Be a Part of Catalyst Cycle 2

Designed and developed specifically to support Brunei’s tertiary community

Register Here

Register

Join and Be a Part of Catalyst Cycle 2

Register Here

Innovation@Uni: Catalyst

Catalyst is the InnoLab Programme designed and developed specifically to support Brunei’s tertiary community, in collaboration with our Academic Partner, Universiti Teknologi Brunei and our Entrepreneurship Partner, Darussalam Enterprise .

UTB-Logo2

Academic Partner

DST Logo for Light Background 400x400px

Innovation Partner

DARe Logo2

Entrepreneurship Partner

Tertiary students and recent graduates often lack experience in their field of study, and have a limited view of the depth & breadth of career options and pathways available to them. Catalyst will support the development of innovation expertise of those seeking to become ‘problem solvers’, and the entrepreneurial capability of those seeking to become entrepreneurs.

The Catalyst Founders Series will support the creation and development of first-time entrepreneurs, who, as young founders will create their own product, establish & grow their own business, and build their future to be their own boss. The Catalyst Builders Series will support those keen to apply the knowledge & skills gained at university, to address and solve real-world problems.

   Create  your Product    •   Build your Business   •   Be your own Boss

•   Create  your Product

•   Build your Business

•   Be your own Boss

The Founders Series will provide real-world, hands-on experience of an entrepreneur’s journey, from conceiving an idea through to starting up a new business. Founders will get the opportunity to develop an idea that solves a real problem, create a new product or service to meet the customers’ needs, and work towards starting up their own business.

Founders will be exposed to many aspects of innovation & entrepreneurship via workshops, hands-on mentoring and coaching from Bruneian and global entrepreneurs, investors and experts. This includes learning how to ‘be creative’ & innovating new products & services, establishing & managing a founding team, engaging customers, fundamentals of setting up a new business, through to presenting to investors & senior executives.

Catalyst is the perfect opportunity to turn a class project or that great idea, into a real business.

With the aim of supporting the creation of new student & graduate owned businesses, upon completion of Catalyst, Founders will be invited to pitch for Awards. These Awards will support the ongoing development of the new business, including developing products or services, securing customers, setting up the new business, generating sales.

The Awards will include :

  • Financial Awards – for development of products / services, executing the commercialization strategy, establishing the new business.
  • Mentoring – hands-on start-up, innovation, commercialization and capital raising mentoring.
  • DST Guidance – technical, market and commercial advice from DST senior executives; access to proprietary DST market knowledge, intelligence and customer understanding; potential sourcing of customers for product validation; opportunity to leverage DST’s channels to market and sales eco-system.
  • Start-Up Support – entrance into DARe’s start-up and entrepreneurship education and development programmes, such as Accelerator, BootCamp, Business Mentoring; opportunity to apply for DARe’s ‘Co-Matching’ financing grant.

Awards

In the aim of supporting
youth-led creations and
businesses, participants that
graduate the Catalyst
programme will be invited to
pitch for the Awards.

Timeline

The programme will start in
July and end in October.
During this period, teams will
develop, test, engage and
finalise their MVP (Minimal
Viable Product).

Awards

In the aim of supporting
youth-led creations and
businesses, participants that
graduate the Catalyst
programme will be invited to
pitch for the Awards.

Timeline

The programme will start in
July and end in October.
During this period, teams will
develop, test, engage and
finalise their MVP (Minimal
Viable Product).

  • What is Catalyst?
    Catalyst is a ‘real-world’ innovation & entrepreneurship programme run by DST InnoLab to support Brunei tertiary graduates with their future
    employment opportunities. Upon completing Catalyst, participants might take part in paid-internships or establish their own businesses.
  • What does it cost to take part in Catalyst?
    Catalyst is free for Participants.
  • Who is Catalyst for?
    This second Cycle of Catalyst is open to UTB graduates – those who have graduated in the past 5-years.
  • Is Catalyst just for Business studies graduates?
    Not at all. Catalyst is open to UTB graduates from ANY & EVERY School & Faculty – business, economics, finance, accounting, all engineering
    schools (chemical, electrical, mechanical, mechatronic, etc.), computer science & informatics, all sciences (any domain), etc.
  • Why is Catalyst only for graduates?
    This second Cycle of Catalyst is focused on UTB graduates who have completed their studies and are currently seeking employment
    opportunities, and can therefore set aside the time, effort and commitment to take part in an intensive, and fast-moving programme.
  • Do Catalyst Participants need to have technical or business skills?
    Participants do not need to have any prior technical or business skills, experience, or knowledge – everything you need to know is taught
    during Catalyst.
  • What do Participants do during Catalyst?
    There are two streams for Catalyst, Founders & Builders. The Founders Series is for those wanting to become entrepreneurs, where the focus
    is on creating their own product, to start their own business. The Builders Series is for those interested in being ‘problem solvers’, where the
    focus is on solving DST’s problems.
  • What do Participants get out of Catalyst?
    Upon completing Catalyst, Founders & Builders will be invited to pitch for Awards. Founders can get funding and hands-on support to build
    their business. Builders can get paid-internships.
  • What takes place during Catalyst?
    Participants will: attend 2 to 3 half-day workshops every week; be coached by Bruneian entrepreneurs, investors & experts; get hands-on
    mentoring by the InnoLab; get hands-on coaching by DST senior management. Alongside this support, Founders are expected to spend time
    building their products and Builders will be working with DST senior management to solve their challenges.
  • Where is Catalyst held?
    All Catalyst workshops and events are held at DST InnoLab, at the DST Headquarters, Lebuhraya Tungku.
  • Do Participants need to be in teams?
    Participants can join as a team or can grow their team during the programme. Founder Series teams might find it easier to have a mix of
    skill-sets in the team. Builders Series will form teams around the DST challenge they are interested in solving.
  • Can individuals join Catalyst?
    Catalyst is open to individuals wanting to take part on their own, collaborate with other individuals, or join other teams.
  • What happens if Participants want to withdraw from Catalyst?
    Participants are allowed to withdraw from Catalyst at any time they want during the Programme – there are no costs or penalties associated
    with withdrawing.