10TH YEAR OF „T-MOBILE TAKEOFFS OF THE YEAR“ NEWLY AWARDS BEST TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

• Up to 42 winners will share prizes worth over CZK 3.25 million
• The winning project will get prizes for more than 1.1 million
• T-Mobile will newly appreciate responsible business and the best technological solution
• Projects can be submitted until 24 February

Prague, January 28, 2020 – For the tenth time, T-Mobile accepts applications for start-up entrepreneurs in the T-Mobile Takeoffs of the Year Competition. The expert jury will divide up to 42 business ideas prizes worth a total of more than CZK 3.25 million, which consist of start-up finance, service packages and prizes for business. T-Mobile announces a special Best Technology Solution Award and Responsible Business Award. The application phase will run until February 24 and will be supported by T-Mobile's marketing campaign.

"T-Mobile Takeoffs is proof that there are no small stories. In nine years we have proven that a national nursery project or a café as well as a manufactory can become a national winner," says Martina Kemrová, Corporate Communications Manager at T-Mobile, adding: "The idea behind T-Mobile Takeoffs is clear: during the first year we try to teach the winner all the disciplines that are necessary for successful business. We are proud that many of them are still in business and are successful without our assistance."

The contest is open to all who are going to do business or have started their business, but it is no longer than 12 months. Competitors may have a Company Identification Number for a longer period of time.

Award for the best technological solution

A special innovation of the tenth year is the Best Technology Solution Award. The holder will be selected from all projects ranked 1 to 3 in the regions. The main measure of success will be the expediency, level and quality of the technological solution.

This year, the Responsible Business Award will be awarded. “We see that the number of applications with this focus is increasing every year. Last year it was already one eighth of all participants. Among the winners, responsible projects such as Steeblo glass straws and EBUU children's clothing rental, account for 37 percent, ”says Eva Karasová, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at T-Mobile ČR. The most responsible of the regional projects will receive a financial reward of CZK 150,000 and a telecommunications package.

Online marketing campaign

T-Mobile will support the registration of projects with an online marketing campaign, which runs from 27^th January to 24^th February. The campaign will follow the slogan “Every project consists of little things” and it will appear in online media, social networks Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. With regard to the Best Technology Solution Award, communication will be strengthened to the target group focused on technology. Creative campaign is made by Proboston Creative, MediaCom Prague has planned and purchased the media.

Jury and winnings

The juries will include experts, but also successful entrepreneurs and investors such as Margareta Křížová and Martin Korman. The jurors are not looking only for fresh ideas, but they are also interested in feasibility of business plan. The national winner will get prizes worth approximately CZK 1.1 million. In addition to a CZK 150,000 donation from T-Mobile, this includes an advertising and PR campaign totaling CZK 315,000, business, legal and accounting advice and prizes from program partners.

Also this year, Česká manažerská asociace will select the holders of the Special Prize for Young Talents. The Association will select from among all the regional winners the three best candidates under the age of 40, who will be given the opportunity to participate in the mentoring program called “XY – Transfer” and thus gain experience from older colleagues.

Previous years of T-Mobile Takeoffs

T-Mobile Takeoffs in 2019 were won by the trio Pavel Hrstka, Martin Burkoň and René Němeček from Chrudim, who are behind the CityZen T-shirts, a world-wide fiber treatment technology thanks to which people can stop worrying about underarm sweat stains. The public award went to Mr. and Mrs. Holánek from Prague, who run the DELU CAKE cake studio.

T-Mobile Takeoffs have organized 101 seminars for start-up entrepreneurs during the nine years, with 6150 people attending. The juries evaluated 4079 entries and distributed CZK 42.5 million among the 462 winners.

About the competition

T-Mobile Takeoffs is a long-term program to support start-up entrepreneurs. They offer free regional seminars in areas related to starting a business, the second part of the project is a competition for the best business idea and plan. From 27^th January to 24^th February, those who are not in business or who have been registered to do business with a given idea for less than 12 months can apply for the competition at www.rozjezdy.cz. In each region, three winners will be selected to receive a financial reward, support from experts on various aspects of business, service packages and prizes. The jury decides on the national winner. The Best Technology Solution Award and the Responsible Business Award are the novelties of this year. In addition, the public can decide on the winner of the Public Award by means of an online vote. Česká manažerská asociace awards a Special Award for Young Talents. Free regional seminars open to the general public are held in March and April in five cities: Plzeň, České Budějovice, Brno, Olomouc and Praha.

Partners of this year's T-Mobile Takeoffs are: AZ Legal, Connect Economic Group, Česká manažerská asociace, Expertia, Samsung and Seznam.cz. Professional partners are: Proboston a AC&C Public Relations a regionálními DEPO 2015, Fakulta sociálně ekonomická UJEP, Inovační centrum Ústeckého kraje, Jihočeský vědeckotechnický park, Jihomoravské inovační centrum, Krajská hospodářská komora v Plzeňském kraji, Lipo.ink, P-PINK, Středočeské inovační centrum and Technologické centrum Hradec Králové.

T-Mobile Czech Republic, a member of the international telecommunications group Deutsche Telekom, has almost 6.2 million customers, the number-one operator in the Czech market. T-Mobile is an integrated operator: in addition to telecommunications services, it offers comprehensive ICT solutions not only for companies, but also for other organizations and individuals. It provides outstanding services in the high-speed network, which was proved repeatedly by benchmark testing performed by umlaut (former P3) with Best-in-Test seal.

T-Mobile Czech Republic places emphasis on taking a responsible approach to the environment and society. It adheres to fair business practices, helps beneficial applications and services to see the light of day, supports non-profit organizations, small businesses and individuals, and lends a helping hand whenever crisis situations arise. The company’s employees serve as volunteers in many places across the entire Czech Republic.

More information about the company is available at www.t-mobile.cz, www.t-press.cz (the portal for journalists) and www.t-mobile.cz/pomahame (information on the company’s CSR activities).

Contact details of the press unit: press@t-press.cz.