The Scientific Social Entrepreneurship Challenge (SciQuest Challenge) was a pitching competition organized by the Faculty of Science Career Guidance Unit (FOS-CGU), Science-Industry Interaction Cell (SIIC) in partnership with Society for[MOU1]  Industry Relations and Entrepreneurship Development (SIRED) to encourage entrepreneurship among the new batch (21 Batch) of undergraduate students during their orientation programme. The programme was a multi-day event, which ended with the Final Pitching Competition on the 14th of November 2023 at the University of Peradeniya premises. The organizers expected the participation of 500 undergraduates in the programme. In addition, twenty resource persons were present as mentors and speakers throughout the programme.

Starting with a simple one-minute pitch of a business idea, the participants were able to see how the idea could be brought to life through techniques and tools like design thinking and lean canvas. Next, the mentors would sit with the participants to help them develop their ideas into solid business concepts. Finally, the participants pitched the concept to local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

The Faculty of Science Career Guidance Unit (CGU, FoS) was in charge of getting the required permission from the University administration, finding funds for the event and deciding on the final pitching competition lineup. Financial support for the event was also provided by the SIIC. The Society for Industry Relations and Entrepreneurship Development (SIRED) handled logistics, food, and entertainment.

The final pitching competition was organized to commemorate the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), and it was the only GEW event organized at the University of Peradeniya. ICTA, which was the Sri Lankan partner of GEW supported in finding resource persons, and transportation of resource persons. Further, ICTA assisted volunteers to look into the project’s proceedings. 

The SciQuest Challenge programme bridged the gap between a business idea and a full-blown business concept. Additionally, it brought science into the entrepreneurial picture, by assigning students ventures that would heavily involve science.

Date: November 14, 2023