T-Mobile Takeoffs to help start-up business for the eighth time

Prizes for up to 42 winners in the total value of approximately CZK 2.5 million
Prizes for the overall winner in the total value of nearly CZK 570,000
Registration for this year’s edition is open from 31 January to 12 March 2018

For the eighth consecutive year, T-Mobile will support start-up businesses within the T-Mobile Takeoffs (“T-Mobile Rozjezdy”) programme. Up to 42 originators of the most interesting business ideas can look forward to prizes in the total value of approximately CZK 2.5 million which include, among other things, financial support, packages of services and tangible prizes that are necessary for doing business. Consultations by experts are also an integral part of the provided support. Projects can be registered in the competition from 31 January until 12 March 2018 at www.rozjezdy.cz, where those interested in the programme can find all information.

“We hope that there will again be an ample number of truly innovative projects registered this year. Experience from the previous seven editions is proof that Czech and Moravian people abound with ideas,“ says Martina Kemrová, Senior Corporate Communication Manager at T-Mobile, adding: “We will be happy to help beginning entrepreneurs to get a clear idea of whether their projects stand a chance to not only attract but also retain customers.”

Juries composed of experts, successful entrepreneurs and investors, such as Margareta Křížová and Martin Korman, will judge not only innovative ideas but also the successful implementation of each entrant’s business plan. This year, the overall winner will receive prizes in the total value of CZK 566,332, including a financial donation of CZK 250,000 from T-Mobile, a creative draft of an advertising campaign, consultancy and tangible prizes from the partners of the competition.

Samsung Electronics is a partner of T-Mobile Takeoffs for the third consecutive year. “Samsung offers a number of smart technological solutions. Thanks to us, the participants will be able to find out how technologies can help them with the successful start of their business,” says Roman Šebek, Director of the Mobile Communication Division at Samsung Electronics Czech and Slovak.

Conversely, Alza.cz is new among the partners of the competition. “We are happy that we can support start-ups across the country, advise them and help them get on their feet. We see here potential in many fields and are curious how many of the participants will make it to the stage of successfully implementing their business plans,” says Tomáš Havryluk, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Alza.cz.

In the seven previous editions of T-Mobile Takeoffs, more than 25,480 prospective participants registered on the programme’s website and the Takeoffs Facebook page has more than 5,000 followers. Approximately 82 day-long workshops were attended by more than 4,100 beginning entrepreneurs. Within the competitions, the jury evaluated 3,000 registered projects, of which 381 were awarded prizes in the aggregate amount of nearly CZK 36 million.

The grand-prize winner of last year’s edition was Dagmar Dušková from the Vysočina region with her project called Dančiny Dobroty (“Danka’s Yummies”) – a family cheese factory focused on homemade products without any chemical substances added. The winner of the prize of the public was Petr Šmíd from Šaratice in South Moravia with his project called HoblHome involving manufacturing of specially designed cutting boards.

T-Mobile Takeoffs
T-Mobile Takeoffs is a long-term programme aimed at supporting start-up businesses. It offers free regional workshops on issues relating to starting a business; another part of the programme involves a competition for the best implementation of a business idea. During the period from January to March, those who have not yet started a business or who received a business licence in the past 12 months can register in the competition at www.rozjezdy.cz. In each region, three programme participants can win and receive financial support, advisory services from experts in different areas of business, packages of services and tangible prizes to help them launch their business. The national winner is selected by the jury. In addition to that, online voting is held to determine the winner of the prize of the public. Free regional workshops that are open to the broader public take place in April and May.

The partners of this year’s edition of T-Mobile Takeoffs are Broker Consulting, Agentura Najisto, Alza, Samsung and StartupJobs. The expert partners are Lovebrand, MADE BY VACULIK and Proboston, and the regional partners are Dům Techniky Pardubice (House of Technology Pardubice), Impact Hub Brno, Impact Hub Ostrava, the Faculty of Social and Economic Studies of Jan Evangelista Purkyně University, Innovation Centre of the Ústí nad Labem Region and the Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Plzeň Region.

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.