A business model ‘Shogjur – recycling for happiness’, initiated by Chimmi Dema, Nima Khandu (both pursuing BCom Finance) and Sherab Choden Dorji (BBA Marketing), turns wastepaper into commercially valuable jewelry, ornaments and souvenirs.
The main objective of the team is to curb the growing issue of waste management in the country by recycling waste papers. This business idea was pitched during the 12th Mekong Business Challenge (MBC) at Royal Thimphu College, which brought together 11 university team from 6 different countries. Team Shogjur however won the challenge and went on to represent Bhutan and south-east Asia at the International Business Model Competition 2018 (IBMC) in the United States, which was held at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.
The IBMC, which is a student startup competition brought together 36 teams from 13 different countries. The IBMC is a student startup competition where by the participating teams have to:
- Identify and track key business model hypothesis (use a canvas)
- Test and validate those hypothesis with customers
- Pivot and literate their business model based on customer interactions and feedback.
Team Shogjur earned an honorable mention and brought back home USD 3500.
