Professional
November 17, 2025
Refining Business Ideas for Real-World Success: My Experience as a Panelist at Global Entrepreneurship Week
I was honoured to be invited as a panelist for the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) hosted by the University of London (UoL)—a global celebration of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial thinking on 17th November, 2025.
The event brought together alumni and industry professionals to guide students and aspiring founders on how to shape and validate business ideas in today’s dynamic world.
Event link: https://www.linkedin.com/events/7388521929449717760/
About the Event
The session was part of UoL’s initiative to connect alumni entrepreneurs with current students for meaningful conversations, idea sharing, and mentorship.
The discussion revolved around one essential theme:
“Having a business idea is just the beginning. How do you know if it is viable, scalable, and sustainable?”
The panel comprised:
- Ler Ser Yeng – Senior Manager II, Singapore University of Technology and Design
- Royson Rajan – Founder, Atlas SoftWeb Pvt Ltd
- Tendai Shamu – Principal, First Serve Ventures
Together, we represented diverse entrepreneurial journeys, industries, and geographies.
My Talk: Fine-Tune Your Business Idea Through Validation, Execution & Evolution
During my session, I focused on the process every entrepreneur must adopt to transform an idea into a sustainable business.
I highlighted three core pillars:
- Validation: Test the Idea Before You Build It
I emphasized the need to validate every assumption by:
- Identifying a real problem
- Understanding your target audience
- Studying competitors and market behaviour
- Building a minimal prototype (MVP)
- Collecting early feedback
Validation ensures that your idea is rooted in real needs, not assumptions.
- Execution: Bringing the Idea to Life
I spoke about the importance of disciplined, strategic execution:
- Start lean and focused
- Build processes for consistency
- Set clear, measurable goals
- Develop a capable and aligned team
- Maintain momentum, even when challenges arise
Execution is where ideas transform from concept into tangible value.
- Evolution: Improving Continuously
No business idea succeeds without evolution.
I highlighted the need to:
- Adapt based on customer feedback
- Tweak offerings to fit market expectations
- Innovate to stay relevant
- Build for long-term scalability
Evolution keeps a business future-ready and aligned with changing realities.
Why This UoL Initiative Matters
This event beautifully demonstrated UoL’s commitment to building an active entrepreneurial ecosystem by:
- Connecting alumni from different fields
- Providing students with real-world insights
- Encouraging meaningful discussions
- Creating a platform for mentorship
- Inspiring the next wave of innovators
The engagement and curiosity from students made the session lively and impactful.
Closing Thoughts
My key message to every aspiring entrepreneur was simple:
A business idea succeeds when it is validated with clarity, executed with discipline, and evolved with purpose.
I am grateful to the University of London for hosting this session and for creating opportunities that bridge experience with aspiration.
I look forward to contributing to more such initiatives that empower young entrepreneurs to shape ideas into powerful, sustainable ventures.
