Du extends deadline for Entrepreneur TV show

UAE-based telco Du said on Monday it was extending the deadline for entries for its new TV reality show The Entrepreneur. With an extension until April 15, aspiring entrepreneurs will now have two more weeks to think through their applications and ideas even more. The show will give contestants the chance to win the prize of a lifetime - AED1m of cash and up to AED1m of professional support towards their business. Du said it had received hundreds of entries so far, with "a high calibre of entrants from different walks of life sharing their innovative and creative business ideas". Farid Faraidooni, chief commercial officer, Du, said: "We have been inundated with the level of entries we've received - it's a real thrill to see how much business promise there is in the UAE. "The Entrepreneur is a great platform for those with entrepreneurial talent and aptitude, and we want to give as many people as possible the opportunity to present their ideas to our excellent panel of judges," he added. Strategic partners for The Entrepreneur include Dubai One as the official broadcaster and Sony Pictures Television Arabia as the production partner. Faraidooni said: "We are thankful to all of our partners for their whole-hearted support, and for what their contributions will mean to the entrepreneurial community in the UAE. We're on track with production schedules, and cannot wait to move on to the next phase." Du said previously it was expecting around 3,000 to 5,000 candidates to apply to this programme. A handpicked jury has been chosen to see through the competition, including Petrochem boss Yogesh Mehta, Virgin Megastore’s MENA president Nisreen Shocair, MBRE president Abdul Baset Al Janahi and Easa Saleh Al Gurg director Muna Al Gurg, From the initial pool of applicants, 100 will be shortlisted to auditions, and 10 will make it to the actual show.