The programme, aimed at age 13–18-year-olds, encourages young minds across the UAE to submit their most creative and sustainable food and beverage business ideas in return for the opportunity to receive scholarships with Trusity on the ‘Trupreneurs‘ entrepreneurship programme.

Teen Trailblazers is an innovative initiative, that builds upon the values of Spinneys to support education and entrepreneurship in the UAE community, as has been done successfully through existing programmes such as the Spinneys Farm to Table programme – educating children of the UAE about healthy eating and nutrition, and through the Local Business Incubator.

By submitting an idea to Teen Trailblazers, students will compete for five coveted spots in the Trusity ‘Trupreneur’ Programme. These finalists will undergo rigorous training and mentorship, culminating in a chance to pitch their business ideas for the grand prize of 10,000 AED in seed money and the further opportunity to launch their product in Spinneys stores.

"We are thrilled to support the young innovators in our community and provide them with the tools they need to get started and succeed in the competitive food and beverage industry," said Caroline Corr, Brand & Campaign Manager at Spinneys. "Through the Teen Trailblazers programme, we are committed to nurturing creativity, sustainability, and entrepreneurship among the youth in the UAE."

"We are eagerly looking forward to seeing the innovative ideas that the students will bring to the table. This initiative is a step forward in empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs" said Rajani Nalla, Founder & CEO, Trusity.

Key Objectives of the Programme:

• Supporting Future Talent: Discovering and fostering the next generation of talent in the food and beverage industry.
• Promoting Sustainability: Encouraging sustainable business practices by nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit within the UAE.

Programme Mechanics:

• Application Process: Students across the UAE can submit their food and beverage proposals via the Spinneys website.
• Selection: Fifteen submissions with the highest potential will be selected based on predefined criteria and invited to an elevator pitch event at Spinneys' headquarters. The best five pitches will win scholarships to participate in Trusity’s ‘Trupreneurs’ 12-week programme.
• Grand Prize: Upon completing the scholarship programme, the top five students will pitch their business plans to a Spinneys & Trusity judging panel, with the grand prize winner receiving 10,000 AED to kickstart their business and the chance to launch their product at Spinneys.

Programme Timeline:

• Submissions Open: September 9th, 2024
• Submissions Close: October 11th, 2024
• Elevator Pitch Event: October 2024
• Trupreneur Programme: November 2024 to February 2025
• Investor Pitch & Grand Prize Announcement: Mid-February 2025

For more information and to submit a proposal, please visit Teen Trailblazers.

The Selection Process:

• All applicants must submit 1. a presentation in a digital format and 2. an introduction video.
• The presentation should be in Powerpoint/PDF, should be maximum 4 slides, and should include (but not limited to) – product or concept idea, suggested brand name (does not need to be final), the USPs/customer need, marketing ideas, and any further information you wish to be considered.
• The introduction video should be a short introduction to the applicant, their idea and why they want to be a part of Teen Trailblazers. This should be no more than 60 seconds.
• The panel will review and shortlist potential candidates.
• 15 shortlisted candidates will be invited for an Elevator Pitch face-to-face session at Spinneys HQ to present their concept and answer questions posed by panel members. This will be held in the last week of October, you must be available to attend this in order to be eligible for shortlist.
• 5 candidates from the Elevator Pitch face-to-face session will be selected as recipients of the scholarship to join the ‘Trupreneurs’ 12 week young entrepreneur programme by Trusity.
• After successful completion of the scholarship, the candidates/students will be invited for a final Investor Pitch presentation (location TBC) in February. A dedicated panel of judges from Spinneys, Trusity and others, will decide under pre-determined criteria who is the overall winner of a 10,000AED.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicants must be between the ages of 13-18 years old up until 30th March 2025.
• Applicants should not be directly related to any Spinneys/Fine Fare Food staff.
• Applicants should agree to participate in all marketing and social media content deemed necessary by Spinneys.
• The product needs to be suitable for supermarket retail and aligned somehow with Spinneys’ brand guidelines and values.
• Applicants should be in full-time education in an educational institute in the UAE and currently residing as residents or UAE citizens.
• Applicants should have full permission of parent/guardian before applying and will require parental signatures to move forward if shortlisted.
• The application should consist of a new concept, that is not already an official company or legitimately trading with a retail supermarket in the UAE.
• The product concept need not already be in production.

Spinneys Commitments

• Spinneys commits to providing additional mentorship and guidance to participants throughout the Teen Trailblazer process.
• All ideas submitted are owned and remain owned by the applicants and Spinneys acknowledges no rights over these idea submissions.
• Spinneys commercial team will decide after completion of the programme, if they wish to work with any participant further to invite them to join the Spinneys Incubator 2025 programme and support bringing the business idea from concept to shelf.

Trusity Commitments

• Trusity commits to providing a comprehensive 12-week/3-month entrepreneurship programme, equipping students with real-world business insights, tools for success, and opportunities to develop viable business models in the food and beverage industry.
• Trusity will offer personalized mentorship from seasoned entrepreneurs and educators, guiding students through the Trupreneurs programme to help them refine their business concepts and entrepreneurial skills.
• Beyond the Trupreneurs programme, Trusity will continue to support students with winning ideas with resources and networking opportunities, ensuring they have the skills and connections to thrive in their entrepreneurial journey.