITC)
Designed to foster business knowledge through practical teamwork exercises and classroom learning, the FedEx/JA ITC program comprises two key activities – the International Trade Workshops and the International Trade Challenge. To take part in the FedEx/JA ITC, students in teams of two have to develop a specific product or service and create an original international market entry strategy for a designated country. Through this process, students gain first-hand experience of what roles world trade, product distribution and sales play in a market environment. In addition to teamwork, participating students learn the basics of risk evaluation in the business world and gain confidence in their analytical ability.
About JA Asia Pacific Limited
JA Asia Pacific is a member of JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. For 100 years, JA has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. We create pathways for employability, job creation, and financial success.
Home to 60% of the world’s youth, JA Asia Pacific aims to empower young people to benefit from the region’s economic development and to create a positive impact in their lives and communities. The 18 members JA Asia Pacific network is powered by over 30,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 800,000 students around the region. Each year, the global JA network of over 465,000 volunteers serves more than 10 million students in over 100 countries. To learn more about JA Asia Pacific, please visit www.jaasiapacific.org or visit @jaasiapacific on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date supported by a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $70 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 450,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit http://about.fedex.com.
"We are so excited we won this competition, especially given the amazing business proposals put together by the other talented teams," said Noelle Pang of Hong Kong and Kenneth Tee of Singapore. "This challenge has been an incredible learning experience. With the skills and tools we learned, we feel ready to take on the business world with confidence and pursue our dreams of becoming leading global entrepreneurs.”
Team Pioneers – made up of Shamita Sheetal from Malaysia and Trang Hoang from Vietnam – came second with their idea of ‘The Cardiator’ which is designed to curb cardiovascular diseases by detecting elevated cardiac enzymes 5 to 6 hours before a potential heart attack.
Team Rife – made up of Nydia Lee from Hong Kong and Shveenita Alyza Kanapathy from Malaysia – came third with their idea of ‘Eartaps’ which is a convenient hearing aid equipped with auto-sensation, automatically changing its settings to adapt to the varying noise level of surroundings in real time, designed for the elderly.
"FedEx is committed to connecting people and businesses around the world,” said Karen Reddington, president, Asia Pacific, FedEx Express. "We are pleased that FedEx is part of the FedEx/JA International Trade Challenge program that cultivates youth entrepreneurship and empowers our business leaders of tomorrow. We hope to inspire young entrepreneurs to think big – to think globally. A brilliant business idea may start small, but with a global network, the possibilities are endless.”
"This is an exciting milestone for our young entrepreneurs from around the Asia Pacific region,” said Vivian Lau, President and CEO of JA Asia Pacific. “FedEx/JA ITC has provided these young entrepreneurs not only with the necessary business knowledge and real-life skills but also the global connectedness to unleash infinite opportunities and pursue life-long dreams.”
The FedEx/JA ITC program is jointly organized by FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and the world’s largest express transportation company, and JA Asia Pacific, a member of JA Worldwide. To date, the FedEx/JA ITC has inspired and benefitted more than 22,800 young people across the region, allowing them to learn more about entrepreneurship and introduce them to the world of business, economics and international trade through classroom learning and practical teamwork exercises.
Now in its 13th year, the program has grown considerably: just 295 students from three markets took part in the 2007 program. This year, more than 2,716 students from 10 markets took part.
About FedEx Express/JA International Trade Challenge Asia Pacific (FedEx/JA ITC)
Designed to foster business knowledge through practical teamwork exercises and classroom learning, the FedEx/JA ITC program comprises two key activities – the International Trade Workshops and the International Trade Challenge. To take part in the FedEx/JA ITC, students in teams of two have to develop a specific product or service and create an original international market entry strategy for a designated country. Through this process, students gain first-hand experience of what roles world trade, product distribution and sales play in a market environment. In addition to teamwork, participating students learn the basics of risk evaluation in the business world and gain confidence in their analytical ability.
About JA Asia Pacific Limited
JA Asia Pacific is a member of JA Worldwide, one of the world’s largest youth-serving NGOs dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. For 100 years, JA has delivered hands-on, experiential learning in work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. We create pathways for employability, job creation, and financial success.
Home to 60% of the world’s youth, JA Asia Pacific aims to empower young people to benefit from the region’s economic development and to create a positive impact in their lives and communities. The 18 members JA Asia Pacific network is powered by over 30,000 volunteers and mentors from all sectors of society, reaching more than 800,000 students around the region. Each year, the global JA network of over 465,000 volunteers serves more than 10 million students in over 100 countries. To learn more about JA Asia Pacific, please visit www.jaasiapacific.org or visit @jaasiapacific on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world's largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date supported by a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $70 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 450,000 team members to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit http://about.fedex.com.