The prestigious competition EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 Czech Republic is entering its 25th-anniversary year. After the opening ceremony at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July, the organizer of the competition, EY, has officially announced the call for applications, which, as well as nominations, can be submitted until 18 October 2024. A novelty this year is a brand new category announced in cooperation with one of the main media partners of the competition: the Czech Television Award for Sustainable Business.
For the twenty-fifth time, EY will be recognizing prominent business personalities who can either enter the competition themselves or be nominated by the general public. The entry criteria remain unchanged this year: entrepreneurs who, in addition to their economic health, demonstrate their social contribution and emphasis on the sustainability of their business will have the chance to win the local and possibly even the global EY Entrepreneur Of The Year title.
“ESG aspects are increasingly crucial in the selection of competition finalists and should be met to a large extent by all those who decide to enter the competition. The focus on sustainability is particularly enhanced with this year's new category of the Czech Television Sustainable Business Award,” says Martina Kneiflová, managing partner of EY Czech Republic, adding: "In this respect, the competition has shifted significantly in recent years. While a few years ago the sustainable approach was valued as something extra, today it is more of a mandatory element. The demands are increasing and only those who take a truly holistic approach to their business can reach the final.”
The jury will decide whether the individual winners of the jubilee edition will be seasoned matadors or progressive newcomers on the Czech business scene at the beginning of next year. The regional winners will then be announced in January and February 2025, with the final taking place on 4 March 2025 at the Žofín Palace in Prague.
“When I entered healthcare 20 years ago, I just held on to my lifelong ideal that we should try to make the world at least a little better in our lifetime. It was a great honor to represent the Czech Republic at the World Finals and to meet entrepreneurs who are striving not only to achieve their own dreams, but also to make a positive impact on their industry and society. We have all had to face great challenges and make many sacrifices to be where we are today. I consider this award, which belongs not only to me but to all my colleagues, as the pinnacle of my entrepreneurial career so far. It strengthens my motivation to further improve our business and raise the level of our services to be an example not only in the Czech Republic but also in Europe. I believe that, as in the past quarter of a century, this year's EY Entrepreneur Of The Year will highlight courageous personalities who can be an example and provide a contribution to the entire business world,” says Sotirios Zavalianis, founder of the healthcare holding AKESO and holder of the title EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2023 Czech Republic. Like his predecessors, he will now chair the expert judging panel that will select his successor.
During the 25 years of the competition in the Czech Republic, dozens of entrepreneurial personalities have been awarded in various categories. This year, in addition to the aforementioned sustainable category, regional winners and the overall national winner, there will also be EY Technology Entrepreneur Of The Year, EY Start-up Entrepreneur Of The Year and EY Social Entrepreneur Of The Year. The best entrepreneurial story will be selected by readers of MF Dnes and iDnes.cz in a poll organized by competition co-organizer MAFRA media group.
Anyone can nominate a business for the competition using the form at www.podnikatelroku.cz. Entrepreneurs who wish to participate in this year's event can also fill out an application form on this website. The deadline for applications and nominations is 18 October 2024.
The winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Czech Republic title will once again have the opportunity to represent the Czech Republic at the international level and present themselves at the world final, which is traditionally held in June in Monte Carlo.
The official car of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2024 competition is BMW Czech Republic. The main partner of the competition is Česká spořitelna. SAP is a competition partner. The main co-organizer is the daily MF DNES and iDNES.cz. The competition’s main media partners are Czech Television and Forbes magazine. Seznam Zprávy is also a media partner. The competition, supported by the CzechInvest agency and the Association of Social Responsibility, is held under the auspices of the President of the Czech Republic.
“The courage of Czech entrepreneurs who strive for success with high value-added final products is a key pillar of the Czech Republic's second economic transformation. I’m delighted that we can help them succeed, just as the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year competition helps to raise the prestige and social respect that entrepreneurial spirit, courage and determination clearly deserve,” says Tomáš Salomon, director and chairman of the Board of Directors of Česká spořitelna.
“Courage, perseverance, creativity, sustainability, and innovation are necessary to move society forward. The success of the nominated entrepreneurs is an inspiration to all of us, and it is a great honor for us to once again support the announcement of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award,“says Maciej Galant, general manager of BMW Czech Republic.
