Ten Finalists to Compete for US$45,000 in Robert H. Smith School of Business China Business Plan Competition

Beijing, China - September 14, 2005 Today the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business, a leading provider of Executive MBA (EMBA) programs in China, named 10 finalists in the Robert H. Smith School of Business China Business Plan Competition. The finalists will have the rare opportunity to present their business ideas before a panel of international venture capitalist (VC) judges and compete for a total of US$45,000.

The announcement of the finalists was made by Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business, in Beijing. Also present for the announcement was C.D. Mote Jr., University of Maryland president. Frank and Mote will both participate in Maryland Day, a day-long event hosted by Beijing University on September 15, during their trip to China. While at Beijing University, Frank will share insight gained from the Smith Schools success in advancing business practice and education for the digital economy with Beijing Universitys business school.

In addition to having a thriving alumni base in China, the university has trained hundreds of Chinese government officials, business executives and scholars. The Robert H. Smith School of Business China Business Plan Competition is the latest initiative to promote the universitys strong ties to the Chinese business community. I am very pleased to be here in China and to be present as the Smith School announces the competition finalists, said Mote.

There is an abundance of imagination and aspiration here in China, said Frank. Entrepreneurship represents a key pillar of business and the Robert H. Smith School of Business China Business Plan Competition offers a unique opportunity to bring Chinese ideas to an international arena for valuable exposure and feedback. Supporting entrepreneurship is a key component of the Smith Schools commitment to bringing its resources to the China market to deliver Executive MBA and other programs that meet the rigorous challenges of a global, digital economy.

The Smith School sponsors the China Business Plan Competition to showcase and encourage the development of entrepreneurship and world-class business ideas in China. Entrepreneurship, globalization and the integration of business and technology are key areas of focus for the Smith School, which offers EMBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai. The competitions finalists were selected from a group of 20 semi-finalists who developed business plans judged on the basis of feasibility, clarity, conciseness, value proposition and competitive positioning. The finalists are:

1. Eugene Liu, Mogoo LLC2. Lufa Kang, K68.cn3. Yong Cang, Oulian Biotechnology Co, LLC4. Tony Zhao, NeoTasks LLC5. Renjing Tu, ShenZhen QianRenRen Science and Technology Development Co, Ltd6. Xiaoyan Su, Maeto Business Tour Service Co, Ltd7. Laurence Zhang, ShenZhen 3Wave Technology Co, Ltd8. Gang Li, EaSense Microsystems, Inc,9. Zhijun Yang, Fangtoo Technology Co, Ltd10. Yajia Lv, Aquascape

For the final stage of the competition, held September 23, 2005 at the Tianlun Dynasty Hotel in Beijing, each finalist will deliver a 10-minute presentation as well as participate in a final feedback session before a panel of judges. The judges for the final round will include representatives of leading venture capital firms including Mahon China Investment Management Limited, China Equity, Siemens China Investments and Intel Capital. The grand prize is US$25,000 with a US$15,000 second prize and US$5,000 third prize.

The Smith School in ChinaThe Smith School is helping China meet a critical need for MBA graduates and world-class business leadership by delivering its leading Executive MBA programs in Beijing and Shanghai, as well as through its successful custom executive programs in China. 

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