YBI Entrepreneur of the Year: People’s Choice

Congratulations to both Hitender Punyane from India and Fathuma Nisreen from Sri Lanka have been chosen as the joint YBI People’s Choice award winners, with 7,000 votes each! Nearly 16,000 people voted in the competition which closed on 18 November. 

The competition was so close it was extended for a further five hours, but still the two leading entrepreneurs both had exactly the same percentage of the vote. 

So it’s a tie!

Wenhui Ma from China was the runner-up.

Here’s a bit more about both winning entrepreneurs:

Hitender’s business, SHN Enterprises, specialises in making small panel air conditioners which are lighter and more energy efficient than branded competitors. The design of the units, with sizes ranging up to half a ton, comprises tiny panels which emit less heat than other air conditioning units. This, along with cutting out the need for chlorine gas (CFC), helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint. SHN Enterprises is now an established and pioneering business enterprise creating 10 full time jobs in product manufacturing and installation.

Fathuma has become a role model in her community for her successes in overcoming the restrictions facing Muslim women entering into business by setting up a design and manufacturing enterprise specialising in traditional outfits and bags. This industry is a hugely competitive sector with markets dotted throughout Sri Lanka. To overcome competition, Fathuma has sought to create a niche product and identity by engaging directly with prospective customers, and subsequently ensures that her designs are in tune with each client’s requirements. Ramsi Fashion’s products are now highly sought after by young Sri Lankan women.

More on the competition

Global Entrepreneurship Week teamed up with Youth Business International to find out who you thought was the best young entrepreneur of 2010.

Part of YBI’s Entrepreneur of the Year competition, the People's Choice Award gave you the opportunity to tell us who inspired you the most and who was the best role model for entrepreneurship.

The shortlisted candidates come from a range of countries and backgrounds, but all show how entrepreneurs can bring benefits to local communities. Each of them has been supported by one of YBI’s global members.

For more on the YBI Entrepreneur of the Year and how Youth Business International helped these young entrepreneurs get started in business, visit www.youthbusiness.org

Meet the Finalists:

Besai Arizmendi - Frutos con sabor a México, México

Besai is an organic tomato producer whose company Frutos con sabor a México is exporting to the USA. He is supported by Jóvenes Empresarios por México.

Denise Spencer Huffton - Dream Weaver, India

Denise's business produces products for beauty parlours and spas, such as aprons, masks, bed sheets and shower caps. She is supported by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust.

 Shriram Kaluke - Shri Ganesh Enterprises, India

Shriram overcame redundancy and losing his savings to form his business, providing cleaning services for water tanks in residential and commercial complexes. He is supported by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust.

Wenhui Ma - Xi Yin Yuan Folk Culture Company, China

Wenhui's local handicrafts business employs nearly 100 people, the majority of whom are women. She is supported by Youth Business China.

David Thomas and Rachel Renie - Market Movers, Trinidad & Tobago

David and Rachel created the island’s first online food distribution company and are supported by Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago.

Hitender Punyane - SHN Enterprises, India

Hitender makes customised air-conditioning panels for industrial machines with his business. He is supported by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust.

Fathuma Nisreen - Ramsi Fashion, Sri Lanka

Fathuma's company designs and manufactures traditional outfits and bags aimed at Muslim women. She has become a role model for women in her community. She is supported by Youth Business Sri Lanka.

Alex Tam and Felix Chung - EcoSage Limited, Hong Kong

Alex and Felix are helping to tackle the waste crisis in Hong Kong with their recycling business. They recycle everything from newspapers to discarded bronze taps and have grown to sell environmentally friendly products. They are supported by Youth Business Hong Kong.

Chetan Khaladkar - Sai Sound Systems & Decorators, India

Chetan is a migrant labourer who created a business which provides sound and lights services for public events and festivals. He is supported by Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust.