International eService Projects for All Clubs
Shark Pond is a Rotary eService project in the form of an entrepreneur pitch show like Shark Tank…but friendly. Budding entrepreneurs from impoverished areas are trained and then pitch their business ideas to Rotarian guest judges who award them with start up grants to fund their business. The show takes place over Zoom video conferencing. Watch the video below to see how it works.
The Pocatello Rotary Club is partnering with Rotary Clubs around the world in eService projects over Zoom called Rotary Shark Tank entrepreneur pitch shows. These monthly shows (held over video conference) invite unemployed, but aspiring entrepreneurs from Ghana and Nigeria to pitch their business ideas to Rotarian sponsors for startup funding. Rotary club members are invited to star in events as “Sharks” or guest judges like the American Shark Tank TV show. Guest judges ask questions, give advice, and award prizes (startup grants).
In July my club sponsored 3 entrepreneurs from Ghana. The businesses included a barber shop, seamstress, and miller of bean flour. Watch the show at: https://entrapov.com/s2e6/. Gift Akua Okiyi of Nigeria won the 1st prize grant of $1,000 to expand her business, Gifted-Crunchy. She mills and distributes bean flour to hotels and restaurants. She will use the grant to buy a grinding/peeling machine, dehydrator, sealer, and packaging materials. This life changing grant put a huge smile on the face of Gift.
I’d love to host your club in an eService Project over Zoom to start a few businesses in Africa. Please let me know if your club is interested in participating! – Ben
Ben Davidson
Pocatello Rotary Club, D5400 USA