The FINANCIAL — The Business Awards by TBC Bank provide support for the development of business society in Georgia, as well as promoting the popularization of business. These most comprehensive awards have been held for the past 3 years, during which time 344 businesses have already participated. Over these years, the platform’s combined number of members is up to 1600, all of whom have shared their history of success with the rest of Georgia.
For the first time this year the winners of the Business Awards were awarded prizes from one of three categories. The winning companies can select for themselves from one of the three: Digital Strategy and New Website; Brand Strategy and Imagery Campaign; or Software Solution.
“It’s a very important event for TBC Bank. This is already the third time that we have held these Business Awards. More than a thousand companies have participated in them, and it is important because in so doing, thousands of companies have shared their success with each other. I believe that by this kind of sharing more and more companies will be encouraged, becoming involved in these processes, and we will continue the awards in subsequent years,” said Vakhtang Butskhrikidze, General Director of TBC Bank.
At the final event of the Business Awards 2018, the jury revealed 6 winners from out of 18 finalists. For the first time this year two new nominations ‘Female Entrepreneur’ and ‘Business for Positive Influence’ were added.
“Two new nominations were added: ‘Female Entrepreneur’ and ‘Business for Positive Influence’, which considers CSR. I believe that these two nominations are strategically important for us, as the more that women get involved in business, the better the economy becomes. Equally, the more that business has social responsibility, the better it will be for all,” said Nikoloz Kurdiani, Deputy CEO of TBC Bank.
Winners of the Business Awards 2018:
Business of the Year – Gross Energy Group
“The main activity of our company is consultancy and engineering services, which envisage the development of any project before the conceptualization is taken into operation. The service provides both a technical and legal side. Being a winner is very encouraging. Last year, we were invited to these awards as visitors. Then and there my brother and I set ourselves the goal to get to the final, and we managed to win!” Irakli Tkebuchava, Director of Gross Energy Group.
The main activities of the company are engineering-consulting services, which envisage the development of any project from the conceptual stage till operation. Our services include technical as well as legal support, and provide full assistance during permitting and licensing stages.
Georgian Product of the Year – Gepherini
Gepherrini is a Georgian lifestyle brand launched by Ilia Gepheridze, and his wife Sophia Khositashvili. “Our company launched mass production of bags in Georgia in 2014, which has been gradually followed by the production of wallets, belts, and accessories, and today is exported to 9 different countries of the world. I think that similar projects should exist in our country. I would like to congratulate all of our team members who have worked so hard for this,” Ilia Gepheridze, Founder of Gepherini.
Startup of the Year – TRC
“Winning Startup of the Year has been very important for us, so we’d like to thank TBC Bank and the jury for this recognition. Our company is important for Georgia’s economy and ecology as well. We are creating a product made of residue that is not produced elsewhere in Georgia, nor anywhere else in the South Caucasus,” Zura Bazghadze, Director of TRC.
Touristic Business of the Year – Ecotours Georgia
Ecotours Georgia was established by wildlife conservationists and nature lovers with an aim to develop sustainable tourism in Georgia, involve local people in tourism-related projects, and conserve Georgia’s flora and fauna.
“Our main direction is tourism that involves the observation of wild nature. We are bringing visitors mainly from European countries to Georgia. This success is important for us and our popularization,” Giorgi Rajebashvili, Director of Ecotours Georgia.
Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Santa
“Our company has its own enterprise that produces cheese in an ecologically clean environment with high quality raw materials. Becoming Female Entrepreneur is a wonderful feeling,” Darejan Kanteladze, Director of Santa.
Business for Positive Influence – Geo Mulch
“Our company produces a mulch that is crumbled and is actually made from unused wood. It has positive effects on the soil, as well as the growth of plants and prolonging life expectancy, air purification, dust particles and nitrogen oxides,” Mikheil Mestvrishvili, Executive Director of Geo Mulch.
Over the course of Business Awards 2018, the main partner was the European Fund for South East Europe – EFSE, and the other partners were the EBRD, Impact Hub Tbilisi, and Enterprise Georgia.
Rules to participate in the Business Awards are quite simple. A company can register in one of the 6 nominee categories. The winners are then awarded a special prize of one of three categories. They can choose it themselves based on their own business needs. These are as follows.
Digital Strategy and New Website: For the success of business in the modern world, it is especially important to present their activities in digital channels and communicate with customers, providing a correct digital strategy.
Brand-Strategy and Imagery Campaign: In order to define business values correctly, a brand-platform is a must for the establishment of a correct communication strategy in the future and a long-term and close relationship with the customer.
Software Solution (Software Development): It is very important for businesses to simplify the day-to-day processes and automate their efforts to save human and time resources.
