Supporting my mother, two siblings and my three children gave me the motivation to make my dreams a reality.
These were the words of Letila Takala who got $30,000 after winning the Total Fiji Startupper Award at Holiday Inn last night.
Takala was also awarded the Top Female Entrepreneur Award.
The 30-year-old won the award after pitching her business idea of a Beekeeping Training School.
Takala hopes that her business, Honey Love Apiary Farm will become the first Beekeeping School in Fiji and the South Pacific with all the necessary facilities.
She also wants to turn the school into an eco-tourism site.
Meanwhile, Nakita Lewasau was awarded $20,000 in second place for her business plan of Tasty Island Treats Kitchen that is focused on providing locally grown healthy foods at affordable prices.
Rakin Wahed was awarded $15,000 in third place for his business idea, Pasifika Heartbeat which he hopes will be Fiji’s first multi health app to educate people on the rise of NCD’s, obesity and good hygiene in Fiji and the South Pacific.
While officiating at the Total Fiji Startupper Awards, Minister for Trade Premila Kumar says the winners have instilled courage and hope in young people to develop enough confidence to put together their business ideas.
Kumar says Fiji is a young nation and with the right support o young people can achieve a lot more than what Fiji has already achieved.
