Reality show in hunt for entrepreneurs
(China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-15 10:59

SHANGHAI: China's first reality television show to promote young entrepreneurs began yesterday in the nation's most business-minded city.

The show, "Wise Man Takes All," is sponsored by Shui On Land, a leading Hong Kong property investor in Shanghai, Dragon TV and CBN (China Business Network), a media group that publishes, among other things, a Chinese-language business newspaper.

At the press conference to launch the programme, Vincent Lo Hong-shui, Shui On's chairman, said the entrepreneurial spirit of Shanghai was well known around the world.

"We are trying to sharpen that spirit among the young people in this vibrant city," he said. "We believe that we will have a lot to learn from them too."

The concept of the show is similar to the highly successful "The Apprentice," created by US millionaire Donald Trump.

But, "our rendition will be different to reflect the special social and economic background of China," said Chen Lian, chief executive of Dragon TV.

Chen said that "Wise Man Takes All" was designed to "stimulate" the thinking and ambition of the audience through competition between the participants.

And as the title suggests, the "all" that the "wise man" will take is a cool 1 million yuan (US$120,000). The winner is supposed to invest the money in the business model that has won him or her the prize.

Anyone in China between the ages of 20 and 40 can enter the competition. All they need to do is to submit a business plan based on the format prescribed by the organizers.

Those participants selected in the first round will take part in a televised knockout to be held simultaneously in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Wuhan and Hong Kong. Only 16 will qualify for the final contest. And, of course, there can only be one winner.

The judges include professors from leading business schools in Shanghai, venture capitalists, human resources experts, management consultants and celebrities who have set up their own businesses. "These judges are all leaders in their respective fields," said Chen.

Participants will be judged not only on the soundness of their plans, but also on their audacity, professionalism, leadership, negotiation skills and ability to withstand pressure. "It is a study of the person's character and intelligence," said Guo Yunfei, general manager of CBN.

This contest, Guo said, will place special emphasis on the personalities of contestants because "we believe that only the person with the spirit and quality of a true entrepreneur should win."

"We call on all the aspiring entrepreneurs in the country to take this chance to try their skill and acumen," said Lo. "Many of us are entrepreneurs at heart."

Labelled the Donald Trump of Shanghai, Lo has built several landmark buildings in the city, as well as in Hangzhou and Wuhan. His most celebrated development is the up-market bar and restaurant enclave of Xintiandi near one of Shanghai's premier business districts.

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